LIBRARY 

OF    THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 
Chus 


f 


T  .       L_.       IV!  I 


HISTORY 


OF 


HEREFORD  CATTLE 


PROVEN  CONCLUSIVELY  THE  OLDEST 
OF  IMPROVED  BREEDS 

By  T.  L.  MILLER 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  HEREFORDS  IN   AMERICA 

By  WM.  H.  SOTHAM 


1902 


T.  F.  B.  SOTHAM,  Publisher 

CHILLICOTHE,  MISSOURI 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1902,  by 

T.  F.  B.  SOTHAM, 
in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington, 


AH  Rights  Reserved. 


GENERAL 


AGRIC. 
LIBBAfiY 


INTRODUCTION. 


"I  have  just  returned  from  a  trip  to  the 
Pacific  Coast,  and  everywhere  on  the  western 
plains  found  the  Whitefaces  conspicuous.  And 
they  look  well  wherever  they  are  to  be  seen. 
I  know  they  have  a  magnificent  future.  I  am 
not  a  boomer,  but  this  is  a  great  country  and  I 
feel  assured  that  our  present  prosperity  will 
continue.  It  has  always  been  demonstrated 
that  Herefords  are  great  cattle  wherever  grass 
grows,  and  the  settlement  of  this  irrigation 
problem  now  agitating  the  West  will  convert 
the  desert  into  pastures  and  open  up  vast 
areas  to  cattle  raising.  The  more  grass,  the 
more  Hereford  cattle  will  be  needed,  and  with 
all  due  respect  to  other  breeds,  I  venture  the 
assertion  that  Herefords  will  make  more  beef 
on  grass  than  any  other  breed  of  which  I  have 
any  knowledge/' 

When  we  consider  where  and  by  whom  the 
sentence  above  quoted  was  uttered,  and  the 
unequalled  sources  of  information  and  expe- 
rience that  led  to  this  conclusion,  we  feel,  that 
at  last,  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle  is  coming 
into  its  own. 

The  speaker  was  Mr.  Alvin  H.  Sanders, 
Managing  Editor  of  the  greatest  live  stock  pub- 
lication in  the  world,  namely,  the  "Breeders' 
Gazette,"  Chicago.  The  occasion  was  the  reduc- 
tion sale  of  the  Weavergrace  Herd,  at  which, 
in  Chicago,  Tuesday,  March  25th,  1902,  was 
gathered  one  of  the  largest  representative  com- 
panies of  Hereford  breeders  the  country  has 
ever  seen.  With  all  due  respect  for  the  work 
of  individuals  in  popularizing  pure  breeds  of 
live  stock,  their  work  without  the  aid  of  the 
agricultural  press  must  of  necessity  be  limited 
in  its  influence.  The  leading  advocates  of 
Hereford  cattle  in  America  ever  fully  realized 
the  influence  of  the  agricultural  press,  and  as 
far  as  they  could  have  endeavored  to  utilize  it 
in  spreading  a  correct  knowledge  of  the  Here- 
ford breed. 

The  influence  that  utilized  the  power  of  the 
agricultural  press  to  propagate  injurious  theo- 
ries, and  their  success  in  that  direction,  are 
thoroughly  set  forth  in  the  body  of  this  work 
and  need  not  be  discussed  further  here.  We 
are  glad  to  say,  however,  that  conditions  and 
influences,  existent  at  the  time  the  "Breeders' 
Gazette"  was  founded,  have  largely  disappeared. 


Nothing  shows  plainer  the  present  unpreju- 
diced position  of  the  "Breeders'  Gazette"  than 
the  fact  that  it  has  been  accused  by  prominent 
speakers  in  important  meetings  of  Shorthorn 
breeders  of  being  partial  to  the  Herefords ;  that 
on  several  occasions  adherents  of  other  breeds 
have  asserted  that  the  "Gazette"  leaned  toward 
the  Aberdeen-Angus  "Doddies,"  while  com- 
plaints that  the  "Gazette"  was  a  Shorthorn  pa- 
per have  been  frequent.  Each  breed  in  turn, 
prompted  by  some  activity  of  its  rivals  (fully 
reported  in  the  "Gazette"),  exhibiting  its  in- 
born jealousy. 

The  statement  that  "Herefords  will  make 
more  beef  on  grass  than  any  other  breed,"  made 
by  Mr.  Sanders,  has  been  made  repeatedly  by 
Col.  F.  M.  Woods,  the  celebrated  live  stock 


WELLINGTON   COURT,   NEAR  HEREFORD. 

auctioneer,  whenever  he  has  conducted  a  sale 
of  Herefords.  Similar  statements  have  been 
made  on  hundreds  of  occasions  by  that  other 
favorite  auctioneer,  Col.  K.  E.  Edmonson,  who 
for  years  was  the  idol  of  the  Kentucky  Short- 
horn breeders.  This  "Kentuckian  of  Ken- 
tuckians"  not  only  makes  this  assertion  in 
words,  but,  backs  it  up  in  action,  having  be- 
come an  extensive  breeder  of  Hereford  cattle 
on  his  Texas  ranch.  These  are  not  to  be 
counted  straws  to  show  which  way  the  wind 
blows,  but  rather  may  be  considered  goodly- 
sized  weather-vanes,  known  and  seen  of  all 
men,  for  without  commenting  on  the  influence 
of  these  two  great  auctioneers  we  can  say  of 
the  "Breeders'  Gazette"  under  the  management 


101932 


1 N  T  BOBUCTION 


KING'S-PYON    CHURCH,    NEAR   HEREFORD. 


Wigmore  Grange,  born  1713,  and  the  superior- 
ity of  their  cattle  long  before  B.  Tomkins,  Jr.'s, 
marriage.  These  recollections  and  many  facts 
that  will  be  mentioned  clearly  prove  that  the 
systematic  improvement  of  the  Herefords  was 
begun  by  the  elder  B.  Tomkins  in  1742. 

It  will  be  seen  on  referring  to  Sinclair's"  His- 
tory of  Hereford  Cattle  that  when  Eichard 
Tomkins  of  the  New  House  Farm,  King's- 
Pyon,  died  in  1723,  he  le£t  seven  children — 
six  sons  and  one  daughter.  The  eldest,  Miles, 
was  nineteen  and  the  youngest,  Thomas,  was 
three  years  old. 

He  left  to  Richard,  his  second  son,  a  yoke  of 
oxen,  named  "Spark"  and  "Merchant,"  with 
ten  acres  of  land.  To  his  fourth  son,  Benjamin, 
a  cottage  and  land  and  a  cow  called  "Silver" 
with  her  calf.  The  others  were  left  small  sums 
of  money,  and  his  widow,  Catherine,  the  little 
New  House  Farm  for  life,  making  her  his  sole 
executrix.  His  will  was  proved  in  the  Consis- 
tory Court  at  Hereford. 

He  doubtless  had  good  reason  for  leaving 
these  cattle  to  Eichard  and  Benjamin.  Eichard 
being  nineteen  was  old  enough  to  be  teamster 
and  was  left  his  team.  Benjamin  being-  nine 
years  old  would  be  old  enough  to  take  an  in- 


terest in  the  cattle,  possibly  wishing  to  possess 
the  Silver  cow  and  calf,  which  his  father  after- 
wards left  him  by  will.  This  would  be  calcu- 
lated to  give  him  additional  interest  in  the 
cattle  and  dairy,  probably  filling  the  office  of 
cattleman  for  a  time. 

Having  two  brothers  younger  than  himself, 
he  necessarily  would  have  to  leave  the  small 
farm  when  one  of  these  were  old  enough  to  take 
his  place  and  seek  a  situation  in  the  particular 
line  he  had  followed  at  home.  This  he  appar- 
ently did,  as  all  the  sons  but  one  were  brought 
up  to  be  farmers,  and  Professor  Low  was  in- 
formed that  Mr.  Tomkins  married  his  employ- 
er's daughter.  Low  does  not  give  the  source 
of  this  information,  but  it  certainly  would  not 
come  from  the  Misses  Tomkins. 

We  find  by  the  parish  records  that  B.  Tom- 
kins,  Sr.,  married  a  Miss  Ann  Preece,  of  Alton 
Court  Farm,  in  the  parish  of  Dilwyn,  in  1742, 
and  began  business  at  the  Court  House  Farm, 
Canon-Pyon. 

In  Low's  words: 

"Mr.  Tomkins  when  a  young  man  was  in  the 
employment  of  an  individual,  afterwards  his 
father-in-law,  and  had  the  especial  charge  of 
the  dairy.  Two  cows  had  been  brought  to  this 


1  N  T  R  0  D  U  C  I1  ION 


dairy,  supposed  to  have  been  purchased  at  the 
fair  of  Kington,  on  the  confines  of  Wales.  Mr. 
Tomkins  remarked  the  extraordinary  tendency 
of  these  animals  to  become  fat.  On  his  mar- 
riage he  acquired  these  two  cows  and  com- 
menced breeding  them  on  his  own  account. 
The  one  with  more  white  he  called  'Pigeon' 
and  the  other  of  a  rich  red  color  with  a  spotted 
face  he  called  'Mottle/  '; 

Further  he  says:  "He  then  began  a  system 
of  breeding  that  ultimately  completely  altered 
the  character  of  the  Herefords."  Low  applied 
this  information  to  B.  Tomkins,  Jr.,  who  mar- 
ried his  first  cousin  Sarah,  daughter  of  Eichard 
Tomkins,  of  Wormsley  Grange,  in  1772. 
Family  tradition  and  the  King's-Pyon  register 
attest  that  his  father  died  in  1748,  when  Mr. 
B.  Tomkins,  Jr.,  was  but  three  years  old,  con- 
sequently he  could  not  have  been  in  the  "em- 
ployment of  an  individual,  afterwards  his 
father-in-law;"  nor  is  it  likely  that  Low's  in- 
formant would  call  his  first  cousin  "daughter 
of  an  individual."  This  expression  may  well 
have  been  applied  to  the  elder  man's  wife,  as 
in  the  lapse  of  years  her  father's  name  would 
most  likely  have  been  forgotten.  It  may  be 
retorted  that  it  was  the  widow  who  employed 
him,  but  Richard  Tomkins  left  three  sons, 
Richard,  George  and  Thomas,  aged  twelve,  eight 
and  two  years  respectively.  All  were  brought  up 
as  farmers,  so  that  the  widow  could  not  have 
at  any  time  required  the  services  of  her  nephew 
when  old  enough  even  to  manage  for  her.  As 
to  his  ever  being  employed  as  a  dairyman,  the 
idea  is  absurd,  for  his  father,  as  will  be  shown, 
had  only  two  sons,  and  was  a  well-to-do  man 
at  the  time. 

Many  other  circumstances  prove  this  por- 
tion of  Low's  information  to  refer  to  B.  Tom- 
kins,  Sr.,  on  his  marriage  in  1742.  Low  not 
knowing  that  there  had  been  two  of  the  same 
name  applied  it  to  the  son,  on  his  marriage  in 
1772. 

Again,  Professor  Low  in  his  "Practical  Agri- 
culture" (1843)  writing  of  Hereford  cattle,  says: 
"The  breed  owes  all  its  celebrity  to  changes 
began  about  the  year  1760.  The  great  im- 
prover, or  rather  it  may  be  said,  the  founder  of 
the  modern  breed,  was  the  late  Mr.  Tomkins 
of  King's-Pyon,  near  Hereford,  who,  from  a 
very  humble  stock  of  cows,  but  by  means  of  a 
long  course  of  skilled  selection,  communicated 
to  the  breed  its  most  valuable  distinctive  char- 
acters." 

There  is  unmistakable  evidence  that  the 
Misses  Tomkins  let  Low  believe  that  it  was  all 
the  work  of  their  father,  consequently  it  is  not 
surprising  that  he  did  not  harmonize  facts  and 


dates  when  applying  them  all  to  the  younger 
man.  .  Low  here  says  the  changes  began  about 
1760.  This  was  nine  years  before  the  younger 
man  commenced  business  (as  ^will  be  shown 
later  on)  and  twelve  years  before  his  marriage 
in  1772,  yet,  as  previously  quoted,  Low  says 
he  commenced  the  improvement  on  his  mar- 
riage, evidently  referring  to  the  elder  man. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  Low  never 
seriously  attempted  to  harmonize  his  facts  and 
dates.  If  he  had  done  so  he  must  have  dis- 
covered at  once  the  existence  of  B.  Tomkins, 
Sr.,  and  given  a  chronologically  correct  history 
of  the  origin  and  development  of  the  Tomkins 
cattle.  The  correction  of  his  remarkable  mis- 
take quite  allies  the  hitherto  accepted  ideas  as 
to  when  the  systematic  improvement  of  the 
Herefords  began,  which  was  in  1742,  not  1772. 


COURT  HOUSE,   CANON-PYON,   HEREFORDSHIRE. 


Tomkins  was  at  work  improving  the  Herefords 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  Bakewell 
began  to  improve  the  Longhorns,  and  a  much 
longer  time  before  the  Brothers  Colling,  the 
Shorthorns;  consequently  Bakewell  followed' 
Tomkins,  not  Tomkins  Bakewell,  as  has  been 
generally  asserted  and  believed. 

Thus  the  Herefords  are  the  oldest  improved 
breed  of  cattle  in  the  kingdom. 

B.  Tomkins,  Sr.,  had  evidently  formed  the 
idea  of  developing  a  superior  breed  of  cattle 
to  any  then  extant  some  years  before  his  mar- 
riage in  1742. 

On  his  marriage  he  was  able  to  set  about  it 
in  a  systematic  way,  having  already  selected  the 
materials.  He  began  with  the  three  distin- 
guishing color  types  of  the  Tomkins  cattle, 
namely,  the  Silvers,  reds  with  white  faces,  the 
mottles  and  the  greys.  These  three  type  names 
were  applied  to  the  Herefords  for  more  than 
a  century,  unfortunately  giving  rise  to  endless 
controversies  amongst  breeders  about  breed. 

Low     says     Tomkins    "acquired     the     cows 


8 


INTRODUCTION 


"Pigeon"  and  "Mottle"  on  account  of  their  ex- 
traordinary tendency  to  become  fat,  qualities 
most  likely  not  manifest  in  his  Silvers,  which 
we  infer  would  be  more  of  the  large  bony  type, 
suitable  for  draught  purposes,  like  the  majority 
of  the  cattle  were  at  that  time.  The  rising 
importance  of  our  manufacturing  and  commer- 
cial interests  would  be  creating  an  increased 
demand  for  butcher's  meat.  Young  Tomkins 
saw  in  this  a  new  sphere  of  usefulness  and 
profit  in  cattle  other  than  the  yoke  and  pail. 
He  saw  manifest  in  these  two  cows  some  of  the 
characteristics  he  desired  to  conserve  and  in- 
tensify for  this  purpose.  _  Fortunately,  we  know 
under  what  conditions '  these  cows  fed  so 
rapidly.  Artificial  foods  were  not  used  in  those 
days,  and  the  Alton  Court  pastures  are  by  no 
means  feeding  lands,  yet  their  cows  quickly 
became  fat  on  them,  having  most  likely  come 
off  the  still  poorer  Welsh  Hills;  at  any  rate  they 
apparently  fed  much  more  rapidly  than  any 
of  the  others  under  the  same  conditions. 

Tomkins  was  impressed  with  this,  and  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  raising  up  a  race  of  cattle 
that  would  readily  fatten  on  inferior  food.  As 
the  grass  at  the  Court  House  partook  of  the 
same  character,  he  for  upwards  of  twenty  years 
carried  out  his  works  on  inferior  pastures. 

Although  Richard  Tomkins  was  but  a  small 
yeoman  farmer,  the  minute  books  of  King's- 
Pyon  show  that  the  family  received  a  good 
education  at  a  time  when  many  of  the  middle 
classes  could  not  read  nor  write,  and  the  peas- 
ants were  wholly  uneducated. 

All  the  sons  appear  to  have  been  enterpris- 
ing, as  they  soon  became  established  on  farms 
in  the  neighborhood:  Miles  at  the  Hill  in 
1727,  Richard  at  Wormsley  Grange  in  1734, 
Benjamin  at  the  Court  House  in  1742,  George 
at  Wooton  in  1746;  John,  known  as  "Butcher 
Jack,"  as  a  butcher  in  Canon  Pyon,  afterwards 
joining  the  army  as  a  life  guardsman.  The 
daughter  married  Oakley,  a  farmer  in  Canon 
Pyon,  and  the  youngest  son,  Thomas,  remained 
with  his  mother,  subsequently  going  with  her 
to  Calverhill  Farm,  in  the  parish  of  Norton 
Canon.  This  shows  that  there  were  a  whole 
colony  of  the  family  farming  in  the  neighbor- 
hood when  B.  Tomkins,  Sr.,  was  at  his  work 
of  improvement,  and  we  know  that  all  these 
men  and  their  descendants  acquired  the  Tom- 
kins  cattle. 

B.  Tomkins,  Sr.,  had  only  two  sons  who  lived 
to  grow  up,  Thomas  and  Benjamin,  born  1743 
and  1745.  He  had  one  daughter,  who  married 
Williams  of  Brinsop  Court,  brother  of  Williams 
of  Thinghill  Court.  Both  these  men  won 
prizes  for  cattle  at  the  early  Hereford  shows. 


When  B.  Tomkins,  Sr.,  increased  his  holding 
by  taking  Wellington  Court,  in  addition  to  the 
Court  House,  in  1758,  his  two  sons  were  fifteen 
and  thirteen  years  old,  by  which  time  he  had 
become  comparatively  well  oft',  chiefly  by  the 
sale  of  his  improved  cattle  that  were  then  in 
possession  of  all  the  farming  members  of  the 
family  and  many  others  throughout  the  coun- 
try. His  most  intimate  friend,  William  Gal- 
liers  of  Wigmore  Grange,  had  a  fine  herd 
founded  on  the  Tomkins  breed,  as  it  was  al- 
ready called.  This  was  in  the  recollection  of 
members  of  the  family  still  living  when  Sin- 
clair wrote  his  history.  From  the  foregoing 
it  will  be  seen  that  B.  Tomkins,  Sr.,  was  not 
only  the  first  who  systematically  improved  the 
Herefords  as  beef  producers,  but  was  actually 
the  founder  or  originator  of  the  improved 
breed,  and  pioneer  improver  of  cattle  in  these 
islands  on  systematic  lines.  He  worked  for 
nearly  fifty  years,  1742  to  1789,  and  his  son 
B.  Tomkins,  Jr.,  worked  with  him  for  more 
than  thirty  of  them,  continuing  for  twenty- 
five  years  after  his  father's  death. 

Unlike  Bakewell,  he  was  a  quiet,  steady 
worker,  accumulating  means  rapidly,  without 
pushing  himself  for  public  notice.  This  char- 
acteristic was  even  more  pronounced  in  his 
son,  whose  name  seldom  appeared,  but  when 
challenging  the  boastings  of  contemporary 
breeders,  whom  he  never  failed  to  silence. 
This,  in  some  measure,  accounts  for  the  great 
value  of  their  work  not  being  publicly  recog- 
nized until  years  after,  when  the  glamour  of 
the  famous  sale  at  the  Brook  House  in  1819 
drew  universal  attention  to  the  younger  man's 
work,  quite  obliterating  the  elder,  by  merging 
his  life  into  that  (of  the  more  conspicuous 
figure  of  his  son.  In  the  meantime  their  im- 
proved cattle  had  been  quietly  absorbed  and 
helped  to  build  up  without  exception  all  the 
famous  old  herds  that  it  has  been  possible  to 
trace  back  to  their  foundation. 

Soon  after  going  to  live  at  Wellington  Court 
in  1758  B.  Tomkins,  Sr.,  relinquished  the 
Court  House  to  his  eldest  son,  Thomas.  The 
younger  son,  Benjamin,  appears  to  have  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  on  his  contem- 
plated marriage  with  his  first  cousin  he  took 
the  Blackball' farm,  King's  Pyon,  1769. 

Writers  have  been  uncertain  as  to  the  exact 
date  when  B.  Tomkins,  Jr.,  began  business  at 
the  Blackball.  The  parish  books  of  King's- 
Pyon  show  this  date,  as  the  last  signa- 
ture of  his  predecessor  appears  in  1768  and 
B.  Tomkins,  Jr.'s,  first  signature  in  1769.  B. 
Tomkins,  Jr.,  undoubtedly  had  his  select  breed- 
ing cattle  from  his  father's  herd  at  Wellington 


INTRODUCTION 


Court.  Being  the  favorite  son  he  would  have 
his  pick  of  the  best  of  them,  and  the  two  herds 
were  afterwards  bred  conjointly  for  twenty 
years,  when  on  his  father's  death,  in  1789,  he 
acquired  the  stock  and  farm  at  Wellington 
Court.  In  the  meantime  B.  Tomkins,  Jr.,  had 
acquired  the  Court  House  and  Brook  House 
Farms,  King's-Pyon,  in  addition  to  the  Black- 
hall,  so  that  the  father  and  son  together  occu- 
pied three  and  for  a  time  four  farms  from  650 
to  840  acres  in  extent.  How  closely  they 
worked  together  is  shown  by  his  having  his 
father's  stock  and  farm  on  his  death.  The 
lives  and  work  of  father  and  son  were  so  inti- 
mately blended  together  that  no  wonder  after 
many  years  succeeding  generations,  without 
close  inquiry,  regarded  their  work  as  that  of 
one  man.  The  father  worked  for  47  years 
(from  1742  to  1789)  and  the  son  for  about  the 
same  number  (1769-1815),  and  they  worked 
together  for  about  thirty  of  the  seventy-three 
years  of  their  joint  breeding  career.  This  oc- 
cupying of  several  farms  with .  separate  home- 
steads enabled  them  not  only  to  keep  more  cat- 
tle, but  to  keep  the  different  strains  distinct  in 
different  places,  enabling  them  to  carry  out 
their  system  of  line  breeding  without  neces- 
sarily using  very  near  affinities. 

It  has  been  imagined  that  they  inbred  their 
cattle  very  closely,  but  this  idea  is  not  justified 
by  facts.  It  is  well  known  that  they  bred  all 
the  bulls  they  used,  and  that  they  kept  several 
at  each  homestead,  thus  enabling  them  to  cross 
in  their  own  herds  from  selected  variations  in 
desired  directions  without  close  in-breeding. 
They  likewise  had  a  wide  family  circle  breed- 
ing the  same  variety  of  cattle,  which  gave  them 
a  still  wider  range  for  the  exercise  of  their 
judgment  and  skill. 

When  working  alone  we  know  that  these  two 
men  achieved  a  most  marvelous  success.  What 
must  have  been  the  power  of  their  united  judg- 
ments during  the  thirty  years  they  worked  to- 
gether? 

Eyton  says,  1846:  "The  Misses  Tomkins 
have  been  in  possession  of  the  same  breed  with- 
out a  cross  since  the  period  of  their  father's 
death.  They  were  in  the  habit  of  keeping  four 
or  five  bulls  and  whatever  is  bred  from  their 
stock  may  be  relied  upon  for  the  purity  of  the 
blood." 

Here  we  have  evidence  to  show  that  the 
"Misses  Tomkins  continued  to  follow  their 
father's  and  grandfather's  system  of  breeding 
in  the  male  line  for  over  thirty  years  after  his 
death  on  a  single  farm  of  less  than  300  acres. 

Eyton  says  further:  "During  the  latter  por- 
tion of  Mr.  Tomkins'  life  he  used  none  but 


bulls  bred  by  himself,  and  did  not  cross  with 
any  other  stocks." 

As  Eyton  was  here  treating  the  work  of  the 
two  men  as  that  of  one  he  should  have  said: 
"•During  the  latter  portion  of  Messrs.  Tom- 
kins'  lives  they  used  none  but  bulls  bred  by 
themselves,  and  did  not  cross  with  any  other 
stocks." 

When  B.  Tomkins,  Sr.,  practically  ceased 
crossing  from  outside  sources  is  uncertain,  but 
most  likely  it  was  about  the  time  he  took  Wel- 
lington Court,  in  1758,  as  there  were  then 
herds  of  Tomkins  cattle  more  or  less  pure-bred 


TABLET   OF   BENJAMIN   TOMKINS,    SR.,    IN   WELLING- 
TON CHURCH,   HEREFORDSHIRE. 

at  the  Hill,  New  House,  Weobley's  Field, 
Wooton,  Court  House,  Canon  Pyon,  Wigmore 
Grange,  and  probably  other  places  outside  the 
family  circle.  How  quickly  successful  he  was 
is  thus  shown  by  the  early  and  rapid  spread  of 
his  cattle  amongst  members  of  the  family. 

Eyton  says:  "The  bull  which  is  often  re- 
ferred to  as  'Silver  Bull'  he  always  considered 
as  the  first  great  improver  of  his  stock.  There 
is  a  prevailing  opinion  respecting  this  bull's 
name,  that  it  was  given  to  him  because  he  was 
of  a  silver  or  grey  color,  but  the  fact  is  that  he 
was  a  red  bull,  with  a  white  face,  and  a  little 
white  on  his  back,  and  his  dam  was  a  cow 
called  'Silver.' " 


10 


INTKODUCTION 


Eyton,  like  Professor  Low  and  others,  did 
not  know  that  he  was  treating  the  work  of  two 
men  as  that  of  one;  referred  this  information 
to  B.  Tomkins,  Jr.,  but  it  must  have  concerned 
his  father,  whose  stock  had  become  famous 
many  years  before  the  son  began  business  in 
1769.  The  father  evidently  at  an  early  period 
of  his  career  bred  this  bull  from  descendants 
of  the  Silver  cow  his  father  left  him  in  his  will 
in  1720. 

Sinclair  has  shown  that  the  red,  with  the 
white  face,  color  markings  for  cattle  were 
fashionable  in  the  country  before  the 
death  of  Lord  Scuddmore  in  1.671,  and 
Eichard  Tomkins  esteemed  them  fifty  years 
after  in  1720,  since  his  favorite  Silvers 
were  thus  marked,  so  that  the  taste  for 
these  colors  dates  back  much  further  than  has 
been  generally  supposed.  Their  system  of 
breeding  was  essentially  the  same  as  that  fol- 
lowed by  Hereford  breeders  at  the  present  time, 
only  over  a  more  prescribed  area.  In  one  re- 
spect it  was  the  opposite,  since  they  always 
bred  the  bulls  used  instead  of  purchasing  them. 
In  their  case  this  was  necessary,  as  there  was 
no  reliable  source  to  procure  them  from  out- 
side their  own  herds,  in  fact  no  cattle  so  good 
as  their  own  to  improve  them  with  were  out- 
side their  own  herds. 

Professor  Darwin  says:  "The  power  of  man 
to  accumulate  the  slight  variations  of  our  do- 
mesticated animals  in  a  given  direction  by  con- 
stant selection  is  very  considerable.  The  im- 
provement begins  by  crossing  different  types, 
and  is  afterward  continued  by  constant  selec- 
tions from  the  varieties  produced.  When  a  cross 
is  made  the  closest  selection  is  more  necessary 
than  in  ordinary  cases  between  good  animals  of 
an  established  type  or  breed.  To  accumulate 
these  slight  differences,  absolutely  inapprecia- 
ble to  the  ordinary  observer,  acquires  an  ac- 
curacy of  eye,  touch  and  judgment  that  not 
one  in  a  thousand  possesses.  A  man  endowed 
with  these  qualifications,  who  devotes  a  life- 
time to  the  work,  will  effect  great  improve- 
ments." 

This  work  the  two  B.  Tomkins  were  pre- 
eminently fitted  for,  as  they  carried  it  out  with 
consummate  skill  and  success,  which  the  sale 
in  1819  demonstrated.  They  seemed  to  have 
intuitively  grasped  the  physiological  law  enun- 
ciated by  Darwin  a  hundred  years  after,  "that 
given  an  equal  amount  of  pureness  of  blood,  the 
male  animal  possesses  a  greater  amount  of  ac- 
cumulated variation  in  a  given  direction  than 
the  female.'* 

"These  variations  are  at  first  artificial,  but 
after  accumulating  them  for  a  length  of  time 


they  become  typified,  and  constitute  a  distinct 
variety  or  breed." 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  elder  B.  Tomkins 
first  observed  the  variation  in  the  direction  he 
desired  in  two  females,  and  he  and  his  son 
afterwards  conserved  it  more  particularly  in  the 
males. 

Regret  was  at  one  time  expressed  that  Tom- 
kins  did  not  exclusively  adopt  the  red  with 
white  face  colorings  for  their  cattle,  but  con- 
sidering that  the  cattle  B.  Tomkins,  Sr.,  began 
with  were  a  grey,  a  dark  red  with  white  spots 
on  its  face,  and  a  red  with  white  face:  one 
starting  with  these  animals  differently  marked, 
he  and  his  son  would  have  to  subordinate  color 
marks  to  the  more  essential  qualities  when 
developing  a  fresh  type  of  animal  from  various 
sources.  When  selecting  and  blending  the  best 
materials  from  a  limited  number  of  animals, 
it  would  have  been  impossible,  even  if  desired 
at  that  time,  to  make  the  places  of  the  color 
spots  on  the  body  an  all-important  considera- 
tion. If  they  had  bred  exclusively  from  red 
with  white  face,  mottle  face  or  grey,  they  must 
have  sacrificed  some  of  their  best  animals  and 
thus  defeated  their  object.  They  knew  the 
business  too  well  to  do  that,  and  by  continually 
crossing  their  differently  marked  cattle  to  de- 
velop and  fix  certain  desired  characteristics  they 
kept  these  color  marks  on  the  body,  liquid  or 
movable,  consequently  when  the  old  red  with 
white  face  Herefords  were  crossed  with  the 
Tomkins  cattle  the  color  marks  were  easily 
made  to  conform  to  the  originals,  while  the 
progeny  retained  the  typically  fixed,  good  qual- 
ities of  the  Tomkins  breed,  conserved  through 
a  long  line  of  generations. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  at  the  time  when  the 
Tomkins  were  systematically  transforming  the 
Herefords  from  rough,  bony  draught  and  dairy 
cattle  into  a  superior  beef -producing  breed,  that 
no  written  records  were  kept.  In  the  absence 
of  these  the  old  writers  took  color  markings  as 
indicating  what  they  chose  to  call  breed.  They 
spoke  of  the  white-face  breed,  the  mottle  breed, 
the  grey  breed;  and  they  took  it  for  granted 
that  breed  and  color  necessarily  went  together 
and  could  not  be  separated.  The  universal  ac- 
ceptance of  this  great  error  led  to  endless,  re- 
grettable disputes  amongst  the  old  breeders. 
This  misuse  of  the  word  "breed"  was  most 
misleading  during  the  transition  state  of  the 
Herefords,  and  all  attempts  to  trace  its  history 
by  color  marks  completely  failed.  Marshall, 
describing  Bakewell's  Longhorn  in  1784,  says: 
"Color  is  various,  the  Brindle,  the  Pinchbeck 
and  the  Pye  are  common.  The  lighter  the 
color  the  better  they  seem  to  be  esteemed,  but 


INTKODUCTION 


11 


this  seems  to  be  merely  a  matter  of  fashion." 
And  when  describing  the  points  of  a  perfect 
Longhorn  he  says:  "Any  color  that  can  be 
joined  with  the  foregoing  qualifications,  it 
being  perhaps  of  little  (if  any)  essential  im- 
port." Thus  Bakewell,  like  Tomkins,  disre- 
garded color  marks,  and  his  improved  Long- 
horns  varied  in  this  respect,  but  were  not  called 
in  consequence  the  Brindle  breed,  the  Pinch- 
beck breed  and  the  Pye  breed. 

Instances  are  given  in  the  first  volume  of  the 
Herd  Book  where  the  sire  and  dam  are  white- 
faced  and  the  offspring  mottle-faced,  and  vice 
versa.  In  the  phraseology  of  the  day,  the  sire 
and  dam  would  belong  to  the  white-faced 
breed,  and  the  offspring  the  mottle  breed.  This 
clearly  illustrates  the  fallacy  of  taking  color 
marking  as  a  guide  to  the  breed  during  the 
transition  period  of  the  Herefords. 

Tomkins  never  line  bred  color  markings, 
but  rather  used  them  together  in  every  imag- 
inable way.  Their  system  was  in  the  words  of 
the  poet: 

"White  face,  Pick  face,  Mottle  face  and  Grey, 

Mingle,  Mingle,  Mingle,  ye  that  mingle  may." 

The  Herefords  were  then  in  a  state  of  com- 
minglation  with  the  Tomkins  cattle,  on  whose 
bodies  color  marks  had  no  fixed  abode,  so  that 
at  that  time  it  was  a  matter  of  choice  where 
these  should  be  placed  on  .the  future  Hereford. 
It  could  have  been  constituted  a  grey,  a  mottle 
face  or  a  white-face  breed.  The  overwhelm- 
ing choice  was  to  stick  to  the  old  red  with 
white  face  markings,  and  although  some  old 
breeders  resisted  this  for  a  time,  they  ultimately 
died  or  gave  up  the  contest. 

The  red  with  white  face  markings  left  liquid 
by  Tomkins  have  now  through  many  years  of 
selection  carefully  obliterated  the  spotted  face 
and  grey  markings,  and  become  typically  fixed 
and  the  true  index  of  breed,  which  they  were 
not  during  the  transition  period. 

Doubtless  the  Tomkins  cattle  would  have 
spread  much  faster  if  B.  Tomkins,  Jr.,  had  not 
been  so  extremely  jealous  of  others  obtaining 
his  best  blood.  It  is  well  known  that  he  had 
many  of  his  best  bulls  killed  at  home  for  the 
harvest  men  rather  than  others  should  have 
them,  and  many  of  his  best  cows  were  resold  by 
the  butchers  for  breeding  purposes.  The  old 
butchers  bore  universal  testimony  that  the 
Tomkins  cattle  were  the  most  profitable  butch- 
ers' cattle  they  killed. 

Day  of  Credenhill,  Bakerville  of  Weobley, 
Preece  of  the  Shrewd,  Davies  of  Canon  Pyon, 
and  others  used  to  declare  that  for  quality  of 
meat,  associated  with  smallness  of  offal,  none 
they  killed  approached  them.  And  Sinclair  has 


shown  in  his  history  that  all  the  old  noted 
herds,  without  exception,  that  could  be  traced 
went  back  to  what  Hewer  tersely  called  "Old 
Tomkins'  Prime  Cattle." 

*     *     * 

Beside  the  foregoing  manuscript,  prepared 
by  Mr.  Bustin,  I  wish  to  acknowledge  here  his 
great  assistance  in  the  preparation  of  the  illus- 
trations in  this  history.  Without  Mr.  Bustin's 
help  this  great  feature  of  the  work  would  be 
most  lamentably  lacking.  His  skillful  search 
has  unearthed  drawings  and  paintings  that  have 


TABLET    OF    BENJAMIN    TOMKINS,    JR.,    KING'S-PYON 
CHURCH,   HEREFORDSHIRE. 

been  hid  for  years;  he  visited  various  parts  of 
England,  securing  photos  of  homesteads,  farm 
views,  ancient  drawings,  paintings  and  engrav- 
ings, etc.,  etc.,  which  are  invaluable  to  the 
student  of  Hereford  history.  I  wish  to  ac- 
knowledge also  the  kind  co-operation  of  Mr. 
Geo.  Leigh,  of  Aurora,  111.,  to  whom  I  am  in- 
debted for  many  photographs  of  English  Here- 
ford breeders,  their  homes  and  their  cattle. 

I  would  draw  particular  attention  to  the  fact 
that  the  illustrations  in  this  work  are,  as  far 
as  possible,  reproductions  of  photographs  from 
life.  The  successful  photograph  of  live  ani- 
mals is  only  a  recent  accomplishment,  and  not 


as  yet  so  successful  in  America  as  in  England. 
This  is  one  great  work  wherein  England  excels 
America,  a  condition  which  can  hardly  be  ex- 
pected to  last.  It  is  only  in  recent  years  that 
actual  photographs  of  cattle  from  life  has  been 
the  successful  method  of  illustration  in  Eng- 
land. Therefore,  the  illustrations  in  this  work 
of  both  English  and  American  subjects,  prior 
to  1895,  are  reproductions  of  lithographs, 
paintings,  engravings,  etc.,  all  produced  by 
hand.  I  thought  at  first  that  it  would  be  best 
to  have  old  drawings  modernized  by  an  up-to- 
date  live  stock  artist,  as  has  been  done  in  some 
other  prominent  works  on  cattle,  but  after  giv- 
ing the  matter  much  thought  it  seemed  to  me 


W.  H.  BUSTIN,  HEREFORD.  ENG. 

best  to  reproduce  these  old  pictures  exactly  as 
they  were  made.  They  vary,  as  does  all  hand 
work,  with  the  ideals  of  the  artists  drawing 
them.  Messrs.  Gauci,  Page,  Dewey,  Burk,  Hill> 
Palmer,  Throop,  etc.,  each  had  their  ideal,  so 
that  were  each  of  these  men  to  portray  the  same 
animals  those  familiar  with  their  work  would 
have  no  difficulty  in  discovering  from  the  pic- 
ture who  the  artist  was- by  the  peculiar  personal 
ideal  invariably,  and  perhaps  unconsciously, 
incorporated  into  the  picture.  Some  of  the 
ancient  artists  painted  the  forms  of  the  ani- 
mals they  portrayed  upon  impossible  stems, 
representing  legs.  If  the  readers  of  Miller's 


History  will  bear  in  mind  these  variations  of 
the  artists'  ideals  when  examining  the  old  draw- 
ings of  cattle  reproduced  herein  they  will  form 
a  much  more  intelligent  conception  of  the  ex- 
cellence of  those  old  foundation  animals  by  sub- 
stituting in  their  mind's  eye  correct  impressions 
of  animal  anatomy  for  the  superfine  limbs  and 
heads  portrayed  by  the  artists.  I  have 
in  the  appendix  added  full  page  reproduc- 
tions of  photographs  from  life  of  choice 
specimen  Herefords .  of  diif erent  ages,  be- 
ing correct  reproductions  of  actual  pho- 
tographs from  life;  every  one  knows  that  pho- 
tographs have  never  yet  been  made  to  flatter 
animals,  for,  as  a  rule,  they  portray  faults 
more  plainly  than  virtues.  These  photo- 
graphs, however,  give  the  most  correct  ideas  of 
anatomy  attainable  by  any  process  known  at 
this  day.  These  illustrations  have  been  selected 
carefully  from  photographs  taken  in  England, 
and  are  specifically  included  in  the  appendix 
of  this  work  to  give  correct  ideas  of  Hereford 
form  and  character. 

In  closing  I  wish  to  say  that  there  are  per- 
sonal references  in  this  book,  mainly  of  persons 
long  since  deceased,  that  I  regret  exceedingly 
to  see  again  in  print.  Yet,  to  leave  out  these 
references,  would  be  leaving  out  facts  of  his- 
tory that  would  give  the  reader  no  conception 
of  the  trials  and  vexations  to  which  the  early 
supporters  of  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle  were 
subjected.  No  one  coming  freshly  upon  the 
scene  to  participate  in  the  breeding  of  pure- 
bred cattle  in  these  days  of  breed  tolerance 
could  understand  the  lengths  to  which  jealousy, 
prejudice  and  selfish  interests  drove  men  in 
their  opposition  to.  Hereford  cattle;  in  what 
was,  in  veriest  truth,  the  "Battle  of  the 
Breeds."  I  have  personally  experienced  some- 
thing in  this  line  myself.  Several  old  show 
ring  controversies  are,  in  this  work,  again 
brought  to  light.  Fraudulent  entries  and  false 
ages  are  shown  to  have  been  prominent  factors 
in  past  conflicts.  Let  no  reader  suppose  that 
such  things  do  not  exist  to-day.  They  are  not 
so  patent  between  the  breeds,  because  the  show 
ring  contests  between  breeds  has  largely  been 
done  away  with,  but  the  fraudulent  exhibitor 
is,  if  possible,  more  prevalent  to-day  than  ever. 
He  can  be  found  in  our  own  ranks,  so  much  so 
that  an  exhibitor  must  take  one  of  three 
courses,  either  one  of  which  is  equally  unpleas- 
ant. I  refer  to  the  fact  that  ages  are  misrep- 
resented (flagrantly,  in  some  cases).  Surgical 
operations  are  performed  to  change  the  appear- 
ance and  eradicate  defects  of  animals  in  a  man- 
ner that  should  put  the  most  unscrupulous 
horse  farrier  to  shame,  and  there  are,  at  times, 


INTRODUCTION 


13 


as  notorious  manipulations  of  judging  commit- 
tees in  the  present  day  as  ever  occurred  in  the 
past.  As  I  said  before  there  are  three  courses 
open  to  the  honest  exhibitor  who  desires  to 
bring  his  cattle  before  the  public  at  the  great 
shows.  He  must  either  (first)  protest  and  prove 
these  nefarious  practices;  (second)  practice 
these  unworthy  methods  himself,  or  (third) 
submit  tamely  and  allow  the  unscrupulous  ex- 
hibitor to  win  unmerited  prizes  and  escape 
unscathed.  The  one  redeeming  feature  of  the 
show  ring  is  that  the  unscrupulous  exhibitors 
are  a  very  small  minority,  so  that  whenever 
those  who  show  fairly  and  honestly  get  to- 
gether and  protest  in  a  body  against  crooked 
practices  they  can  be  overthrown,  but  as  a  rule 
up  to  this  time  exhibitors  have  preferred  to 
allow  these  frauds  to  go  unrebuked,  because  of 
the  prominence  of  the  parties  committing 
them,  or  of  a  desire  to  keep  peace  regardless  of 
price.  Again,  the  class  of  exhibitors  commit- 
ting these  depredations  on  the  show  ring 
usually  last  but  a  little  while.  They  are,  as  it 
were,  meteors,  who  come  out  and,  to  use  their 
own  language,  "make  a  killing"  in  the  prize 
ring  for  a  year  or  two,  and  then  disappear,  only 


to  be  followed  by  some  similar  fraud  upon 
whom  their  mantle  invariably  falls.  As  I  said 
before,  these  unpleasant  parts  of  the  book  are 
left  as  their  author  shaped  them.  Mr.  Miller 
and  my  father  had  the  habit  of  calling  things 
by  their  real  names,  and  both  were  accustomed 
to  tell  the  truth  regardless  of  who  were  hurt 
or  benefited  thereby,  and  therefore  I  have  felt 
constrained  to  adopt  the  policy  that  was  forced 
upon  Pontius  Pilate  and  say,  "What  is  written 
is  written."  They  could  never  in  life  forgive 
the  garbling  of  their  statements  by  the  editor, 
and  I  could  not  be  party  to  such  action  now 
that  they  are  not  here  to  protest  for  them- 
selves. 

This  is  Mr.  Miller's  work,  and  as  such  is 
submitted  as  the  best  work  ever  published  on 
cattle.  If  every  stockman  in  America  will  read 
this  work  and  act  upon  its  suggestions,  in  the 
light  of  its  teachings,  more  will  be  accom- 
plished in  the  profitable  upbuilding  of  the  beef 
interests  of  America  in  one  decade  hereafter 
than  has  heretofore  been  accomplished  in  a 
century.  T.  F.  B.  SOTHAM. 

Chillicothe,  Mo., 

April  14th,  1902. 


HISTORY    OF.    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  I. 

FOUNDATION  HEREFORD  HERDS 


In  the  year  1627,  John  Speed  published  a 
work  on  England,  Wales,  and  Scotland,  in 
which  he  says  of  Herefordshire,  "the  climate 
is  most  healthful  and  the  soil  so  fertile  for 
corn  and  cattle  that  no  place  in  England  yield- 
eth  more  or  better  conditioned."  (fl  1) 

Starting  from  this  data,  it  is  fair  to  presume 
that  the  cattle  of  Herefordshire  should  im- 
prove, and  that  Mr.  Benjamin  Tomkins,  who 
commenced  the  breeding  of  Herefords  in  the 
year  1742,  should  have  found  a  class  of  cattle 
of  great  merit.  (j[  2)  It  is  well  here  to  give 
an  account  of  the  Tomkins  family. 

The  Tomkins  of  Weobley  were  of  considera- 
ble note  and  position  in  its  neighborhood,  prior 
to  the  civil  war  of  Charles  the  First,  but  being 
enthusiastic  Royalists,  they  suffered  much,  in 
consequence  of  that  monarch's  overthrow. 

They  were  distinguished  in  music  and  paint- 
ing, being  patronized  in  both  arts  by  royalty, 
and  the  leading  members  of  the  House;  they 
were  great  and  consistent  politicians,  for  many 
generations,  representing  Leominster  and 
Weobley  in  Parliament. 

.  At  successive  periods  during  the  seventeenth 
century,  the  branch  from  which  the  dis- 
tinguished cattle  breeder  sprang  was  known 
as  Tomkins  of  Garnestone,  a  considerable  do- 
main, situated  immediately  south  of  Weobley, 
which  belonged  to  James  Tomkins,  Lord  of 
Weobley,  and  M.  P.  for  Leominster  from  1623 
to  1628,  who  was  much  esteemed  as  a  country 
gentleman  and  noted  debater  in  the  House  of 
Commons. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
was  one  Richard  Tomkins,  of  the  New  House, 
King's-Pyon  parish  (|[  3),  who  spent  his  life 
there,  and  became  a  very  successful  farmer 
and  breeder  of  work  oxen.  In  his  will  in  1720, 
he  bequeathed  a  yoke  of  oxen,  called  Spark  and 
Merchant,  to  his  son  Richard,  and  a  cow  Silver 
and  calf  to  his  son  Benjamin.  Richard  Tom- 
kins  died  in  1723,  leaving  six  sons  and  one 
daughter.  Five  of  his  sons  established  them- 
selves as  farmers  in  the  immediate  neighbor- 


hood. The  fourth  son,  the  first  distinguished 
cattle  breeder,  "Benjamin  Tomkins  the  elder," 
was  born  at  the  New  House,  King's-Pyon,  in 
1714,  and  commenced  business  at  the  Court 
House,  Canon  Pyon,  about  1738.  He  married 
Anne  Preece  of  Alton,  in  1742,  and  subse- 
quently moved  to  Wellington  Court  in  1758, 
where  he  died  in  1789,  leaving  six  children, 
four  sons  and  two  daughters.  Of  these  four 
sons,  Benjamin,  who  has  been  credited  as  the 
noted  breeder  and  improver  of  the  Hereford 
breed  of  cattle,  was  the  second  son  of  Benjamin 
of  the  Court  House  and  Wellington  Court,  and 
from  Richard  of  New  House  to  Benjamin  in- 
clusive, there  were  ten  of  the  sons  and  grand- 
sons, who  were  all  farmers  and  probably 
breeders  of  Hereford  cattle. 

Benjamin  Tomkins,  (ft  4)  the  renowned 
breeder,  was  the  second  son  of  Benjamin  Tom- 
kins  of  Court  House,  Canon  Pyon,  where  he 
was  born  in  1745  and  commenced  farming  at 
Black  Hall,  (fl  5)  King's-Pyon,  in  1766.  He 
married  in  1772,  his  cousin  Sarah,  second 
daughter  of  Richard  Tomkins  of  the  Grange, 
Wormsley.  He  occupied  Black  Hall  until 
1798  when  he  sub-let  it  to  his  nephew,  George 
Tomkins,  Jr.,  of  Frogdon,  and  removed  to 
Wellington  Court,  which  he  held  as  a  bytake, 
from  his  father's  death. 

In  1812  he  gave  up  Wellington  Court  and 
went  to  reside  at  his  own  place,  Brook  House, 
(ff  6)  King's-Pyon,  where  he  died  in  1815. 
From  James  Tomkins,  Lord  of  Weobley,  who 
was  active  in  politics  in  1623-8,  to  Richard, 
who  commenced  farming  at  New  House, 
King's-Pyon,  and  died  in  1723 — nearly  one 
hundred  years — we  are  without  a  record. 

Returning  to  Mr.  Benjamin  Tomkins,  the 
younger,  who  commenced  the  improvement  of 
the  Herefords  in  1766,  we  have  very  little  in- 
formation as  to  the  course  he  pursued,  except 
that  his  cattle  obtained  a  very  enviable  reputa- 
tion among  breeders,  and  brought  large  prices 
from  some  of  the  best  breeders  during  his  time. 
At  one  time  he  took  twenty  cows  to  Hereford- 


16 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


shire  Agricultural  Show  and  gave  a  challenge 
of  £100  to  any  one  who  would  show  an  equal 
number  against  him.  His  nephew,  George 
Tomkins,  after  traveling  over  Herefordshire 
and  other  parts  of  England,  among  cattle 
breeders,  when  he  came  home,  reported  to  his 
uncle  that  of  all  the  cattle  he  had  seen,  there 
were  none  equal  to  his.  Mr.  Jno.  Price,  of 
Ryall,  about  the  year  1804,  became  acquainted 
with  the  cattle  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Tomkins, 
from  whom  he  bought  a  few  cows,  using  them 
to  bulls  descended  from  Mr.  Walker's  stock. 
He  first  attempted  to  improve  the  Tomkins 
cattle  by  crossing  them  with  the  larger  stock 
of  Mr.  Walker,  with  a  view  of  increasing  their 
size,  but  the  result  was  so  unfavorable  that  he 
put  away  all  these  crosses  and  returned  to  the 
pure  Tomkins  variety.  Mr.  Price  continued 
to  breed  Herefords  until  1841,  his  herd  being 
solely  of  the  Tomkins  blood.  So  that,  upwards 
of  seventy  years  at  least,  this  strain,  first  in 
possession  of  Benjamin  Tomkins,  and  then  in 
that  of  John  Price,  was  bred  continuously 
without  an  out-cross. 

It  would  appear  that  Mr.  Tomkins  was  en- 
titled to  the  position  of  leader  in  the  improve- 
ment of  the  breed,  and  for  giving  a  fixed  char- 
acter both  as  to  quality,  color,  and  markings, 


and  at  the  same  time,  the  Hewers,  William  and 
John,  were  close  seconds.  It  was  perhaps  to 
be  expected  that  their  friends  would  take  sides, 
and  a  feeling  of  rivalry  should  grow  up  among 
them  for  the  time  being;  but  ultimately  as 
these  different  lines  expanded  and  new  men 
took  the  places  of  the  early  rivals,  the  best 
of  each  were  brought  together. 

Mr.  John  Price  of  Ryall  and  other  eminent 
breeders  acquired  bulls  and  cows  of  the  Tom- 
kins  breed  and  they  soon  spread  widely  over 
the  country.  In  October,  1808,  Tomkins  had 
a  large  sale  at  the  Court  Farm,  Wellington, 
which  the  auctioneer,  Mr.  William  James,  an- 
nounced in  these  words :  "For  sale,  the  follow- 
ing valuable  and  much  admired  stock,  the 
property  of  Benjamin  Tomkins,  who  is  going 
to  decline  breeding  cattle;  consisting  of  20 
capital  cows  and  heifers,  which  have  five  calves 
now  sucking,  two  four-year-old  bulls,  one  ditto 
martin,  nine  three-year-old  bullocks,  six  two- 
year-old  ditto,  two  yearling  heifers,  one  of 
which  is  heavy  in  calf,  three  two-year-old  bulls, 
two  ditto  yearlings/'  No  note  of  the  prices  or 
purchasers'  names  at  this  sale  has  been  ob- 
tained, but  we  are  able  to  give  a  private  valua- 
tion of  the  stock  at  Wellington  Court  Farm, 
drawn  up  by  George  Tomkins  in  June,  1808, 


SCENE  IN  HEREFORDSHIRE.— A  FERTILE   SOIL  AND  WELL-CONDITIONED    CATTLE. 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


17 


which  will  indicate  the  owner's  estimate  of 
their  worth:  "12  cows  and  calves  at  £40 
($200)  each,  £480  ($2,400)  ;  12  oxen  at  £43 
($215)  each,  £516  ($2,580)  ;  10  two-year-olds 
at  £20  ($100)  each,  £200  ($1,000);  10  year- 
lings at  £15  ($75)  each,  £150  ($750)."  An 
average  for  old  and  young,  steers  and  breeding 
stock  of  over  £30  ($150)  each. 

Only  a  comparatively  small  number  of  the 
hulls  bred  by  Benjamin  Tomkins  were  entered 
in  the  Herd  Book,  and  in  few  cases  are  par- 
ticulars given  of  their  breeding.  Wellington 
(4)  160  (ff8)  is  registered  simply  as  coming 
under  the  division  of  the  mottle  faces,  and  as 
having  been  bred  by  Mr.  B.  Tomkins.  He' 
passed  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Price,  and 
was  purchased  at  his  sale  in  1816  by  Mr.  Jelli- 
coe  of  Beighterton  for  £283  10s,  ($1,400),  be- 
ing afterwards  sold  to  Mr.  Germaine.  He  was 
considered  by  Mr.  Tomkins  the  best  bull  he 
ever  bred,  his  Silver  Bull  (41)  432,  excepted, 
and  also  the  best  stock  getter.  In  Vol.  1  of  the 
English  Herd  Book,  there  is  a  colored  litho- 
graph (reproduced  herein)  of  this  bull  from  a 
painting  by  Mr.  Welles,  representing  a  compact, 
straight  animal,  of  fine  size,  with  fine  bone, 
mottle  face,  white  dewlap,  and  white  along  the 
lower  parts  of  the  body.  Another  of  Tomkins' 
bulls  registered  in  Vol.  1,  is  Ben  (96)  6703, 
of  which  the  editor,  Mr.  Eyton,  says  that  "Miss 
Tomkins  informed  him  that  Ben  was  by  Sam 

(144)  6704,  out  of  one  of  Mr.  Tomkins'  cows 
called  Nancy."     Sam   (144)    6704,  is  without 
recorded  pedigree,  all  that  is  said  concerning 
him  being  that  he  was  bred  by  B.   Tomkins. 
Wild  Bull  (145)  3040,  bred  by 'Tomkins,  was, 
on  Miss  Tomkins'  authority,  said  to  be  by  Sil- 
ver Bull   (41)  432,  out  of  Tidy  340.     Phoenix 
(55)  3035,  a  mottle  face,  out  of  Storrell  3039, 
bred  by  Mr.  Tomkins  and  got  by  Wild  Bull 

(145)  3040,  was  purchased  at  Miss  Tomkins' 
sale  in  1819  for  560  guineas  (over  $2,800)  by 
Lord  Talbot.     Mr.  Eyton  has  this  remark  as  to 
his  dam:     "Storrell,  Miss    Tomkins    informs 
me,  was  out  of  a  mottle  faced  cow  of  the  same 
name  ( Storrell  3041 ) ,  by  a  Pigeon  bull."    The 
bull  called  Son  of  Prices  25  (84)  440,  bred  by 
Tomkins,  was  out  of    (Price's    No.  25)   439, 
"who  was  out  of  a  sister  to  the  dam  of  Price's 
23,  or  'The  Slit  Teat  cow,'  by  the  Silver  Bull 
(41)    432."     Proctor's    bull,     (316)    376,  was 
bred  by  B.  Tomkins  "out  of  his  favorite  cow, 
'Old  Pink."-    Voltaire  (39A)  429,  was  a  white 
faced  bull  bred  by  Tomkins,  dam  Price's  No. 
3.     Wizard   (59) '6699,  was  a  mottle  face  of 
Tomkins'   breeding   by   Ben    (96)    6703,   and 
was   sold   to   Mr.    Germaine   for   300   guineas 
($1,500).    Wedgeman  (166)  was  bred  by  Tom- 


kins,  but  no  pedigree  is  given  in  the  Herd  Book. 
In  the  appendix  to  Vol.  XI  of  the  English 
Herd  Book,  Mr.  E.  F.  Welles  gave  some  inter- 
esting recollections  of  the  stock  of  Mr.  John 
Price,  from  which  a  very  complete  idea  can  be 
obtained  of  the  character  and  appearance  of 
the  Tomkins  cattle.  It  is,  indeed,  one  of  the 
most  valuable  statements  that  has  been  made 
on  the  subject.  Mr.  Welles  says:  "When  Mr. 
John  Price  commenced  cattle  breeding,  the 
character  of  bull  most  in  esteem  in  the  chief 
Midland  districts  was  one  having  a  throat  with 
as  little  loose  flesh  as  possible  depending  from 


TYPICAL     HEREFORD      FAT     OXEN     OF     THE     OLD- 
FASHIONED   SORT. 

it.  This  character  was  also  introduced  by  some 
cattle  breeders  amongst  Herefords.  The  cele- 
brated Purslow  bull,  the  property  of  the  Hay- 
woods  of  Clifton-on-Teme,  had  this  character. 
Mr.  Walker  of  Burton  had  also  adopted  it,  and 
from  him  Mr.  Price  had  a  bull  or  two.  Mr.  B. 
Tomkins  and  other  Hereford  breeders  had  not 
been  affected  b}r  this  fashion,  and  Mr.  Price, 
when  he  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Tomkins' 
stock,  relinquished  it,  preferring,  and  upon 
sounder  principles,  that  character  which  better 
indicated  the  male  animal,  a  considerable  de- 
gree of  throatiness  not  being  objected  to.  This 
character  belonged  to  Wellington  (4)  160,  the 
first  bull,  and  I  think,  the  only  one  bought  by 
Mr.  Price  of  Mr.  B.  Tomkins.  This  bull  was  very 
dark  in  color,  with  face  and  bosom  both  mottled 
and  speckled.  His  dam,  too,  bought  afterwards 
by  Mr.  Price  (but  did  not  breed  with  him), 
was  also  of  the  same  color." 

"The  cows  bought  by  Mr.  Price  of  Mr.  Tom- 
kins  were  the  following:  First,  a  large  cow 
with  a  speckled  face,  giving  a  blue  appearance 
to  it,  with  what  may  be  termed  an  arched  fore- 
head or  Roman  nose,  tips  of  horns  blackish, 
body  of  lightish  brown,  dappled,  under  part  of 


18 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


body  and  legs  inclining  to  blackness,  white 
along  her  back  and  well  formed,  but  on  rather 
high  legs.  Secondly,  a  cow  commonly  called 
'the  Mark-nosed  cow' — a  red  cow  with  mottled 
face,  square  made,  and  on  short  legs,  rich 
quality  of  flesh,  with  a  soft  and  thick  pile  of 
hair  moderately  curled.  This  cow  was  un- 
fortunate to  Mr.  Price  as  a  breeder,  the  only 
produce  I  recollect  out  of  her  being  the 
'Marked  faced  bull/  alias  Tyon'  at  his  sale. 
Thirdly,  a  large  yellow  cow  with  white  face, 
rather  long  headed,  and  not  carrying  much 
flesh.  She  was  the  dam  of  Voltaire  (39 A) 
429,  by  one  of  Mr.  Tomkins'  bulls. 

"Pigeon,  by  far  the  most  remarkable  cow  he 
had  of  Mr.  Tomkins — and  her  own  character, 
as  well  as  that  of  her  descendants,  will  well 
warrant  me  in  terming  her  the  best — was  a 
large  cow,  rather  on  high  legs,  somewhat  shal- 
low in  the  bosom,  with  very  fine  bone,  neck 
rather  light,  head  good  but  horn  short;  her 
color  a  speckled  grey,  the  red  parts  being  dark, 
growing  still  darker  about  her  legs ;  hair  rather 
short  but  soft,  quality  of  flesh  excellent,  back 
and  hind-quarters  great,  excepting  thighs, 
which  were  rather  light,  but  with  good  twist; 
her  constitution  hardy,  and  she  was  a  regular 


THE    NEW    HOUSE,    KING'S-PYON,    HEREFORDSHIRE. 

and  successful  breeder.  About  this  same  time 
also,  Mr.  Price  had  another  cow  from  Mr.  B. 
Tomkins,  which  was  called  the  Rough  cow, 
from  her  coat  being  much  curled;  she  was  a 
middle  sized  cow,  nothing  remarkable  in  form, 
her  color  dark  red,  with  white  back,  and  she 
had  the  reputation  of  being  of  a  family  that 
were  good  ox  breeders.  Mr.  Price  had  a  bull 
from  this  cow  called  'Rough  bull'  alias  'Origi- 
nal/ but  he  did  not  long  retain  any  of  his  stock. 
There  were  sisters  to  him  by  other  Tomkins 
bulls.  Two  more  cows  Mr.  Price  subsequently 
obtained  from  Mr.  B.  Tomkins — a  half-sister  to 


No.  25,  and  a  daughter  to  Mr.  Tomkins' 
famous  'Slit  Teat  Cow'  No.  21.  The  former 
of  these  was  a  small  cow  out  of  a  very  true 
form,  dark  color,  with  white  along  her  back; 
she  was  the  dam  of  Lord  Talbot's  Woodcock 
(50)  654,  sire  of  Mr.  Price's  Woodcock 
Pigeon  651.  I  am  not  aware  that  Mr.  Price 
had  any  more  cows  from  Mr.  B.  Tomkins,  but 
he  afterward  obtained  two  cows  of  his  blood 
— one  called  Damsel  371  from  Mr.  T.  Tom- 
kins,  and  another  from  Mr.  Tomkins  of  Worm- 
bridge,  the  former  the  dam  of  W'oodman 
(10)  307  and  the  latter  the  dam  of  Diana 
638.  He  also  bought  a  few  Tomkins  bred 
cows  from  Mr.  Jas.  Price;  among  these  was 
the  dam  of  Peg  Murphy  3559." 

These  notes,  which  furnish  a  complete  pic- 
ture of  a  large  number  of  the  Tomkins  cattle, 
fully  bear  out  what  has  been  said  as  to  their 
diversified  colors.  Mr.  Price's  selections  com- 
prised animals  that  were  yellow  with  white 
face ;  speckled  grey ;  dark  red,  with  white  back ; 
red  with  mottle  face;  dark  color  with  white 
along  the  back;  and  lightish  brown  dappled, 
with  white  along  the  back,  etc.  The  only 
point  in  which  there  was  an  approach  to  uni- 
formity as  regards  color  was  the  white  back. 
A  few  other  notes  as  to  Tomkins'  cows  are 
gleaned  from  the  entries  in  the  Herd  Book. 
The  "Slit  Teat  Cow"  referred  to  by  Mr.  Welles 
was  considered  by  Tomkins  the  best  cow  he 
ever  had.  Storrell  3039  by  Wild  Bull  (145) 
3040,  was,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  dam 
of  Phoenix  (55)  3035,  sold  to  Lord  Talbot 
for  560  guineas  ($2,800).  Old  Rose  was  out 
of  the  dam  of  Silver  Bull  (41)  432,  Old 
Lovely  657  was  a  daughter  of  the  "Slit  Teat 
Cow."  All  we  know  about  others  are  their 
names,  and  in  some  cases  those  of  their  sires 
— Blowdy  out  of  Old  Pidgeon,  the  dam  qf  Mr. 
Price's  Pigeon  373;  Margaret,  by  Silver  Bull 
(41)  432;  Stately,  by  Wizard  (59)  6699;  Blos- 
som, by  Phoenix  (55)  3035;  Old  Lily,  Nutty, 
etc. 

After  the  death  of  B.  Tomkins,  in  October, 
1815,  the  herd,  which  had  by  this  time  been 
much  reduced  in  numbers  by  private  sales,  was 
kept  on  by  his  daughters,  the  Misses  Tomkins, 
until  October,  1819,  when  part  of  it -was  sold. 
Through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Haywood  of 
Blackmere  House  we  have  been  favored  with  a 
copy  of  the  original  sale  bill,  containing  the 
prices  and  purchasers'  names,  marked  by  one 
who  was  present  at  the  sale.  The  document 
has  a  historic  importance,  and  is  reproduced  in 
full: 

"A  catalogue  of  the  valuable  stock  of  prime 
Herefordshire  cattle,  the  property  of  the  late 


1 1  I  S  T  0  R  Y     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


19 


i.  Tomkins  of  Wellington  Court,  which  will 
be  sold  by  auction  without  reserve,  upon  the 
premises  at  King's-Fyon,  nine  miles  from  Here- 
ford, on  Monday,  18th  October,  1819,  being 
the  eve  of  the  Herefordshire  Agricultural 
Show,  and  two  days  previous  to  the  great  cattle 
fair  at  Hereford: 


PURCHASER. 


PRICE. 


'LOT.        NAME. 

1.  Yearling  heifer, 

Young    Blowdy  .....  Mr.    W.    West  .........  56  14  0= 

2.  Ditto,    Young    Fair- 

maid    ...............  Mr.    Court    ...........  99150= 

3.  Two-year-old     i  n   - 

calf  heifer,  Young   Mr.    G.    Tomkins,    for 
Blossom    ...........     Lord   Talbot    .......  105    00= 

4.  Ditto,    Young    Silver.  Mr.    John    Tomkins.  .  73  10  0= 

5.  In-calf  heifer,   Duch-Mr.    G.    Tomkins,    for 

ess    .................     Lord    Talbot     ......  105    00= 

6.  Ditto   cow,    Pigeon.  ..Mr.    W.    West  .........  159120= 

7.  Ditto,    Stately  ........  Mr.    G.   Tomkins,   for 

Lord    Talbot     ......  52  10  0= 

8.  Ditto,    Silk    ..........  Mr.    Lewis    ...........  70    70= 

9.  Ditto,    Beauty    .......  Mr.     Cooke     ..........  262100= 

10.  Ditto,    Silver    ........  Mr.    West    ............  210    00= 

11.  Ditto,    Cherry    .......  Mr.    G.    Tomkins,    for 

Lord    Talbot    .......  110    50= 

12.  Ditto,     Prettymaid...Mr.    Lewis    ...........  99150= 

13.  Ditto,    Piot    ..........  Mr.    Turner    ........  7.105    00= 

14.  Ditto     Nancy  .........  Mr.    G.    Tomkins,    for 

Lord    Talbot    .......  252    50= 

15.  Ditto     Blowdy  ........  Mr.    Cooke    ...........  273    00= 

16.  Ditto,  Fairmaid  .....  Mr.    West    ............  65    20= 

17.  Ditto,   Tidy   ..........  Mr.    Cooke    ...........  131    50= 

18.  Ditto,    Lovely    .......  Mr.    Cooke    ...........  53  11  0= 

19.  Ditto,     Storrell  .......  Mr.    G.    Tomkins,    for 

Lord    Talbot    .......  262    50= 

Mr.    Edwards    ........  141150= 

.  Mr.    Clarke    .....  .....  147    00= 

Mr.    Crooke    ..........  215    50= 

48    60= 


20.  Ditto,    Pink 
-21.  Bull-calf  -off    Ditto 

22.  Ditto   off   Beauty 

23.  Fat    Cow,    Blossom.  .Mr.   James 

24.  Pair    of    two-year- 

old   steers    (twins).  Mr.   T.    Cooke  .........  47    50= 


$285 
500 


525 
370 

525 
800 

265 

350 

1310 

1050 

550 
500 
525 

1260 
1365 
325 
855 
265 

1310 
705 
735 

1075 
240 


235 
240 
245 
100 


25.  Ditto    .................  Mr.    W.    Cooke  ........  48  60= 

26.  Ditto    .................  Mr.    James    Price  .....  49  00= 

27.  Single    Bullock  .......  Mr.    James    Price  .....  20  00= 

28.  Pair  of  yearling  bul- 

locks    ..............  Mr.    Smith    ...........  24  00=    120 

29.  Ditto    .................  Mr.    Patrick    .........  27  00=    135 

30.  Ditto    .................  Mr.    James    Price  .....  49  00=    245 

31.  Ditto    .................  Mr.    Oliver    ...........  27  60=    135 

32.  Ditto     ................  Mr.    Wedge    ..........  2510.0=    130 

33.  Pair    of    bullock 

calves     .............  Mr.    W.    Cooke  ........  20100=    100 

34.  Ditto    .................  Mr.    W.    Cooke  ........  16  00=      80 

35.  Ditto     ................  Mr.    Wright    .........  16  00=      80 

36. 

?,7.  Heifer  calf   .....  .....  Mr.   G.   Tomkins  ......  30  00=    150 

38.  Ditto    .................  Mr.    Cooke    ...........  26  00=    130 

39.  Two-year-old        bull 

of  Pink  ............  Mr.    W.   West  ........  147  00=    735 

40.  Ditto  of  Storrell  .....  Mr.    G.    Tomkins,    for 

Lord   Talbot  •  ......  588  00=  2940 

41.  Four-year-old    Ditto.  Mr.    Welles    .........  162150=    815 

42.  Five-year-old   Ditto.  .Mr.  T.  Cooke  ........  173  50=    865 

"N.  B.  —  The  above  cattle  are  all  of  the  pure 
breed,  which  have  been  so  justly  esteemed  and 
admired  by  the  most  competent  judges  in  every 
part  of  the  kingdom  where  they  have  been  in- 
troduced, and  for  which  peculiar  blood,  the 
highest  prices  have  been  obtained,  and  particu- 
larly No.  23,  which  is  considered  to  carry  the 
greatest  weight  upon  the  smallest  bone  of  any 
cow  in  the  kingdom." 

SUMMARY   OF    SALES. 

Total.  Average. 

£     s  d         £    s  d=U.  S.  D. 

17    cows    ......................  2249    20  149  18  9=$  749.68 

3  two-year-old  heifers    .....  283  10  0  94  10  0=    472.50 
2  yearling  heifers    ..........  156    90  78    46=    391.12 

4  bulls    ......................  1071    00  267150=1338.75 

2  bull  calves   ................  362    50  181    26=    905.62 

28  Head;     Total,    £4172  6s  Od    ($20,861.50);     Average,    £149 
($745.00). 


It  is  interesting  to  compare  the  foregoing 
averages  with  those  realized  at  the  great  Short- 
horn (Durham)  sales  of  the  Brothers  Colling, 
which  took  place  about  the  same  time.  At  Mr. 
Chas.  Ceiling's  sale  at  Ketton,  in  1810,  the 
average  for  47  head  was  £151  8s  ($757.00) 
(the  bull  Comet  bringing  1,000  guineas  or 
$5,000.00).  At  Mr.  Robt.  Ceiling's  sale  at 
Brampton  in  1818,  61  head  averaged  £128  17s 
lOd  ($644.35);  and  at  his  sale  in  1820,  46  head 
averaged  £49  8s  7d  ($247.14). 

A  statement  has  recently  been  made  to  the 
effect  that  the  Tomkins  Herefords,  if  they  had 
not  from  the  effects  of  excessive  in-and-in 
breeding  fallen  into  disrepute  before  B.  Tom- 
kins'  death,  at  least  did  so  almost  immediately 
afterwards.  There  is  certainly  no  evidence  of 
want  of  public  appreciation  in  the  sale  list 
which  has  just  been  given.  Moreover,  Mr.  John 
Price  for  many  years  retained  without  any  mix- 
ture the  blood  of  Tomkins,  and  also  bred  very 
closely,  arid  yet  when  his  herd  was  dispersed  in 
1841  (26  years  after  Tomkins'  death)  the  aver- 
age for  99  lots  was  £53  16s  4d  ($270).  But  it  is 
only  necessary  to  glance  at  the  composition  of 
the  foundation  herds  of  Herefords  as  recorded 
in  the  Herd  Book — those  of  Knight,  Smythies, 
Yarworth,  Hewer,  Walker,  Hoskyns,  Perry, 
Jellico,  Smith,  Lord  Talbot,  Sir  F.  Lawley, 
etc.,  to  see  how  largely  the  Tomkins  blood  was 
infused  over  the  breed.  There  was  scarcely  one 
of  the  early  herds  that  was  not  indebted  to  the 
Tomkins  strains  for  part  of  its  excellence,  and 
if  the  results  of  injudicious  in-and-in  breeding 
had  then,  as  is  alleged,  been  so  painfully  ap- 
parent, the  blood  would  have  scarcely  obtained 
such  wide  circulation.  That  some  of  Tomkins' 
cattle  went  into-  the  possession  of  those  who 
were  not  able  to  do  them  justice,  and  who 
failed  in  the  attempt  to  carry  out  what  they 
supposed  was  his  system,  is  unquestionable; 
but  that  the  herd  retained  unimpaired  its  high 
character  when  Benjamin  Tomkins  died,  is 
proved  by  the  results  in  1819,  and  by  the  fact 
that  John  Price  continued  for  37  years  to  suc- 
cessfully breed  on  the  Tomkins'  lines  without 
resorting  to  other  blood. 

After  the  sale  in  1819  the  Misses  Tomkins 
remained  at  the  Brook  House  Farm,  and  con- 
tinued to  breed  Hereford  cattle.  They  had  a 
second  sale  in  October,  1839,  when  it  was  an- 
nounced that  they  were  about  to  retire  from 
business.  The  catalogue  of  this  sale  shows  that 
their  cattle  still  retained  considerable  reputa- 
tion. Among  the  prices  were  £108  ($540)  for 
the  nine-year-old  cow  Pigeon,  the  purchaser 
being  Mr.  (rough;  £50  ($250)  for  the  eight- 
year-old  cow  Stately  (Mr.  Davenport);  £5& 


BENJAMIN   TOMKINS,  JR.,   1745-1815. 


21 


($280)  for  the  seven-year-old  cow  Diana  (Mr. 
Galliers);  £50  (or  $250)  for  the  nine-year-old 
cow  Lovely  (Mr.  Galliers);  £52  ($260)  for  the 
three-year-old  heifer  Countess  (Mr.  Jones);  £51 
($255)  for  the  two-year-old  heifer  Tidy  (Mr. 
Galliers).  A  three-year-old  bull  No.  1,  got  by 
a  bull  from  Old  Pigeon  by  the  same  sire,  made 
£82  ($410)  (Mr.  Griffiths).  Among  the  other 
purchasers  were  Mr.  Smythies,  Mr.  Yeld,  Mr. 
Vevers,  Mr.  J.  Moore,  etc.  The  average  for 
48  animals  was  over  £30  (or  $150).  The  final 
Bale  was  in  October,  1854,  one  of  the  sisters 
having,  in  the  interval,  died.  The  entire  herd, 
numbering  55  head,  "descended  from  that 
peculiar  blood  which  has  for  three-fourths  of 
a  century  been  the  admiration  of  the  county, 
and  which  have  upon  former  occasions  realized 
higher  prices  than  any  other  breed  of  Here- 
fords  in  the  kingdom,"  was  then  dispersed.  No 
catalogue  of  this  sale  seems  to  have  been 
printed;  the  announcement  having  been  made 
on  a  "broadside,"  specifying  the  numbers  of 
the  various  classes  of  stock,  and  there  is  no 
note  of  prices.  The  auctioneer,  however, 
stated  that  the  animals  were  purely  descended 
from  the  herd  of  the  late  Mr.  Benjamin  Tom- 
kins,  from  whom  the  late  Mr.  Price  of  Ryall 
obtained  that  breed  of  cattle  which,  at  different 
times,  have  been  distributed  through  the 
I' uited  Kingdom  at  enormous  prices,  particu- 
lars of  which  will  be  found  in  "Eyton's  Herd 
Book."  From  a  note  in  Vol.  1  of  the  Herd 
Book  it  appears  that  it  was  the  custom  of  the 
Misses  Tomkins  to  give  the  same  names  to  their 
cows  through  successive  generations,  and  their 
bulls — of  which  they  were  in  the  habit  of  keep- 
ing four  or  five — were  not  distinguished  by 
names  but  by  numbers.  From  these  causes  no 
bulls  or  cows  bred  by  them  appear  in  the  Herd 
Book.  We  are  informed  that  for  some  years 
the  Misses  Tomkins  had  the  advantage  of  Mr. 
(icorge  Tomkins'  assistance,  but  when  he  gave 
up  his  farm  in  1836  the  herd  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  so  carefully  managed,  though  the 
system  of  close  breeding  was  continued. 
Doubtless  the  Misses  Tomkins  parted  with  the 
best  portion  of  their  stock  in  1819,  and  most 
of  the  remainder  in  1839;  and  between  that 
date  and  1854,  having  only  themselves  and  a 
bailiff  to  depend  upon,  it  was  only  to  have  been 
expected  that  their  herd  should  not  continue 
to  possess  the  special  merits  by  which  it  was 
formerly  characterized,  and  it  may  be  from  its 
decadence  that  the  idea  has  arisen,  that  Ben- 
jamin Tomkins'  stock  had  greatly  deteriorated 
before  his  death. 

Other  members  of  the  Tomkins  family  beside 
the  Misses  Tomkins  engaged  in  the  breeding 


of  Herefords.  Among  them  may  be  mentioned 
Mr.  Eichard  Tomkins,  Hyatt,  Sarnesfield,  a 
brother  of  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Tomkins.  He 
was  born  in  1736  and  died  in  1819.  After  the 
death  of  this  gejitleman,  his  herd  was  sold  in 
April,  1819.  We  have  the  sale  list  but  it  is 
unnecessary  to  print  it  in  full,  The  prices  were 
very  good  for  the  times.  A  pair  of  oxen  named 
Summons  and  Merryman  were  sold  for  £80 
($400);  another  pair  named  Merchant  and 
Lightfoot  sold  for  £60  ($300);  Mr.  Westcar 
gave  £50  ($250)  for  a  pair  of  three-year-old 
bullocks,  and  £48  10s  ($240)  for  another  pair. 
Among  the  purchasers  of  breeding  stock  were 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Smythies,  and  Mr.  Jones,  Brein- 
ton.  Mr.  Bray  tells  us  that  among  Richard 
Tomkins'  stock  were  a  good  many  of  the 
"hailed  backed"  variety,  and  several  of  the 
animals  included  in  the  sale  are  thus  described 
in  the  catalogue.  The  Rev,  J.  R.  Smythies 
purchased  two  "hail  backed"  heifers. 

George  Tomkins  of  Frogdon,  born  1740,  died 
1797,  brother  of  Benjamin  Tomkins,  the 
younger,  had  also  a  noted  stock  of  Herefords, 
and  he  is  generally  believed  to  have  been  a 
remarkably  good  judge  of  stock. 

George  Tomkins,  son  of  the  gentleman  just 
named,  nephew  of  Benjamin  Tomkins  and  a 
trusted  friend  of  Lord  Talbot,  also  bred  Here- 
ford cattle.  Born  in  1776,  he  occupied  the 
farms  of  Wistaston  and  Frogdon.  He  gave  up 
the  former  farm  to  his  son-in-law,  Thos.  Gal- 
liers, in  1836,  and  then  retired  to  the  Green, 
Norton  Ganon.  The  portrait  of  a  cow,  bred  by 
George  Tomkins,  was  often  pointed  out  by  the 
mother  and  father  of  T.  T.  Galliers,  Wistas- 
ton, as  being  a  good  representative  of  the  Tom- 
kins'  "Silver-breed."  This  cow  was  purchased 
by  Mr.  Peploe,  of  Garnestone  Castle,  and  was  a 
favorite  of  his,  being  kept  to  a  great  age  for 
breeding.  He  had  her  painted  by  Weaver  in 
1814,  when  she  was  eight  years  old,  and  the 
picture  hung  in  Mr.  Peploe's  study  during  his 
lifetime,  and  during  that  of  his  successor,  Cap- 
tain Peploe.  When  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Webb-Peploe 
succeeded  to  the  property  he  presented  the  oil 
painting  to  the  late  Mrs.  Galliers  on  her  re- 
questing permission  to  have  a  photo  taken  of 
the  portrait  of  her  father's'Silver  cow.  (fl  9) 
This  painting  represents  the  Tomkins  Silver 
variety  of  Herefords.  Mr.  T.  A.  Knight,  of 
Downton,  obtained  some  of  his  stock  from  Mr. 
Geo.  Tomkins,  who  died  in  1854,  aged  79 
years. 

Other  members  of  the  Tomkins  family  who 
were  breeders  of  the  Hereford  cattle  were  Rich- 
ard Tomkins,  of  Dippers  Moor,  born  1757, 
died  1800;  William  Tomkins,  of  Wormbridge, 


22 


HIS TOBY  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


born  1756,  died  1821;  and  Thos.  Tomkins,  of 
Court  House,  born  1743. 

Mr.  T.  C.  Yeld  (fl  10)  in  an  interesting  arti- 
cle from  which  we  shall  quote,  mentions  Wig- 
more  Grange  sale,  and  says  "that  most  of  the 
purchasers  secured  several  lots.  They  were 
cows,  calves,  and  young  heifers;  the  oxen, 
steers  and  bulls  being  sold  in  the  following 
spring.  The  writer  has  seen  a  painting  of  one 
of  the  oxen,  four  of  which,  he  has  learned,  from 
the  family,  sold  for  over  £70  ($350)  each. 

"Old  Mr.  Tully  also  left  three  sons  in  farm- 
ing business — one  at  Huntington,  one  at  Clyro 
and  one  at  Graf  ton;  and  these  possessed  by  far 
the  best  of  what  would  be  called  the  white- 
faced  Herefords,  if  I  except  Mr.  Skyrme,  of 
Stretton,  but  of  whose  stock  I  have  no  reliable 
account,  except  the  opinion  of  Mr.  T.  A. 
Knight,  which  is  certainly  most  favorable.  In 


BLACK    HALL,    KING'S-PYON,    HEREFORDSHIRE. 

giving  an  account  of  the  Herefords  of  the  last 
century,  I  have  stated  nothing  but  what  is 
from  correct  sources. 

"I  now  proceed  to  name  the  best  herds  at  the 
commencement  of  the  present  century,  and  al- 
though Mr.  Benjamin  Tomkins  was  in  the 
highest  repute  there  were  many  who  possessed 
equally  good  cattle.  The  late  Mr.  T.  A.  Knight 
in  replying  to  my  inquiry  about  the  pedigree 
of  the  celebrated  White  Bull,  writes  as  follows: 

"  'Sir:  The  account  which  you  appear  to  have 
received  respecting  the  bull  from  which  you 
have  bred  is  in  every  essential  respect  correct, 
but  I  did  not  give  the  calf  to  Mr.  Turley.  He 
bought  it  of  me,  and  never  paid  me  anything 
for  it.  The  dam  was  bred  by  Mr.  Skyrme,  of 
Stretton,  who  at  that  time  possessed,  in  my 
opinion,  by  far  the  best  breed  of  cattle  in  the 
country,  and  which  was  Mr.  Westcar's  opinion. 
I  reared  several  other  bulls  from  the  same  cow, 


which  were  very  excellent,  and  for  one  of  them 
at  eleven  months  old  I  refused  40  guineas.  The 
sire  of  your  bull  descended  from  a  mixture 
of  the  breed  of  Mr.  Tully,  of  Huntington,  and 
Mr.  Isaac  Martin,  who  possessed  very  excellent 
though  small,  stock.  I  do  not  think  a  better 
bred  animal  than  that  about  which  you  have 
inquired  ever  existed  in  the  county  of  Here- 
ford. I  never  bred  above  two  or  three  animals 
from  Benjamin  Tomkins'  stock,  which,  I  con- 
fess, I  never  liked.  With  good  wishes,  your 
obedient  servant, 

(Signed)    T.  A.  KNIGHT,  (fl  11) 
To  T.  C.  Yeld. 

Downton,  January  8th,  1836.'  * 

It  may  be  pointed  out  that  Mr.  Yeld  was  evi- 
dently unaware  of  the  fact  that  there  were  two 
breeders  named  Benjamin  Tomkins.  The  asso- 
ciate of  William  Galliers,  of  Wigmore  Grange, 
to  whom  he  refers,  was,  as  has  already  been 
explained,  not  Benjamin  Tomkins,  the  younger, 
as  he  seems  to  have  believed,  but  his  father. 

William  Galliers  (ft  12a),  of  Wigmore  Grange 
(TJ12),  was  intimately  associated  with  the 
elder  Benjamin  Tomkins  in  social  and  business 
relations,  and  was  born  in  the  year  1713,  and 
died  May  26th,  1779,  and  his  herd  passed  to  his 
son,  John  Galliers. 

William  Galliers,  of  Frogdon,  was  a  son  of 
William  Galliers  (ff  13A),  of  Wigmore  <fl  12B) 
Grange,  and  hence  a  brother  of  John ;  was  also  a 
breeder  of  Herefords,  and  gained  thirteen  cups 
and  two  decanters  before  the  Herefordshire 
Agricultural  Society  between  the  years  1802 
and  1815.  The  Wigmore  Grange  herd  was  sold 
on  October  15th,  1795.  Prior  to  this  date  a 
portion  of  the  herd  had  passed  into  the  hands 
of  William  Galliers,  Jr.,  who  went  to  Oxhouse 
in  1765;  to  Eye  in  1790;  and  to  Frogdon  in 
1799. 

The  Wigmore  sale,  October  15th,  1795,  com- 
prised 82  head. 

The  two  sons  of  William  Galliers — William, 
born  at  Wigmore  Grange  (j[  13)  in  1744,  who 
died  at  Oxhouse  in  1832,  aged  88  years;  and 
John,  born  at  Wigmore  Grange  in  1755,  who 
died  at  Coxall  in  1828 — were  both  celebrated 
breeders.  The  prize  list  of  the  early  shows  of 
the  Herefordshire  Agricultural  Society  proves 
the  character  of  the  stock  of  William  Galliers, 
and  the  sale  list  given  indicates  the  estimation 
in  which  the  herd,  after  it  had  passed  into  the 
hands  of  John  Galliers,  was  held,  although  he 
does  not  seem  to  have  long  continued  breeding 
Herefords  after  his  removal  to  Coxall  in  1795 
(f  13B). 

Miss    Letitia     Galliers,    grand-daughter    of 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


23 


William  Galliers,  of  Frogdon,  remembers  some 
animals  of  the  mottled-face  variety  being  at 
Oxhouse.  She  believes  that  at  first  a  portion 
of  the  Galliers  cattle  were  more  or  less  mottle- 
faced,  but  they  gradually  assumed  the  red 
with  white  face  markings,  and  by  selection, 
they  ultimately  became  wholly  of  that  color. 
There  can,  in  her  opinion,  be  no  doubt  that  her 
grandfather  won  his  prizes  with  white-faced 
animals. 

Some  notes  taken  from  a  memorandum  book 
belonging  to  Mr.  William  Galliers,  of  Frogdon, 
show  that  in  1775  an  ox  weighed  80  st.  4  Ibs. 
(1,124  Ibs.);  while  in  1787  an  ox  weighed  89  st. 
11  Ibs.  (1,257  Ibs.),  and  a  cow  weighed  84  st. 
9  Ibs.  (1,185  Ibs.).  He  seems  to  have  sold  his 
cattle  by  weight,  at  4d  per  pound,  off  grass. 

Benjamin  Tomkins,  the  elder,  began  farming 
in  1738  and  died  in  1789. 

William  Galliers  was  born  in  1713  (a  year 
earlier  than  Benjamin  Tomkins,  the  elder,)  and 
died  in  1779,  ten  years  earlier  than  B.  Tom- 
kins,  the  elder;  thus  the  two  men  were  breed- 
ers for  forty  years  or  more.  Mr.  B.  Tomkins, 
starting  in  1766,  was  a  breeder  for  23  years  by 
the  side  of  his  father,  and  for  13  years  beside 


Mr.  Galliers.  John  Galliers  continued  breed- 
ing from  this  date,  after  his  father's  death,  until 
October  15th,  1795. 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  date  that  the  Tom- 
kins  family  had  been  breeders  of  Hereford  cat- 
tle for  a  century  or  more;  and  it  is  true,  prob- 
ably, from  the  time  of  Speed  in  1627,  that 
Herefordshire  had  many  farmers  who  were 
breeders  of  cattle  of  a  quality  equal  to  the  best 
that  went  into  London  market. 

John  Duncomb,  Secretary  of  the  Hereford 
Agricultural  Society,  and  Historian  of  the 
county,  says:  "The  cattle  of  Herefordshire 
have  long  been  esteemed  superior  to  most,  if 
not  all,  other  breeds  in  the  Island.  Those  of 
Devonshire  and  Sussex  approach  the  nearest  to 
them  in  general  appearance.  A  large  size  and 
athletic  form  and  unusual  neatness,  character- 
ize the  true  sort.  The.  prevailing  color  is  a  red- 
dish brown  with  white  face.  They  are  shod 
with  iron  in  situations  which  frequently  re- 
quire their  exertion  on  hard  roads. 

"The  showing  of  oxen  in  thriving  condition, 
at  Michaelmas  Fair,  in  Hereford,  cannot  be  ex- 
ceeded by  any  similar  collection  in  England. 
On  this  occasion  they  are  generally  sold  to  the 


HOUSE,    KING'S-PYON,    HEREFORDSHIRE. 


24 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


principal  graziers  in  the  counties  near  the  me- 
tropolis, and  then  perfected  for  the  London 
market."  I  have  introduced  Mr.  Duncomb  at 
this  point,  as  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  his 
statement  may  refer  to  the  past  as  well  as  to 
his  own  time. 

Mr.  Henry  Haywood  (fl  14),  of  Blakemere 
House,  Hereford,  informed  Messrs.  McDonald 
and  Sinclair  (editors  of  a  history  of  Herefords, 
published  in  1886)  that  in  the  division  of  John 
Hay  wood's  property  in  1713,  he  especially  re- 


WELLINGTON   (4)  160,  CALVED  1808,   BRED  BY  B.  TOM- 
KINS. 
(From   an   old    lithograph.) 

f ers  to  his  cattle  and  to  one  of  his  sons,  and 
says  further:  "My  father  always  told  me  that 
his  great-grandfather  (the  said  John  Haywood) 
was  considered  a  superior  man  of  business,  and 
was  a  breeder  of  Hereford  cattle.  My  uncle, 
Joseph  Smith,  of  Shellesley  (who  had  always 
lived  in  that  neighborhood),  often  mentioned 
this  John  Haywood  as  a  leading  man  and 
breeder  of  Herefords." 

The  fact  that  the  Tomkins  family  and  the 
Haywoods  were  breeders,  each  in  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  probably  much  earlier,  is  suffi- 
cient evidence  that  the  Herefordshire  farmers 
were  breeders  of  a  superior  class  of  cattle,  and 
with  such  a  foundation  Mr.  Benjamin  Tom- 
kins,  Jr.,  commenced  his  work. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Campbell,  of  Charlton,  Kent  Coun- 
ty, was  a  contributor  to  the  "Annals  of  Agri- 
culture," published  by  Arthur  Young.  He 
wrote  two  papers  for  the  "Annals"  treating  on 
breeds  of  cattle  and  sheep,  and  mainly  relating 
to  -the  Herefords.  Campbell  had  a  controversy 
with  Young  as  to  the  point  that  should  charac- 
terize a  model  beef  animal,  and  having  been 
described  as  a  warm  advocate  of  the  Herefords, 
he  said:  "I  am  so,  because  of  long  experience. 
If  I  am  wrong,  it  is  not  for  want  of  painstaking, 
or  being  thoroughly  acquainted  with  several 


other  breeds,  and  particularly  those  about  which 
there  has  been  much  said,  at  least  in  print, 
as  to  which,  after  a  long-continued  trial  (and 
in  the  outset  of  the  trial,  as  confident  in  my 
expectation  as  anybody  could  have  been  of 
finding  them  better  than  the  Herefords)  in  the 
end  being  of  the  opinion  that  in  most  cases 
they  were  greatly  inferior  to  them." 

Campbell's  discussion  with  Young  originated 
in  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  merits  of 
an  ox,  of  the  true  Herefordshire  breed,  which 
the  former  had  exhibited. 

Campbell  says  that  "the  opinion  of  many 
who  viewed  this  animal  alive  was  that  they 
never  saw  so  much  beef  under  a  hide  of  the 
size,  and  upon  so  small  proportion  of  bone." 
He  also  stated  that  he  "knew,  from  experience 
through  trials  of  various  breeds,  none  that 
would  fatten  on  less  food  and  few  that  would 
not  require  more  than  the  true  Hereford 
breed.  The  difference  in  thriving,  for  the  food 
given,  between  them  and  good  specimens  of 
other  breeds,  which  he  had  fed  along  with 
them,  did  not  require  weight  and  scales  to 
determine." 

Mr.  Campbell  was  a  farmer  in  Charlton,  Kent 
County,  and  a  feeder  of  cattle  for  the  butcher 
in  London  market,  and  commenced  feeding 
cattle  at  or  before  1779,  probably  before  that 
time.  The  ox,  a  specimen  of  the  true  Here- 
fordshire breed,  over  which  the  controversy  was 
held,  was  slaughtered  in  1779  and  exhibited  at 
Greenwich,  on  account  of  the  fineness  of  his 
flesh,  beauty  of  his  shape,  symmetry  of  his 
parts,  fore  and  aft,  the  impartial  distribution 
of  his  weight,  and  the  regular  fattening  of  all 
his  parts.  The  ox  was  about  seven  years  old, 
and  the  following  are  the  figures  of  his  size  and 
weight:  Live  weight  was  3,360  pounds;  the 
forequarters  weighed  1,016  pounds;  the  hind- 
quarters weighed  896  pounds.  The  dressed 
weight  of  this  ox  was  1,912  pounds. 

Mr.  John  Westcar,  of  Creslow,  Buckingham- 
shire, an  eminent  grazier,  identified  himself 
with  this  breed.  He  regularly  attended  the 
Hereford  fairs  as  early  as  1779,  and  the  high 
prices  at  which  he  sold  bullocks  in  the  London 
market  doubtless  convinced  many  of  their 
adaptability  for  grazing  purposes.  We  first 
note  his  selling  fifteen  oxen  on  September  17th, 
1798,  for  a  price  in  English  currency  equal  to 
$4,637.00,  an  average  of  $243.00  each.  The 
same  year  he  aided  in  the  organization  of  the 
Smithfield  Cattle  and  Sheep  Society,  before 
which  at  their  first  meeting  he  took,  with  a 
Hereford,  the  championship  for  the  best  ox  in 
the  show  (II  15). 

Mr.  George  Dood  wrote  Rev.  J.  R.  Smythies 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


25 


that  he  had  been  permitted  to  examine  Mr. 
West  car's  books,  and  made  selections  as  of  the 
Herefords  which  he  had  sold  for  £100  ($500) 
each,,  and  he  found  between  1799  and  1811 
twenty  oxen  sold  for  £2,123  ($10,615),  or 
$531.00  each,  and  says  that  if  he  had  selected 
such  as  sold  for  £80  ($400)  each,  the  list  would 
have  been  very  largely  increased. 

Selecting  from  his  sales  from  1799  to  1811, 
cattle  that  had  sold  for  $500.00  or  over,  there 
were  twenty  head  that  averaged  $531.00,  and 
the  highest  priced  ox  sold  for  $737.00— all  sell- 
ing to  butchers. 

In  the  year  1812  or  1813  he  made  a  sale  of 
fifty  oxen  at  Smithfield  for  $250.00  each. 
These  are  the  sales  of  which  I  find  an  account, 
though  he  fed  and  grazed  200  head  or  more 
each  year,  which  found  a  market  in  London. 

I  have  selected  these  two  feeders,  Westcar 
and  Campbell,  as  coming  nearer  or  contempo- 
rary to  the  Messrs.  Tomkins'  work,  than  any 
other.  These  men  were  graziers  as  early  as 
1799,  and  were  experienced  as  graziers,  feeders 
and  sellers. 

William  Marshall,  contemporary  historian  of 
Tomkins,  Westcar,  Campbell  period,  wrote  in 
1788,  describing  the  cattle  of  the  west  of  Eng- 
land, that  the  great  writer  Speed  said  in  1627, 
"that  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle,  taking  it 
all  in  all,  may,  without  risk,  I  believe,  be 
deemed  the  first  breed  of  cattle  in  this  Island." 
Here  we  have  the  fixed  data  of  Speed  in  the 
year  1627,  who  was  a  historfan,  writing  of  Eng- 
land, Wales  and  Scotland. 

Marshall  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  and  jour- 
neyed all  over  the  country,  collecting  facts 
illustrative  of  the  various  agricultural  districts, 
and  making  inquiries  as  to  the  breeds  of  cattle, 
horses,  and  sheep,  for  facts  to  be  used  in  a 
work  published  by  him,  entitled  "Rural  Econ- 
omy of  the  West  of  England." 

Marshall  gives  a  description  of  the  Hereford 
ox,  as  he  found  him  in  1788,  which  it  is  well 
to  quote  here:  "The  general  appearance,  full 
of  health  and  vigor,  and  wearing  the  marks  of 
sufficient  maturity,  provincially  oxenish,  not 
steerish,  or  still  in  too  growing  a  state  to  fat; 
the  countenance  open,  cheerful,  pleasant;  the 
forehead  broad,  the  eye  full  and  lively;  the 
horns  bright,  tapering  and  spreading;  the  head 
small;  the  neck  long  and  tapering;  the  chest 
deep;  the  bosom  broad  and  projecting  forward; 
the  shoulder  bone  thin  and  flat.  No  protuber- 
ance in  bone,  but  full  and  mellow  in  flesh;  the 
loins  broad,  the  hips  standing  wide  and  level 
with  the  spine;  the  quarters  long  and  wide  at 
the  nache;  the  rump  with  the  general  level  of 
the  back,  not  crooping  or  standing  high  and 


sharp  above  the  quarters;  the  tail  slender  and 
neatly  haired;  the  barrel  round  and  roomy;  the 
carcass  throughout  being  deep  and  well  spread; 
the  ribs  broad  and  standing  close  and  flat  on 
the  outer  surface,  forming  a  smooth  and  even 
barrel;  the  hindmost  large  and  full  length,  the 
bone  small  and  snug,  not  prominent;  the  thigh 
clean  and  regularly  tapering;  the  leg  upright 
and  short,  the  bone  below  the  hough  small;  the 
cod  and  twist  round  and  full;  the  flank  large, 
the  feet  of  a  middle  size;  the  flesh  everywhere 
mellow,  soft,  and  yielding  to  the  touch,  espe- 
cially on  the  chine,  the  shoulder  and  the  ribs; 
the  hide  mellow  and  supple,  of  a  middle  thick- 
ness and  loose  on  the  nache  and  huckle;  the 
coat  neatly  haired,  bright  and  silky,  its  color 
a  middle  red;  with  a  bald  face,  the  last  being 
esteemed  characteristic  of  the  true  Hereford- 
shire breed." 

We  submit  that  this  description,  written 
over  one  hundred  years  ago,  will  pretty  well 
answer  for  to-day. 


SILVER      COW,      CALVED      1806,      BRED      BY      GEORGE 

TOMKINS. 
(Prom    an    old    painting.) 

Marshall  also  says  that  "At  the  Hereford  fair 
on  October  20th,  1788,  we  saw  about  a  tho\i- 
sand  head  of  cattle,  chiefly  of  the  Hereford 
breed.  A  large  proportion  of  them  were  grown 
oxen,  full  of  flesh.  The  most  valuable  collection 
I  have  met  with,"  and  then  he  adds :  "Out  of 
Smithfield,  by  much  the  finest  show  I  have  ever 
seen." 

Mr.  Fowler,  on  another  page,  gives  an  ac- 
count of  Mr.  Westcar's  visit  to  the  Hereford 
October  Fair  with  the  Duke  of  Bedford  and 
Lord  Berners,  to  which  we  call  attention. 

As  stated,  Mr.  Westcar  took  an  active  part 
in  the  organization  of  Smithfield  Cattle  and 
Sheep  Society,  afterwards  changed  to  the 
"Smithfield  Club,"  an  account  of  which  we 
have  thought  best  to  adopt,  supplemented  by 
items  that  I  find  in  the  "Annals  of  Agricul- 
ture." (H  16) 


HIST OK Y     OF    H EKE  FOE D     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  II. 

FOUNDATION  HEREFORD  HERDS — Continued 


JOHN  PRICE,  OF  RYALL. 


It  was  impossible  to  notice  the  career  of  Ben- 
jamin Tomkins,  the  younger,  without  making 
some  reference  to  his  greatest  supporter  and 
disciple,  John  Price.  (j[  17)  Thanks  to  Mr. 
Price's  habit  of  carefully  recording  his  breed- 
ing transactions,  and  to  the  industry  of  his 
friend,  Mr.  Welles,  we  know  almost  exactly  the 
character  of  the  cows  which  he  purchased  from 
Mr.  Tomkins;  and  his  subsequent  method  of 
breeding  is  clearly  narrated  in  the  Herd  Book 
entries,  which  were  drawn  up  from  his  cata- 
logues and  notes.  Mr.  Price  was  scrupulous  in 
his  attention  to  pedigrees,  and  in  his  case,  there 
is  no  occasion  for  regret  at  the  absence  of  de- 
tails. 

John  Price,  the  eminent  breeder,  was  the 
eldest  son  of  Job  and  Elizabeth  Price,  who 
occupied  a  farm  at  Earl's  Croome,  in  Worces- 
tershire (j[  18),  where  he  was  born  in  1776. 
The  son  of  an  industrious  farmer,  John  Price 
was  from  an  early  age  engaged  in  all  the  oper- 
ations of  the  farm.  Thus  employed,  he  had 
little  opportunity  for  receiving  any  other  than 
a  plain  village  school  education.  He  was 
taught  to  read,  to  write,  and  the  use  of  fig- 
ures. Whatever  disadvantage,  however,  he  ex- 
perienced from  the  want  of  a  more  extended 
education  was  amply  compensated  by  the  pos- 
session of  great  natural  abilities — of  a  mind 
powerful  and  original  in  its  conceptions  and 
conclusions,  and  as  soon  as  he  commenced  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account,  he  let  slip  no  oppor- 
tunity of  improving  his  education  by  reading 
and  seeking  the  society  of  gentlemen  of  high 
respectability.  Early  in  life  he  became  a  fa- 
vorite with  the  Earl  of  Coventry.  These  facts 
are  gleaned  from  an  obituary  notice  that  ap- 
peared in  the  "Farmers'  Magazine"  in  1845. 
Mrs.  Pumfrey,  Mr.  Price's  daughter,  in  a  sub- 
sequent number  of  the  journal,  wrote:  "All 
is  true  that  you  state  of  his  humble  birth; 
not  that  his  parents  were  of  mean  grade  or 
fortuneless;  but  farmers  then  lived  and 
brought  up  their  sons  so  differently  to  those  of 
modern  times.  My  father's  transcendant  and 


natural  abilities  and  genius,  however,  sur- 
mounted every  obstacle  to  improvement;  by 
nature  and  habit  he  became  a  perfect  gentle- 
man, an  ornament  to  any  society,  and  this 
without  any  assumed  polish.  Humble  and 
courteous  even  in  his  most  palmy  days,  he  was 
a  favorite  with  all,  the  kind  and  assisting 
friend  of  many,  his  very  faults  leaning  so  much 
to  the  side  of  virtue  as  to  disarm  one  of  blame. 
Not  only,  as  you  say,  was  he  an  admitted,  but 
an  honored  guest  at  Croome,  for  even  during 
the  visit  of  royal  personages  has  the  late  Coun- 
tess of  Coventry  insisted  on  my  father  being 
of  their  circle.  I  have  known  the  late  Earl 
of  Coventry,  with  his  brothers,  to  dine  at  my 
father's  house  five  days  of  the  week;  the  late 
Earl  Plymouth,  and  many  others,  too  numer- 
ous to  name  individually,  none  of  whom  need 
to  blush  in  association  with  a  man  mentally 
superior  to  most.  His  fame  as  a  breeder  and 
judge  of  stock  will  not  die  for  many  an  age; 
in  which  respect  I  have  often  been  told  since 
and  before  his  death,  he  had  no  equal." 

Mr.  Price  ultimately  succeeded  his  father  as 
tenant  of  Earl's  Croome,  and  he  early  evinced 
a  fondness  for  the  live  stock  of  the  farm.  The 
cattle  he  first  possessed  of  any  pretensions  to 
good  breeding  were  procured  from  Mr.  Walker, 
of  Burton.  Mr.  Welles  states  that  with  some 
of  these  he  was  induced  to  try  crosses  with  the 
pure  Gloucesters,  an  old  breed  famous  for  their 
milking  properties,  the  improved  specimens 
also  making  good  carcasses  of  meat  and  pro- 
ducing good  steers.  An  uncle,  Mr.  Barnes,  of 
Corse  Court,  was  in  possession  of  an  excellent 
herd  of  the  Gloucester  breed,  and  Mr.  Price 
procured  a  few  cows  of  him.  Mr.  Welles  says 
he  remembers  a  cow  bred  from  one  of  these  by 
a  Hereford  bull,  making,  when  fed,  an  ex- 
traordinary animal — weighing  upwards  of  18 
score  per  quarter  (1,440  Ibs.). 

It  was  about  the  year  1804  that  Mr.  Price 
became  acquainted  with  the  cattle  of  Mr.  B. 
Tomkins,  from  which  he  bought  a  few  cows, 
using  to  them  bulls  descended  from  Mr.  Walk- 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


er's  stock.  Mr.  Welles  recollected  the  first  bull  so 
bred,  out  of  the  cow  Pigeon,  bought  from  B. 
Tomkins.  But  the  cross  did  not  suit  and  the 
animal  was  disposed  of. 

About  1811  Mr.  Price  gave  up  the  farm  at 
Earl's  Croome  and  bought  a  small  estate  at 
Ryall,  near  Upton-upon-Severn.  He  also  took 
a  large  field  of  pasture,  a  part  of  Croome  de- 
mesne, of  about  120  acres,  which  he  held  till 
his  death.  In  a  few  years  from  this  time  he 
possessed  himself  of  cows  from  Mr.  B.  Tom- 
kins,  and  his  herd  began  to  attract  considerable 
notice.  Among  the  purchasers  of  the  stock  he 
was  able  to  draft,  being  many  of  the  nobility, 


MR.    T.    C.   YELD,   OF  THE    BROOME. 

including  the  Earl  of  Plymouth,  Earl  Talbot, 
and  the  honorable  Mr.  Germaine.  In  1812  he 
gave  a  challenge,  to  be  decided  at  the  Lichfield 
Agricultural  meeting,  to  show  twenty  of  his 
cows  in  milk  against  twenty  Longhorn  cows 
for  100  guineas  ($500.00).  The  challenge  was 
accepted  by  Mr.  Meek,  and  was  decided  in  Mr. 
Price's  favor.  About  this  date  he  made  a  large 
speculation  in  purchasing  land.  The  venture 
was  not  a  success,  and  the  estate  had  to  be  sold 
at  great  loss.  A  good  stock  of  cattle  and  sheep 
which  Mr.  Price  had  collected  also  came  to  the 
hammer,  and  the  prices  showed  that  much 
judgment  had  been  exercised  in  their  breed- 
ing and  selection. 

Mr.  Price  then  carried  on  his  farming  opera- 


tions at  Ryall,  where  he  continued  to  reside, 
taking,  however,  more  grass  land  of  excellent 
quality  at  Mytton,  near  Tewkesbury.  But  pre- 
vious to  this  he  had  obtained  more  Herefords 
of  Tomkins  blood  and  purchased  the  bull  Well- 
ington, and  his  dam,  from  Mr.  Tomkins.  Soon 
after  1816  Mr.  Price  left  Ryall  and  took  up  his 
residence  at  Poole  House,  near  Upton,  still 
holding  the  land  of  which  he  had  been  tenant 
for  so  many  years  under  Lord  Coventry. 

Mr.  Price  frequently  expressed  his  views  on 
the  subject  of  breeding.  He  stated  that  among 
cattle  the  Highland  Scot  approached  more 
nearly  than  any  other  animal  to  the  standard 
of  form,  which  he  considered  the  true  one. 
"This,"  he  adds,  "determined  me  in  adopting 
them  as  my  model.  I  was  desirous  of  possess- 
ing a  breed  of  cattle  on  a  somewhat  larger  scale 
than  the  Scotch  Kyloes,  yet  having  the  same 
symmetrical  loggy  forms,  with  similar  coats 
and  texture  of  flesh."  In  this  opinion,  Mr. 
Price  only  repeated  that  Mr.  John  Charge  had 
heard  Bakewell  many  years  before  state  that 
from  the  West  Highland  heifer  he  thought  the 
best  breed  of  cattle  might  be  produced. 

In  commencing  to  form  a  herd  which  should 
possess  the  form  and  qualities  he  thought  most 
desired,  Price,  as  has  been  indicated,  fixed 
upon  the  stock  of  Benj.  Tomkins,  from  whom 
he  purchased  a  considerable  number  of  cows 
and  heifers  and  three  bulls.  These  cattle  were 
of  smaller  size  than  other  herds  he  saw  in 
Herefordshire,  but  had  more  of  the  good  prop- 
erties of  the  model  he  had  in  view  than  any 
others  he  could  meet  with.  As  we  have  seen, 
he  first  attempted  to  improve  the  Tomkins  cat- 
tle by  crossing  them  with  the  larger  stock  of 
Mr.  Walker,  with  the  view  to  increasing  their 
size,  but  the  result  was  so  unfavorable  that  he 
put  away  all  these  crosses  and  returned  to  the 
pure  Tomkins  variety. 

Mr.  Price  continued  to  breed  Herefords  until 
1841,  his  herd  being  solely  of  Tomkins  blood; 
so  that  for  upwards  of  seventy  years,  at  least, 
this  strain,  first  in  the  possession  of  B.  Tom- 
kins,  and  then  in  that  of  John  Price,  was  bred 
continuously  without  a  fresh  cross. 

For  a  description  of  the  various  animals  pur- 
chased from  Tomkins  by  Mr.  Price  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  interesting  notes  of  Mr. 
Welles  printed  on  a  preceding  page.  In  refer- 
ence to  the  statement  that  Price  obtained  the 
best  animals  that  Tomkins  possessed,  Mr. 
Eyton  says  there  was  one  old  cow  that  must  be 
excepted,  a  remarkably  good  breeder,  which 
Tomkins  always  refused  to  sell,  although  Price 
offered  him  £250  ($1,250.00)  for  her.  This  re- 
mark suggests  the  idea  of  the  sums  Price  paid 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


for  the  animals  he  actually  bought  from  the 
great  breeder  at  Wellington  Court.  Mr.  Welles 
expresses  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Price  had  only 
one  of  the  Tomkins  bulls,  the  celebrated  Well- 
ington (4)  160.  But  in  addition  to  that  animal 
he  owned  Voltaire  (39a)  429,  a  white-faced 
bull  bred  by  Tomkins,  and  an  unnamed  bull 
of  his  breeding  that  appears  in  some  of  his  ped- 
igrees. Price  seems  to  have  followed  Tomkins 
not  only  in  his  system  of  in-and-in  breeding, 
but  also  in  his  disregard  of  color.  It  will  have 
been  noticed  that  the  colors  of  the  cows  he  ac- 
quired from  Tomkins  varied  greatly.  Then 
among  the  bulls,  Wellington  was  a  mottle-face; 
Voltaire  a  white  face,  and  Victory  (33)  (fl  19) 
calved  in  1839,  bred  by  Price,  was  chosen  for 
illustration  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Herd 
Book  as  a  typical  specimen  of  the  grey  variety; 


THOMAS  ANDREW  KNIGHT,  ESQ.,  PRESIDENT  OP  THE 

LONDON  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY,  BORN  1759. 

(From   an   old   lithograph.) 


while  the  portrait  of  Young  Trueboy  (32)  630 
(^1  20)  is  also  given  in  Volume  2  as  a  specimen 
of  the  greys,  although  in  the  entry  of  the  first 
volume  he  is  stated  to  have  been  a  mottle  face. 
One  of  the  most  remarkable  cows  owned  by 
Mr.  Price  was  Toby  Pigeon  308  by  Toby  (5) 
372,  dam  Pigeon,  or  Price's  No.  6,  373, 'bred 
by  B.  Tomkins.  It  is  stated  in  the  entry  of  one 
of  this  cow's  produce  in  Volume  1  of  the  Herd 
Book,  that  nearly  the  whole  of  Mr.  Price's 


herd  sold  in  1841  were  derived  from  her.  At 
19  years  of  age  she  had  bred  19  calves,  having 
taken  the  bull  by  chance  when  a  calf,  and  at 
3  and  4  years  old  she  had  twins.  The  following 
is  a  list  of  her  progeny:  Woodcock  Pigeon  651, 
by  Woodcock  (50)  654;  bull,  Solon  (92);  bull 
died;  Miss  Woodman;  bull,  Young  Woodman 
(12)  238;  bull,  Paris  (19)  6657;  bull,  Plenipo- 
tentiary (23);  cow,  sold  to  Mr.  Monkhouse; 
bull,  Trusty  (15)  643;  cow;  cow  died-  young; 
ditto  Burton  Pigeon;  bull,  died;  bull,  Truebov 
(14)  637;  cow,  Blue  Pigeon  3697;  cow,  Stock 
Dove;  cow,  Nonesuch;  bull,  Washington  (35). 

Price  frequently  challenged  admirers  of  other 
breeds  to  show  their  stock  against  his  own, 
thiss  as  we  shall  have  occasion  to  point  out, 
having  been  a  favorite  method  of  settling  dis- 
puted points  as  to  superiority,  prior  to  the  gen- 
eral acceptance  of  the  more  satisfactory  arbi- 
trament of  the  show  ring.  He  attended  one  of 
Lord  Althorpes'  ram  sales  in  Northampton- 
shire, and  after  the  dinner  gave  a  challenge  to 
show  one  of  his  bulls  against  any  Shorthorn. 
He  succeeded  in  getting  up  a  sweepstakes  of  £5 
each,  which  he  won  with  his  bull  Lundyfoot 
(16)  3560,  which,  according  to  the  writer  of 
the  memoir  in  the  "Farmers'  Magazine,"  was 
allowed  to  be  the  completest  animal  any  of  the 
company  ever  saw.  In  1839  he  issued  another 
challenge,  of  which  Mr.  Haywood,  of  Blake- 
mere  House,  has  furnished  a  copy.  It  is  as 
follows: 

"CHALLENGE!  !  !  To  all  breeders  of  cattle 
in  England.  Mr.  Price,  of  Poole  House  (fl  21), 
IJpton-upon-Severn,  is  willing  to  show  a  bull 
and  20  regular  breeding  in-calf  cows,  bred  by 
himself,  for  any  sum  not  exceeding  £100  nor 
less  than  £25,  to  be  shown  before  the  last  day 
of  November  next  ensuing,  against  a  bull  and  a 
like  number  of  cows  of  any  sort  that  have  been 
bred  by,  and  are  now  in  the  possession  of,  any 
breeder  of  cattle  in  the  United  Kingdom.  The 
judges  to  decide  on  this  occasion  to  be  chosen 
by  that  noble  patron  of  Agriculture  and  stick- 
ler for  fair  play,  Earl  Spencer,  and  his  Lord- 
ship's friend,  Sir  Francis  Lawley,  Bart.,  or 
whom  they  may  appoint.  The  stock  to  be 
viewed  on  the  farms  of  their  respective  owners, 
and  the  judges  to  be  paid  by  the  losing  party. 
N.  B. — It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  this  herd 
has  lived  on  worse  and  less  food,  owing  to  the 
dry  summer,  than  any  other  herd  of  cattle  in 
the  county." 

This  challenge  was  not  accepted  but  it  led 
to  a  controversy  between  Mr.  Thos.  Bates 
(ff  22),  of  Kirklevington,  the  well-known  Short- 
horn breeder,  and  Mr.  Price.  Mr.  Bates,  writ- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


ing  in  1840,  said  he  had  visited  Herefordshire 
about  fifty  years  previously,  and  was  then,  and 
continued  still,  an  admirer  of  the  best  variety 
of  the  Hereford  cattle.  But  he  considered  then 
and  had  for  about  40  years  been  convinced,  that 
"the  very  best  Shorthorns,  which  were  only  a 
few,  were  capable  of  improving  all  other  breeds 
of  cattle  in  the  United  Kingdom,  as  well  as  the 
ordinary  Shorthorns  which  were  far  from  a  good 
breed,  and  much  inferior  to  the  Herefords,  Dev- 
ons,  and  others."  Mr.  Bates  added :  ;"I  have  at 
present  two  red,  twin,  one-year-old  bulls,  out 
of  the  dam  of  the  Duke  of  Northumberland, 
you  may  not  think  unworthy  to  be  put  to  your 
herd  of  Herefords  for  one  season,  to  give  you 
an  opportunity  of  testing  the  merits  of  this 
cross-bred.  In  my  opinion  they  would  prove 
an  invaluable  cross  with  the  best  Herefords; 
increase  the  growth  of  the  Herefords,  and  at 
an  earlier  age  be  fit  for  the  butcher,  with  a  less 
consumption  of  food,  and  quality  of  beef  un- 
impaired, and  also  give  that  breed  an  increased 
milking  quality,  both  in  quantity  of  milk  and 
richness,  yielding  more  butter.')  To  this  Mr. 
Price  replied  that  he  had  inspected  Lord  Spen- 
cer's Shorthorn  herd,  and  had  never  seen  any- 
thing to  shake  his  belief  that  Hereford  cattle 
would  pay  more  money  for  the  food  they  con- 
sumed than  any  other  breed  with  which  he  was 
acquainted.  He  said  he  had  tried  many  crosses 
all  of  which  signally  had  failed,  where  the  ob- 
ject had  been  to  obtain  more  size  and  weight 
by  using  large  male  animals  with  females  of 
smaller  dimensions. 

Writing  to  the  "Farmers'  Magazine"  in  1841, 
Mr.  Price  gave  a  description  of  his  farm  and 
the  difficulties  under  which  he  labored,  owing 
to  shortness  of  keep,  etc.  He  said:  "The  farm 
1  have  occupied  since  1829  has  not,  at  any  time, 
much  exceeded  150  acres,  20  of  which  are  ara- 
ble, totally  unfit  for  the  growth  of  turnips,  and 
nearly  120  acres,  part  of  the  Croome  Demesne 
(^23),  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  Coventry,  in 
one  ground  and  rather  below  second-rate  qual- 
ity of  land,  greatly  covered  with  ornamental 
timber,  and  neither  buildings  nor  fold  yards  on 
my  farm  sufficient  to  hold  20  beasts.  Yet,  on 
this  land  I  have  usually  kept  100  head  of  cattle, 
together  with  a  flock  of  150  sheep,  40  of  which 
were  rams,  besides  my  cart  and  other  horses. 
These  are  facts  well  known  to  the  whole  of  my 
neighbors,  who  have  always  given  me  full  credit 
for  being  the  worst  keeper  of  stock  in  England. 
I  have  seldom  made  use  of  oil  cake,  and  on  no 
occasion  have  I  given  corn  or  meal  to  any  of 
my  stock." 

'On  October  17th  and  18th,  1816,  Mr.  Price 
had  an  extensive  sale  at  Ryall,  which  was  thus 


announced:  "The  cattle  stock  are  wholly  de- 
scended from  that  of  the  justly  celebrated  one 
of  the  late  Mr.  B.  Tomkins,  of  Wellington 
Court,  in  the  county  of  Hereford,  and  are  too 
well  known  to  need  any  comment."  The  prices 
realized  at  this  sale  were  very  large,  and  the 
event  forms  such  an  important  landmark  in 
the  history  of  the  breed,  that  we  give  the  list 
of  prices. 


WIGMORE    GRANGE,    HOME    OF    WILLIAM    GALLIERS. 
1713-1779. 

The  averages  for  the  various  classes  were  as 
follows: 

Average.     Total. 

32  cows $270 

13  three-year-old  heifers  .  .  .     295 
21  two-year-old  heifers   ....      285 

10  yearling  heifers 180 

21  heifer  calves    125 

13  bulls   660 

6  bull  calves   .  360 


$8,650 
3,830 
5,995 
1,820 
2,580 
8,595 
2,170 


116  head  averaged  $290.  $33,640 

The  highest-priced  females  brought  respect- 
ively £252,  £215,  £189,  £173,  £120  and  £110,  or, 
in  American  money,  $1,260,  $1,075,  $945,  $865, 
$.600,  and  $550  respectively. 

The  bulls  bringing  over  $500  each  were 
Waxy  (3)  655,  £341,  or  $1,705;  Wellington  (4) 
160,  £283  =  $1,415;  Ryall  (45),  £262  = 
$1,310;  Original  (40)  977*),  £147  =  $735;  War- 
rior (44),  £136  =$680;  Moses  (7)  426,  £115  = 
$575;  Leopold  (1)  652,  a  calf,  brought  £126  — 
$730. 

We  have  also  a  catalogue,  with  a  few  prices, 
of  Mr.  Price's  sale  at  Mytton,  Lodge  Farm, 
near  Tewkesbury,  on  March  21  and  22,  1820, 
but  it  is  not  necessary  to  reproduce  it.  A  few 
high  prices  were  realized.  Mr.  Barnes,  £109  4s 
($550)  for  heifer  Thalia;  Mr.  Jellico  gave  £127 
Is  ($635)  for  the  heifer  Vesta,  Mr.  Price's 


30 


HISTORY     OF     HEEEFOED     CATTLE 


final  sale  took  place  at  Poole  House  on  Octo- 
ber 15th,  1841.  Here  the  cow  Toby  Pigeon 
was  sold  in  her  22d  year  to  Sir  F.  Lawley  for 
£14  ($70).  The  highest  price  was  £166  ($830) 
for  the  bull  Washington,  Lord  Talbot  being 
the  purchaser.  Among  the  cows,  Wood  Pigeon 
made  150  guineas  ($750),  going  to  Mr.  Byrd, 
Hampton  Court,  Hereford.  The  heifer  Tube- 
rose was  taken  by  Lord  Talbot  at  100  guineas 
($500)  and  Ceres  at  £115  ($575),  by  Sir  F. 
Goodricke;  Mr.  Smith,  Martly,  gave  £100 
($500)  for  the  bull  Tramp;  Sir  F.  Lawley  £140 


WILLIAM   GALLIERS,    WIGMORE   GRANGE. 

($700)  for  Young  Trueboy,  and  £100  ($500)  for 
Victory;  Mr.  Samuel  Peploe  bought  the  bull 
Murphy  DeLaney  for  110  guineas  ($550).  The 
largest  purchasers  were  Lord  Talbot,  Sir  F. 
Lawley,  Sir  F.  Goodricke,  Captain  Walters,  Mr. 
S.  Peploe,  Garnestone,  and  Eev.  J.  E.  Smythies, 
Lynch  Court.  Mr.  Evans,  Pendeford  Hall, 
Stafford,  took  The  Eejected  for  110  guineas 
($550).  An  average  for  99  animals  was  £53 
16s  4d  ($270),  and  the  total  £5,328  ($26,640). 
Commenting  on  the  results  of  the  sale,  Mr. 
Price  said:  "Although  the  average  of  my  sale 
in  1816  is  a  little  above  the  average  price  of 
my  last  sale  in  1841,  it  will,  I  think,  appear 
evident  on  taking  into  account  the  length  of 
time  (25  years)  that  has  elapsed  between  the 


two  sales,  the  great  reduction  which  has  taken 
place  during  that  time  (and  since  the  sales  of 
Messrs.  Colling's  Shorthorns)  in  the  price  of 
first-rate  herds  of  cattle,  and  also  of  other  herds 
of  cattle,  together  with  circumstances  too  well 
known  to  both  landlords  and  tenants  to  need 
any  comment  from  me,  that  the  average  of  my 
last  sale  was  much  the  best;  thereby  placing 
the  herd  Vn  much  higher  ground  compared 
with  all  others  than  they  heretofore  occupied, 
and  I  do  sincerely  hope  that  the  hands  these 
animals  have  fallen  into,  will  take  care  that 
they  keep  their  present  high  position.  Should 
they  not  continue  to  do  so,  and  lose  caste,  the 
fault  will  not  be  in  the  cattle/' 

At  the  Poole  House  sale  it  was  resolved  to 
present  Mr.  Price  with  his  portrait,  and  a  good 
picture  was  painted  by  Mr.  Frederick  Tatham. 
Mr.  Price  survived  this  sale  only  two  years. 

At  his  three  sales  of  cattle,  in  1813,  1816, 
and  1841,  the  proceeds  amounted  to  no  less 
than  £16,690  ($83,450).  A  complete  record  of 
the  sale  in  1820  does  not  exist,  but  we  should 
imagine  that  if  the  amount  obtained  at  it  could 
be  added  it  would  swell  the  total  to  £20,000 
($100,000). 

In  the  article  on  Hereford  cattle  contributed 
to  Morton's  Cyclopedia  of  Agriculture,  Mr. 
Welles  has  a  few  remarks  on  the  character  of 
Mr.  Price's  stock.  He  said  he  thought  it  must 
be  generally  admitted  that  unusual  exertions 
had  been  made  through  great  difficulties  by  an 
individual  of  an  adjoining  county,  who  had 
been  the  most  zealous  and  (if  high  prices  were 
the  test)  the  most  successful  breeder  ,of  Here- 
fords  of  that  day  (about  1830-40).  And  little 
as  his  opinions  seemed  to  be  in  conformity 
with  those  of  a  large  portion  of  the  breeders  of 
the  county  of  Hereford,  and  though  his  great 
efforts  to  raise  the  character  of  the  breed  had 
been  so  little  understood  and  appreciated  on  its 
native  soil,  he  thought  those  who  calmly  and 
dispassionately  examined  the  principles  which 
guided  him  in  the  pursuit,  must  be  convinced 
that  there  were  many  points  on  which  he  in- 
sisted as  indispensable  in  the  formation  of  a 
superior  animal  that  could  not  safely  be  dis- 
regarded. Instances  of  failure  might  be  ad- 
duced against  him  in  some  of  his  practice,  but 
these  often  resulted  with  the  most  sagacious 
from  the  trial  of  new  combinations;  and  Mr. 
Welles  thought  it  very  probable  that  the  rising 
generation  of  breeders  would  find  that  a  supe- 
rior intellect  brought  to  bear  so  exclusively  on 
one  subject  had  not  been  exercised  in  vain,  and 
that  time  would  dispel  many  of  the  prejudices 
existing  in  certain  places  against  Mr.  Price's 
breed, 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


31 


Mentioning  some  of  the  exceptions  that 
might  fairly  be  taken  to  Mr.  Price's  system  of 
breeding,  he  said  one  of  the  most  prominent 
was  a  great  disregard  of  the  milking  proper- 
ties; and  from  his  late  practice  of  breeding 
from  near  affinities,  this  fault  might  be  sup- 
posed to  have  been  more  permanently  fixed  in 
certain  families.  That  it  would  not  be  desir- 
able in  a  breed  such  as  the  Hereford  to  make 
too  many  sacrifices  to  the  milking  quality,  he 
thought  would  be  generally  allowed;  but  there 
might  be,  he  was  convinced,  a  sufficient  dispo- 
sition to  give  a  fair  quantity  of  milk  and  the 


ing  devoted  to  more  important  qualities;  and 
as  the  family  in  which  these  were  most  concen- 
trated was  deficient  in  horns,  he  left  them  un- 
improved, thinking  he  might  in  the  pursuit  of 
a  non-essential  run  the  risk  of  losing  a  valuable 
property;  still  Mr.  Welles  believed  the  posses- 
sion of  good  horns  to  be  quite  compatible  with 
every  other  valuable  requisite,  and  it  was  cer- 
tainly a  considerable  advantage  to  the  appear- 
ance of  the  animal. 

These  observations  prove  that  a  prejudice 
had  arisen  in  the  county  against  Price's  cattle, 
which,  on  the  evidence  of  even  a  favorable  wit- 


THOMAS   TOMKINS    GALLIERS   (1902),    SEATED   IN    AN     ANCIENT  CHAIR   BEFORE   TYPICAL   OLD  HEREFORD- 
SHIRE   WAIN    (WAGON)    HOUSE. 


cow  be  equally  good  for  any  purpose  required 
of  her. 

There  were,  however,  many  cows  that  from 
want  of  proper  care  of  the  udder  after  calving, 
and  during  the  time  that  the  grass  was  lux- 
uriant, were  rendered  more  or  less  incapable  of 
a  supply  of  milk  afterwards,  and  he  thought 
much  inattention  on  that  head  was  often  the 
case  in  the  stock  he  alluded  to.  Another  ob- 
jection that  might  be  raised  against  Mr.  Price's 
stock  was  the  shortness  and  rather  mean  ap- 
pearance of  the  horns,  in  many  of  his  cows, 
not  characteristic  of  Herefords  in  general, 
which  had  mainly  risen  froni  Jus  attention  be- 


ness  like  Mr.  Welles,  was  not  without  some 
justification.  But  the  variety  was  very  far,  in- 
deed, from  being  even  at  the  close  of  Mr. 
Price's  career,  without  substantial  merit.  As 
to  the  late  appearance  of  Mr.  Price's  herd,  we 
have  the  following  interesting  communication 
from  Mr.  George  Smythies:  "I  had  no  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  Hereford  herd  of  Mr. 
Price.  I  never  saw  it  until  after  he  had  given 
up  farming;  when  I  knew  the  herd  it  was  kept 
in  Lord  Coventry's  park  the  greater  part  of 
the  year  and  for  a  short  time,  in  winter  and 
spring,  the  cattle  were  tacked  out  in  straw 
yards  with,  anybody  who  would  keep  them.  J 


32 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


once  saw  the  best  lot  of  14  two-year-old  heifers 
I  ever  looked  at  in  a  yard  where  they  got  noth- 
ing but  stubble — that  is,  the  straw  that  re- 
mained after  hand-reaping  of  wheat,  only  there 
was  a  little  clover  in  it,  the  field  it  came  from 
having  been  sowed  with  seeds.  During  the  last 
few  years  that  Mr.  Price  kept  his  Herefords 
he  changed  their  forms  a  good  deal.  The  Tom- 
kins  breed,  which  I  believe  he  used  exclu- 
sively, were  very  wide  over  their  hips  and  nar- 
row on  their  shoulders.  This  he  altered,  get- 
ting his  cows  much  wider  on  the  chine  with  less 
gaudy  hips.  These  characteristics  were  partic- 
ularly exemplified  in  Dove,  bought  by  my  father 
at  the  sale  in  1841  for  77  guineas  ($385),  and 
by  Tuberose,  sold  to  Lord  Talbot  for  100 
guineas  ($500).  Mr.  Price's  cattle  were  some 
of  them  red  with  white  faces,  some  a  beautiful 


WIGMORE   GRANGE,    SEAT   OF   THE   GALLIERS    FAM- 
ILY.    (REAR  VIEW.) 

roan,  as  was  Dove  (Dove  was  a  smoky  roan,  dif- 
fering from  the  roans  as  bred  by  Tully),  others 
being  white-backed  with  mottle  faces.  The 
bulls  were  brought  up  differently  to  what  they 
are  now,  running,  in  almost  wild  state,  with  the 
cows,  until  they  were  fit  for  service,  when  most 
of  them  were  let  and  kept  from  home  as  much 
as  possible,  Mr.  Price  having  but  little  accom- 
modations for  them.  Consequently  they  had  a 
mean  appearance  as  compared  with  the  cows, 
which  were  magnificent  animals." 

Cobbitt.  in  his  "Rural  Rides"  (1830),  writes 
from  Tewkesbury:  "I  am  here  among  the  finest 
cattle  and  the  finest  sheep  of  the  Leicester  kind 
that  I  ever  saw.  My  host,  Mr.  Price,  is  famed 
as  a  breeder  of  cattle  and  sheep.  The  cattle 
are  of  the  Hereford  kind,  and  the  sheep  sur- 
passing any  animals  of  the  kind  that  I  ever  saw. 
The  animals  seem  to  be  made  for  the  soil  and 
the  soil  for  them.  The  sheep  are  chiefly  of  the 
Leicester  breed,  and  the  cattle  of  Hereford, 


white  face  and  dark  body,  certainly  the  finest 
and  most  beautiful  of  all  horn  cattle." 

The  Earl  of  Coventry  (fl  24)  says:  "The 
fame  of  John  Price's  Herefords  still  lives  in 
this  neighborhood,  and  there  are  yet  living  peo- 
ple who  speak  of  the  noble  herd  with  admira- 
tion, and  describe  them  as  being  possessed  of 
great  scale  and  extraordinary  constitution. 
They  were  accustomed  to  range  the  pastures 
summer  and  winter,  and  were  almost  always  to 
be  seen  in  the  well-known  'Cubsmoor,'  a  large 
grass  field  of  great  repute  among  graziers.  John 
Price  had  a  bull  which  weighed  29  cwt.*  (3,248 
Ibs.),  and  a  bull  calf  9  cwt.  (1,008  Ibs.)  at  nine 
months  old"  (fl  25). 

In  the  appendix  to  Vol.  1  of  the  Herd  Book, 
a  list  is  given  of  the  principal  breeders  of  the 
Tomkins  and  Price  stock,  from  whom  pedigrees 
had  been  received  by  Mr.  Eyton.  Tbey  were 
the  Earl  of  Talbot,  Ingestre;  Sir  F.  Lawley, 
Bart.;  Sir  F.  Goodricke,  Studley  Castle;  Mr. 
G.  Brake,  The  Manor  Farm,  East  Tytherly; 
Mr.  Shepherd,  Eastwood  House;  Mr.  Thos. 
Juckes,  Tern  Farm;  Mr.  N.  Smith,  Martly;  Mr. 
Pratt,  New  Field;  Mr.  Gravenor,  Wellington; 
the  Rev.  W.  P.  Hopton,  Bishops  Froome;  Mr. 
J.  Smith,  Shellesley;  Mr.  T.  P.  Wight,  Ted- 
stone  Park.  Only  a  few  of  these  were  resident 
in  the  County  of  Hereford,  and  of  course  there 
are  others  who  ought  to  have  been  included  in 
the  list — notably  Mr.  Smythies,  Mr.  Welles,  and 
others. 

Lord  Talbot,  as  we  have  seen,  was  a  liberal 
purchaser  at  the  Tomkins'  and  Price's  sales. 
There  has  been  considerable  uncertainty  as  to 
the  reason  why  he  gave  up  his  herd.  Mr. 
George  Smythies,  Marlow  Lodge  (son  of  the 
Rev.  J.  R.  Smythies,  Lynch  Court),  informs  us 
that  he  was  once  at  Ingestre  about  1840, 
and  naturally  has  not  a  very  clear  idea 
now  of  what  he  saw  there,  but  he  remembers 
he  thought  the  land  did  not  suit  the  Herefords. 
We  are  able  to  give  in  Lord  Talbot's  own 
words  the  explanation  of  the  dispersion  of  the 
Ingestre  herd,  which  quite  confirms  Mr. 
Smythies'  impression.  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Geo. 
Tomkins,  Eccles  Green,,  Norton  Pyon,  dated 
March  4,  1847,  Lord  Talbot  fully  states  his 
reason  for  disposing  of  his  herd,  and  as  the 
communication  has  other  interest,  as  showing 
the-  friendship  existing  between  these  two 
breeders,  we  print  an  extract  from  it: 

"Dear  George,"  wrote  Lord  Talbot,  "Events 
of  a  very  painful  nature  have  occurred  which 
have  prevented  our  meeting,  as  we  formerly 
did,  in  friendship  and  good  fellowship.  The 


*Note:     The  English  cvft.  is  112  Ibs, 


33 


remembrance  of  past  times  of  this  nature  can- 
not but  be  most  gratifying  to  me,  and  I  feel 
not  otherwise  to  you.  *  *  *  What  you 
will  not  perhaps  expect,  I  have  to  inform  you, 
that  I  have  resolved  to  give  up  being  a  breeder 
of  Herefordshire  cattle;  not,  be  assured,  from 
any  want  of  partiality  to  the  breed,  but  simply 
that  I  find  my  land,  having  been  now  more  or 
less  attended  to,  and  constantly  depastured,  is 
becoming  too  rich  for  a  breeding  stock.  Acci- 
dents have  been  so  frequent  with  slipping  calf 
— with  the  apoplexy,-  which  over  condition  is 
sure  to  produce,  and  other  causes  of  disap- 
pointment that,  however  painful  the  struggle, 
I  have  faced  it  and  have  advertised  my  breed- 
ing stock  for  unreserved  sale.  The  die  being 
cast,  what  is  to  be  done  in  the  future?  I  wish 
to  feed  Hereford  oxen  largely,  which  intention 
is  perhaps  fortified  by  the  facility  I  have  of 
sending  up  to  Smithfield*.  The  want  of  market, 
which  formerly  prevented  my  feeding  these  ex- 
cellent cattle  to  the  extent  I  wished,  is  now 
removed,  and  therefore  I  return  with  eagerness 
to  the  project  of  feeding  instead  of  breeding 
Herefords."  Lord  Talbot  proceeded  to  ask  Mr. 
Tomkins'  co-operation  in  obtaining  suitable 
cattle  for  feeding,  and  concluded  by  inviting 
him  to  his  sale,  which  took  place  on  October 
2-1  th,  1838. 

In  addition  to  animals  bred  by  Mr.  Tomkins 
and  Mr.  Price,  or  descending  from  their  herds, 
the  sale  included  specimens  from  the  herds  of 
the  Misses  Tomkins,  and  Mr.  George  Tomkins. 
We  have  not  a  list  of  the  prices,  which,  how- 
ever, were  not  extraordinary;  but  the  influence 
of  the  Ingestre  stock  still  exists.  Lord  Talbot 
seems  to  have  again  collected  a  few  pedigreed 
Herefords,  as  we  find  him  purchasing  at  Mr. 
Price's  sale  in  1841. 

Sir  F.  Lawley,  as  we  have  seen,  also  secured 
many  of  the  Tomkins  and  Price  cattle,  and  Mr. 
Duckham  tells  us  that  he  has  heard  from  old 
breeders  that  he  had  a  very  grand  herd  of  heavy 
fleshed  mottle  faces.  He  had  a  sale  in  1839 
of  which  Mr.  George  Smythies  gives  us  the 
catalogue.  Mr.  Smythies  attended  the  sale, 
when  several  of  the  lots  were  purchased  by  his 
father,  and  described  as  having  been  very  good 
animals.  Mr.  Smythies  also  supplies  us  with 
a  priced  catalogue  of  the  sale  of  Sir  F.  Lawley's 
herd,  which  took  place  after  his  death.  The 
prices  were  very  low, 'the  best  being  only  28 
guineas  ($140). 

Lord  Plymouth,  Earl  St.  Germaines,  and  oth- 
ers, had  at  one  time  very  good  herds  of  this 


variety,  but  they  had  long  since  been  dispersed 
and  few  traces  of  them  now  remain.  In  his 
Cirencester  lecture  Mr.  Duckham  mentions  that 
in  1863  Mr.  Smith,  Shellesley,  sent  some  well- 
fleshed  animals  of  the  mottle-faced  sort  to  the 
Worcester  show,  but  they  were  not  successful. 
The  last  he  says  he  remembers  to  have  seen  a 
winner  was  the  heifer  Superb  1824,  exhibited 
by  the  Earl  of  Radnor  at  Salisbury,  and  then 
purchased  for  the  royal  herd,  where  she  was  put 


WILLIAM    GALLIERS,    JR.,    OF   KING'S-PYON,   1744-1832. 

to  the  red  with  white  face  bull  Brecon  (918) 
1810,  and  produced  the  heavy-fleshed  bull  Max- 
imus  (1650)  1817  (fl  26),  winner  of  the  first 
prize  at  the  Warwick  and  Battersea  meetings 
of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England. 
The  marks  on  his  face  showed  the  transition 
from  the  mottle  face  to  red  with  white  face  be- 
ing larger  than  those  with  mottle  face  and 
fewer  in  number.  Mr.  Smith  used  many 
of  Mr.  Price's  best  bulls.  In  1856  he 
received  a  letter  stating  that  H.  R.  H. 
Prince  Albert  had  been  graciously  pleased  to 
patronize  the  Hereford  breed  and  an  appoint- 
ment was  asked  by  the  representative  of  H.  R. 
H.  in  order  that  Mr.  Smith's  celebrated  herd 
might  be  inspected.  Mr.  Duckham  also  men- 
tions Sir  F.  Goodricke,  Captain  Rayer,  Captain 
Peploe,  Mr.  Drake,  and  Mr.  Jellicoe  as  having 
been  breeders  of  this  variety. 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


35 


CHAPTER  III. 

FOUNDATION  HEREFORD  HERDS — Continued 


HEWER  HEREFORDS. 


(ft  27)  Indebted  as  we  are  and  as  all  writers 
on  Hereford  history  must  be  to  Messrs.  James 
Macdonald  and  James  Sinclair  for  the  concen- 
tration of  facts  compiled  by  them  in  their 
"History  of  Hereford  Cattle"  (1886),  we  can- 
not do  better  than,  with  this  acknowledgment, 
quote  them  in  this  chapter  almost  exclusively. 

The  student  of  the  Herd  Book  will  find  that 
nearly  every  valuable  strain  of  the  Herefords 
at  the  present  day  is  full  of  Hewer  blood.  The 
influence  of  the  Hewer  cattle  has,  indeed,  been 
remarkable.  It  is  not  merely  that  a  few  fami- 
lies that  have  become  exceedingly  valuable  are 
of  this  line  of  descent,  but  that  the  modern 
character  of  the  entire  breed  has  to  a  large 
extent  been  determined  by  this  variety,  not 
alone  as  regards  color  markings,  on  which  the 
Hewer  impress  has  been  very  powerful,  but  on 
the  more  essential  matters  of  shape  and  quality. 
This  being  the  case,  it  is  needless  to  say  that 
a  most  important  section  of  Hereford  history 
is  that  relating  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Hew- 
ers. Here  again,  however,  reliable  information 
is  not  over  plentiful. 

It  may  be  explained  that  the  original  idea  of 
the  founder  of  the  Herd  Book  was  to  confine 
it  to  a  record  of  the  Tomkins-Price  stock;  but 
this  manifestly  would  not  have  been  a  Herd 
Book  of  Hereford  cattle,  and  the  plan  was  so 
changed  that  all  the  varieties  should  be  admit- 
ted. A  Hereford  Herd  Book  without  the  rec- 
ords of  the  Hewer  cattle  would  certainly  have 
been  a  curious  production,  comparable  only  to 
the  performance  of  the  play  of  "Hamlet"  with 
the  leading  character  omitted.  This  was  evi- 
dently appreciated  by  Mr.  Eyton,  and  so  in 
Vol.  1,  90,  bulls  bred  by  William  and  John 
Hewer  were  entered;  but  Mr.  Eyton  was  either 
unable  to  collect  much  information  about  the 
Hewer  family  and  their  herds,  or  he  did  not 
greatly  trouble  himself  about  the  subject.  All 
that  he  has  to  say  regarding  them  is  that  Mr. 
John  Hewer  informed  him  "that  the  breed  he 


now  possesses  has  been  in  his  family  for  many 
years.  A  great  number  of  the  principal  breed- 
ers have  had  bulls  from  him.  He  at  present 
possesses  more  bulls,  most  of  which  are  let,  than 
any  other  breeder  in  the  county."  Then  if  the 
pedigrees  are  closely  examined,  it  will  be  found 
that  so  far  as  they  are  registered  the  Hewer  cat- 
tle trace  back  to  a  bull  called  Silver  (540)  358, 
as  to  whom  the  only  facts  vouchsafed  are,  that 
he  was  white-faced,  was  calved  in  1797,  and 
was  bred  by  Mr.  William  Hewer,  of  Hardwick. 

Obviously  there  was  not  within  the  covers 
of  the  Herd  Book  an  adequate  account  of  the 
Hewers  and  their  cattle,  nor  had  former  writers 
on  Herefords  added  any  trustworthy  informa- 
tion to  these  scanty  details.  An  effort  was  there- 
fore made  to  find  whether  all  the  records  had 
perished,  and  if  it  were  really  impossible  to  get 
some  light  thrown  on  this  branch  of  the  his- 
tory of  the  breed.  Although  Mr.  -John  L. 
Hewer,  Aston  Ingham,  Ross,  has  most  cordially 
seconded  our  efforts,  we  regret  that  owing  to 
papers  having  been  mislaid  and  to  the  habit  of 
the  old  breeders  to  look  upon  the  sources  and 
management  of  their  herds  as  trade  secrets, 
which  must  on  no  account  be  disclosed,  we  have 
not  succeeded  quite  so  well  as  could  have  been 
wished.  Still,  it  is  possible  to  remove  much 
of  the  uncertainty  and  misapprehension  in 
which  the  subject  has  been  enveloped.  The 
account  of  the  Hewer  family  that  follows  is 
chiefly  taken  from  communications  furnished 
by  Mr.  John  L.  Hewer. 

William  Hewer,  the  father  of  John  Hewer, 
was  a  native  of  Gloucestershire,  being  one  of 
the  Hewers  of  Northleach  and  was  descended 
from  William  Hewer,  so  frequently  mentioned 
in  Pepy's  Diary.  He  was  born  in  1757  and 
married  a  Monmouthshire  lady — Miss  Hughs, 
of  Court  Morgan,  near  Abergavenny,  about  the 
year  1787.  In  order  to  be  near  his  wife's  fam- 
ily, he  went  to  live  at  the  great  Hardwick  and 
Dobson's  farms,  remaining  there  for  28  years, 


36 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


and  then  took  a  farm  at  Llanlellen,  about  a 
mile  from  Hardwick.  About  the  year  1825 
there  was  a  kind  of  panic  amongst  the  banks, 
and  one  in  which  he  had  a  large  sum  of  money 
invested  failed.  William  Hewer  was  so  over- 
come by  the  disaster  that,  with  his  eldest  son, 
William,  he  left  the  country  for  America,  but 
he  lived  only  about  six  months  after  he  ar- 
rived, being  quite  heart-broken.  He  died  in 
New  York  in  November,  1825,  and  was  interred 
at  the  cemetery  of  St.  Mark's  churchyard,  Bow- 
ery, New  York,  on  December  2d,  being  at  the 
time  of  his  decease  68  years  of  age. 

John  Hewer  (f  28)  was  born  on  March  12th, 
1787,  and  died  September  28th,  1875.  His  son, 
Mr.  John  L.  Hewer  (fl  28  A  and  B),  never 
heard  him  say  positively  whether  he  was  born 
at  Kilkenny  Farm,  near  Northleach,  where  his 
father  resided  before  going  to  Monmouthshire, 
or  at  the  Great  Hardwick,  Abergavenny.  John 
Hewer,  Sr.,  assisted  his  father  at  the  Hardwick, 
and  it  was  then  he  formed  the  idea  of  having 
the  Herefords  of  uniform  color  and  markings. 
During  that  time  he  had  a  few  cattle  of  his 
own,  and  had  the  benefit  of  his  father's  expe- 
rience. The  statement  that  John  Hewer  went 
to  his  relatives  in  Gloucestershire  in  1805  and 
remained  with  them  for  several  years,  is,,  we  are 
assured,  incorrect.  He  never  left  home,  except 
on  a  visit,  until  about  the  year  1817,  when  he 
went  to  Purslow  Hall,  in  Shropshire.  Here  he 
continued  for  several  years.  On  his  departure 
for  America  William  Hewer  left  his  wife  and 
the  younger  portion  of  his  family  in  England. 
They  took  a  farm  called  The  Grove,  in  Mon- 
mouthshire, and  John  Hewer  managed  it  for 
his  mother,  and  did  very  well  until  some  mis- 
understanding took  place  between  him  and 
other  members  of  the  family;  after  which  he 
went  into  Herefordshire,  living  first  at  Hill 
House,  Aston  Ingham.  He  subsequently  pro- 
ceeded to  Moor  House,  about  a  mile  from  Here- 
ford, and  from  that  place  to  Brandon  Cottage, 
where  he  had  some  land.  In  1835  he  occupied 
Hampton  Lodge  (fl  29),  near  Hereford,  and  Lit- 
ley  Farm.  He  gave  up  the  latter  holding  in 
1839,  the  date  of  his  first  great  sale.  He  was 
at  Hampton  Lodge  until  1846;  then  at  Lower 
Wilcroft,  where  he  continued  for  two  years.  He 
was  for  two  years  at  Palmer's  Court,  Holmer 
(ff  30),  whence,  in  1850,  he  went  to  Vern 
House,  Marden,  where  he  settled  down,  having 
purchased  it  in  1855.  He  resided  at  Vern 
House  (ff  31)  until  1875,  when  he  sold  it  to  Mr. 
H.  Burr,  of  Aldermarston,  and  took  Paradise 
Villa  (fl  32),  Marden,  where  he  died  in  the 
same  year  and  was  buried  in  the  Holmer 
churchyard  (ff  33), 


These  are  the  salient  biographical  facts  as 
to  the  two  Hewers.  We  were  naturally  very 
anxious  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  where  William 
Hewer  originally  procured  his  Hereford  cattle, 
he  being  a  native  of  Gloucestershire,  living  in 
Monmouthshire,  and  never  having  resided  in 
the  county  of  Hereford.  Mr.  John  L.  Hewer 
says  he  cannot  tell  us  where  his  grandfather 
obtained  his  stock,  but  he  always  understood 
from  his  father  that  his  great-grandfather  had 
a  herd  of  Herefords  and  that  William  inherited 
them.  Certain  it  is,  says  Mr.  J.  L.  Hewer,  he 
was  a  successful  exhibitor  at  the  Bath  and  West 
of  England  shows  before -the  close  of  the  eight- 
eenth century.  Mr.  Thos.  F.  Plowman,  Sec- 
retary of  the  Bath  and  West  of  England  Soci- 
ety, has  kindly  searched  the  old  records  of  that 
Society,  and  informs  us  that  it  was  not  until 


MR.     HENRY     HAYWOOD,     1819-1902,     WHOSE     FAMILY 
.     BRED    HEREFORDS    FOR   CENTURIES. 

1794  that  cattle  were  exhibited  at  its  shows  as 
stock,  not  as  beasts  of  draught  or  burden,  and 
no  mention  occurs  of  Herefords  until  1799, 
when  £5  5s  ($26.25)  was  awarded  to  Mr.  W. 
Smith  for  the  best  Hereford  heifer.  Mr.  Plow- 
man adds  that  he  finds  no  further  allusion  to 
the  breed  until  1810,  when  £10  10s  ($52.50) 
was  awarded  to  Mr.  Kemp  for  a  fat  cow  of  the 
Hereford  breed.  Any  of  the  Hewer  Herefords 
exhibited  at  the  earlier  meetings  of  the  Bath 
and  West  of  England  Society  must  therefore 
have  been  draught  oxen.  In  another  letter, 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Mr.  J.  L.  Hewer  says,  in  reference  to  the  char- 
acter of  his  father's  and  grandfather's  cattle, 
that  he  believes  that  they  were  principally  red, 
with  white  faces,  and  from  what  he  has  heard 
his  father  say,  they  must  have  been  in  posses- 
sion of  the  family  for  some  generations,  as  sev- 
eral of  their  relatives  in  Gloucestershire  had 
the  red  with  white  faces  before  the  nineteenth 
century  came  in.  He  has  also  heard  Mr.  John 
Hewer  say  that  his  father  traced  his  best  cattle 
back  to  the  bull,  called  Silver  (540)  358,  calved 


HEREFORD    OX    AT    SEVEN    YEARS.      CHAMPION    AT 
SMITHFIELD,  1799;    BRED  BY  MR.  TULLY. 

in  1797,  which  impressed  them  with  the  red 
with  white  face  character,  and  also  with  that 
massive,  heavy  flesh  and  full  eye  which  distin- 
guished all  his  late  father's  stock. 

It  is  of  course  not  improbable  that  the  Hewer 
family  in  Gloucestershire  had,  during  the  last 
century,  obtained  from  the  best  breeders  in  the 
county  of  Hereford  some  good  specimens  of  the 
breed,  of  the  old  red  with  white  face  variety. 
Mr.  Marshall  has  told  us  that  the  Gloucester- 
shire graziers  got  their  oxen  from  Hereford- 
shire, and  it  is  not  likely  that  the  transfer  of 
cattle  from  the  latter  county  would  be  con- 
fined to  oxen.  The  Gloucestershire  farmers 
would  doubtless  have  secured  a  few  of  the  cows 
that  produced  such  excellent  bullocks,  and  it 
may  be  assumed  the  Hewers  were  among  those 
who  did,  so.  Besides,  it  is  evident  that  the 
Herefords  had  penetrated,  by  the  time  of  Will- 
iam Hewer's  settlement  there,  into  the  county 
of  Monmouth.  There  is  nothing  very  definite 
in  these  theories  as  to  the  origin  of  the  Hewer 
herds  and  hope  of  being  able  to  discover  a 
more  precise  explanation  had  almost  been 
abandoned,  when  aid  was  received  from  an  un- 
expected quarter.  Going  through  the  notes  on 
herds  contained  in  the  appendix  to  the  first 
volume  of  the  Herd  Book  we  came  across  a 
statement  in  the  notice  of  the  stock  of  Mr.  Yar- 
worth,  New  House,  Brinsop,  to  the  effect  that 


in  1814  he  sold  to  Mr.  Hewer  a  bull  calf  by 
Trojan  (192)  378,  while  at  his  sale  at  New 
House  in  1820,  the  one-year-old  bull  Alpha,  by 
Trojan,  dam  Red  Rose,  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Hewer,  Northleach.  The  bull  calf  sold  in  1814 
went  to  Mr.  W.  Hewer,  Great  Hardwick,  but 
that  transaction  having  occurred  a  good  many 
years  after  he  had  removed  to  Monmouthshire, 
the  fact  did  not  help  to  an  explanation  as  to  the 
original  foundation  of  William  Hewer's  herd. 
But  connected  with  this  sale  of  a  bull  in  1814 
is  an  incident  that  brought  some  welcome  guid- 
ance, (fl  34.) 

In  the  year  1821  there  was  a  furious  newspa- 
percontroversy  between  Mr.  William  Hewer  and 
Mr.  Yarworth.  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  to  have 
to  refer  to  this  unfortunate  affair,  but  it  is 
desirable  to  explain  the  origin  of  the  misunder- 
standing. It  appears  that  Mr.  Yarworth,  be- 
fore going  to  Brinsop,  occupied  the  farm  of 
Troy,  near  Monmouth.  On  leaving  this  farm 
in  1814  he  had  a  sale  described  as  of  valuable 
Herefordshire  cattle.  William  Hewer  attended 
the  sale  and  purchased  stock  to  the  amount  of 
£145  ($725.00).  In  1821  Hewer  and  Yarworth, 
probably  as  the  result  of  show-yard  rivalries, 
quarreled,  and  Yarworth  then  wrote  to  the 
Gloucester  Journal  (Feb.  4th,  1822)  a  letter  ad- 
dressed to  Mr.  W.  Hewer,  Llanlellen,  near  Aber- 
gavenny,  in  which  he  referred  to  the  cause  of 
the  misunderstanding  between  them,  and,  as 
was  the  custom  in  those  days,  challenged  him 
for  100  guineas  ($500)  to  show  20,  15,  or  10  of 
his  heifers  above  three  years  old,  of  his  own 
(Hewer's)  breeding,  and  then  in  his  own  pos- 
session, against  the  same  number  the  property 
of  Mr.  White,  Upleadon,  which  were  descended 
from  Yarworth's  bull  Trojan.  Yarworth  then 
proceeded  to  write  to  William  Hewer  as  follows: 
"I  beg  to  inform  you  for  the  first  time  how  the 
yearling  bull,  bull  calf,  etc.,  which  you  pur- 
chased at  my  sale  at  Troy  in  the  year  1814  were 
bred,  and  from  which  bulls  your  stock  since 
that  time  is  descended.  The  bull  calf  was  got 
by  Trojan;  his  dam  (which  you  bought)  was 
got  by  the  late  Mr.  William  Smith's  old  bull; 
his  grandam  by  a  bull  bought  of  Mr.  Tully  of 
the  Hay  wood;  his  great-grandam  by  a  bull 
bought  of  Mr.  Howells  of  Hadrock,  near 
Monmouth;  his  great-great-grandam  by  a 
cross-bred  bull  of  little  value,  out  of 
an  old  brindled  Gloucestershire  dairy  cow, 
which  was  purchased  by  my  father  (she  being 
an  excellent  milker)  of  my  predecessor,  Mr. 
Dew  of  Troy  Farm,  in  the  year  1797  for  £8. 
The  yearling  bull  was  got  by  Trojan  out  of  the 
grandam  of  the  bull  calf."  Mr.  Yarworth  ex- 
pressed surprise  that  Mr.  Hewer  had  not  asked 


38 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


for  information  as  to  the  breeding  of  the  stock 
at  the  time  of  the  sale,  and  said:  "Although 
they  were  only  culls  I  then  sold,  I  assure  you 
there  were  only  four  of  them  but  were  well 
bred;  three  out  of  the  four  you  made  choice  of 
— namely,  the  yearling  bull,  the  cow,  and  her 
bull  calf."  Mr.  Yarworth  advised  Mr.  Hewer 
to  part  with  his  stock  descended  from  the  old 
brindled  cow.  He  added:  "When  Mr.  Bluck 
asked  how  your  bull  was  bred,  you  answered 
that  he  was  got  by  your  old  bull,  which  you 
bought  of  old  Tomkins,  and  that  you  had  let 
him  that  season  to  two  gentlemen  in  Brecon- 
shire  for  100  guineas  ($500),  but  I  am  sorry 
you  forgot  it  was  the  bull  you  bought  at  my 
sale  in  1814,  then  a  calf.  The  two  heifers  you 
sold  at  Tredegar  your  son  said  were  out  of  the 
two  old  cows  you  bought  of  old  Tomkins.  Now 
in  a  letter  I  received  from  Miss  Tomkins,  of 
the  Pyon,  dated  the  12th  inst.,  she  assures  me 
that  you  never  bought  any  stock  of  her,  and 
her  sisters,  or  to  her  knowledge  of  her  father." 

In  reply  to  this  attack  on  the  character  of 
his  stock,  William  Hewer  wrote  a  long  letter, 
in  the  course  of  which  he  said:  "Mr.  Yar- 
worth's  bills  of  sale  were  headed  thus:  'Par- 
ticulars of  the  valuable  Herefordshire  cattle,  the 
property  of  Mr.  Jas.  Yarworth,  of  Troy  Farm, 
near  Monmouth.'  Mr.  Yarworth,  in  reference 
to  my  purchasing  a  bull  calf  at  such  sale,  ob- 
serves that  it  was  a  most  strange  and  unac- 
countable thing  I  did  not  inquire  about  the 
breed,  and  whether  I  did  so  or  not  I  cannot 
charge  my  memory  at  this  distance  of  time,  but 
it  is  a  matter  of  no  importance  to  me,  as  I  had 
stock  far  superior  to  any  Mr.  Yarworth  pos- 
sessed; and  I  added  to  them  five  cows  and 
heifers  by  a  purchase  I  had  made  of  Messrs. 
Tully,  of  Huntington,  previous  to  Mr.  Yar- 
worth's  sale  in  Troy.  And  as  to  my  old  bull 
being  the  calf  I  purchased  at  Troy  sale,  it  is 
sufficient,  in  contradiction,  to  state  one  fact, 
viz.,  my  old  bull  was  calved  at  least  a  year  be- 
fore Mr.  Yarworth's  came  into  existence.  I 
deny  having  stated  to  Mr.  Bluck  that  I  ever 
purchased  any  stock  of  Tomkins,  though  I  can 
prove  I  have  descendants  from  some  of  Tom- 
kins'  prime  cattle ....  His  (Mr.  Yarworth's)  ad- 
vice to  get  rid  of  my  stock  descended  from  his 
brindled  cow  comes  too  late  by  many  years,  as 
I  have  none  of  them  left."  Mr.  Hewer  further 
expressed  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Yarworth's  stock 
sold  at  Troy  were,  as  he  himself  had  publicly 
described  them,  pure-bred  Herefords,  and  that 
the  story  as  to  the  brindled  cow  was  an  inven- 
tion. 

So  out  of  this  very  unfortunate  squabble  two 
most  important  facts  are  gleaned — that  Wil- 


liam Hewer  had  at  a  very  early  period  in  his 
career  obtained  five  cows  and  heifers  from 
Tully,  of  Huntington,  and  that  he  had  in  his 
herd  descendants  from  "some  of  Tomkins' 
prime  cattle."  That  of  course  is  not  a  full  ex- 
planation of  the  foundation  of  the  Hewer  stock, 
but  it  shows  some  of  its  principal  ingredients, 
and  clearly  proves  its  descent  in  part,  at  least, 
from  the  herds  of  Tomkins  and  Tully.  It  is 
thus  apparent,  as  had  always  been  supposed, 
although  until  the  discovery  of  these  docu- 
ments we  had  no  means  of  verifying  the  im- 
pression, that  the  Hewer  cattle  were  not  a  new 
or  mysterious  element  imported  into  the  breed, 
but  mainly  the  result  of  a  most  skillful  com- 
pounding of  the  old  strains. 

In  the  Herd  Book  there  are  six  bulls  en- 
tered as  having  been  bred  by  Mr.  William 
Hewer,  as  follows: 

Silver  (540)  358  of  whom  all  the  information 
given  is,  as  we  have  said,  that  he  was  red  with 
white  face,  and  calved  in  1797^  Old  Wellington 
(507)  290  also  red  with  white  face,  calved  in 


DOWNTON   CASTLE   IN   1775,   SEAT  OP  T.   A.    KNIGHT. 
(From    a    water-color    drawing.) 

1801,  by  Silver  (540)  358,  dam  Primrose,  bred 
by  William  Hewer;  Young  Wellington  (505) 
294,  red  with  white  face,  calved  in  1812,  by 
Old  Wellington  (507)  290,  dam  Silky  362  by 
Waxy  (403)  356,  grandam  Silk  404  by  Silver 
(540)  358;  Old  Favorite  (442)  292,  calved  in 
1819,  by  Young  Wellington  (505)  294,  da*n 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


39 


Cherry  360  by  Wellington  (507)  290,  grandam 
Old  Cherry  402  by  Waxy  (403)  356;  Waxy 
(403)  356,  calved  in  1811,  by  Wellington  (507) 
290,  dam  Strawberry;  Alpha  the  Second  (457) 
528,  calved  in  1814,  by  Young  Wellington  (505) 
294,  dam  Silk  529,  by  Young  Wellington  (505) 
294,  grandam  Silky  362,  by  Waxy  (403)  356, 
great-grandam  Silk  404  by  Silver  (540)  358. 

No  doubt  some  of  these  pedigrees  which  we 
have  copied  from  the  Herd  Book  are  erroneous, 
and  mistakes  have  also  crept  into  the  entries 


MR.    JOHN  PRICE,   1776-1845. 
(Prom  an  old  lithograph.) 

of  several  of  Mr.  John  Hewer's  cattle,  arising 
partly  from  the  evident  desire  of  father  and 
son  to  acknowledge  no  connection  between  their 
herds  and  other  stocks. 

Both  William  and  John  Hewer  were  fond 
of  giving  animals  the  same  name  and  not  dis- 
tinguishing them  by  numbers,  but  merely  stat- 
ing that  they  were  old  and  young — an  exceed- 
ingly confusing  system  of  nomenclature.  Mis- 
takes of  identity  therefore  occurred,  particularly 
in  the  pre-Herd  Book  days,  when  records  were 
not  carefully  kept.  There  is  little  doubt,  how- 
ever, that  both  father  and  son  carried  out  a  sys- 
tem of  close  breeding. 

In  several  of  Mr.  John  Hewer's  catalogues 
the  following  note  is  made:  "It  may  not  be 
unworthy,  of  remark  that  the  celebrated  and 
justly  admired  bull  Old  Sovereign  (404)  221, 
(U  35),  the  sire  of  Cotmore  (376)  150,  the  win- 


ner of  the  first  premium  for  Herefords  at  the 
first  meeting  of  the  English  Royal  Agricultural 
Society,  held  at  Oxford,  July  17th,  1839,  as 
well  as  the  sire  of  Wormlow,  the  property  of 
Sir  H.  Hoskins,  Bart.,  Harewood  and  many 
others  of  equal  merit,  was  bred  by  Mr.  Hewer; 
his  sire  Favorite,  grandsire  Wellington,  great- 
grandsire  Old  Wellington,  dam  Countess  by 
Wellington,  grandam  Cherry  by  Waxy,  great- 
grandam  Old  Cherry.  Much  has  been  said  and 
written  by  most  of  the  eminent  breeders  in  the 
Kingdom  against  the  practice  of  breeding  in- 
and-in,  as  they  termed  it;  but  by  referring  to 
the  above  pedigree  it  will  be  seen  that  Old  Sov- 
ereign was  the  offspring  of  an  own  brother  and 
sister  and  acknowledged  by  the  first  judges  the 
best  bull  ever  bred  in  the  county  of  Hereford, 
and  the  sire  and  grandsire  of  more  prize  cattle 
at  Smithfield  and  elsewhere  than  any  bull  in 
the  Kingdom.  Old  Sovereign  was  used  by  the 
following  distinguished  breeders,  and  died  in 
his  fifteenth  year,  viz.,  Robert  Tench,  Brom- 
field,  Salop,  three  years;  Lord  Sherborne,  Glou- 
cestershire; Earl  Ducie,  ditto;  Thomas  Wells, 
Hamnet,  ditto;  Richard  Kilmister,  The  Grove, 
ditto;  Messrs.  Hewer,  Northleach,  ditto;  Sir  H. 
Hoskins,  Bart.,  Harewood;  Thos.  Jeffries,  The 
Grove;  Thos.  Jeffries,  Jr.,  Cotmore,  ditto;  Ed- 
mund Jeffries,  The  Grove;  Richard  Yeomans, 
Howton;  John  Turner,  Noke;  Messrs.  Rogers, 
Sternsbach,  and  by  the  breeder."  The  other 
bulls  bred  by  the  Hewers  were  also  let  out  in 
many  of  the  leading  herds,  and  their  influence 
was  thus  widespread. 

Particulars  we  have  obtained  as  to  weights 
and  measurements  on  some  of  William  Hewer's 
cattle  will  be  interesting: 

Weight  of  the  bull  Wellington  (507)  290,  1 
ton,  6  cwt.  (2,912  Ibs.)  in  the  year  1815.  The 
weight  of  the  cow  Silk  529,  1  ton,  in  the  year 
1820.  Dimensions  of  the  fat  steer — length 
from  the  nose  to  the  settings  of  the  tail,  11 
feet,  1  inch;  girth,  S^feet  and  10  inches;  across 
the  hips,  3  feet,  1  inch;  weight,  1  ton  and  .6 
cwt.  (2,912  Ibs.).  The  document  from  which 
these  details  are  taken  is  dated  April,  1822. 

Another  paper  gives  the  dimensions  of  the 
bull  Wellington,  as  follows:  Length  from  the 
setting  on  of  the  tail  to  the  end  of  the  nose,  11 
feet,  4  inches;  girth,  11  feet,  3  inches;  across 
the  hips,  3  feet,  2  inches;  length  from  the  tail 
to  the  hip  bone,  3  feet  and  2  inches.  The  di- 
mensions of  the  bull  Alpha  are  thus  given: 
Length  from  the  setting  on  of  the  tail  to  the 
end  of  the  nose,  10  feet  and  11  inches;  length 
from  the  tail  to  the  hip  bone,  2  feet  and  9 
inches;  across  the  hips,  2  feet  and  9  inches; 
girth,  9  feet  and  eight  inches. 


40 


William  Hewer  conducted  his  operations  as 
a  breeder  under  serious  difficulties,  arising  from 
the  nature  of  the  land  he  farmed.  He  himself 
says,  "Notwithstanding  the  disadvantages  inci- 
dental to  half  mountain  land,  and  a  sharp, 
gravelly  soil,  yielding  almost  sapless  herbage, 
which  I  have  encountered,  I  have  frequently 
successfully  opposed  at  various  shows  some  of 
the  first  Herefordshire  breeders." 

John  Hewer  had,  as  we  have  seen,  assisted  his 
father  at  the  Hardwick.  He  had  then  a  few 
cattle  of  his  own,  and  had  the  benefit  of  his 
father's  advice  in  their  management.  It  has 
already  been  mentioned  that  early  in  the  pres- 
ent century,  John  Hewer  went  to  Purslow  in 
Shropshire.  The  gentleman  who  owned  the 
Purslow  estate,  Mr.  Browning,  bought  a  num- 
ber of  cattle  from  William  Hewer.  He  also  ob- 
tained his  consent  to  John  Hewer  going  to~ 
manage  the  estate  and  cattle.  There  is  some 
uncertainty  as  to  the  date  when  John  Hewer 
removed  to  Purslow,  Mr.  John  L.  Hewer  men- 
tioning 1817,  while  others  say  it  was  a  few 
years  later.  Mr.  George  Smythies  says:  "I 
learned  that  the  whole  herd  of  Mr.  Hewer,  The 
Hardwick,  near  Abergavenny,  was  bought  by 
Mr.  Browning,  who  had  purchased  the  farm 
of  Purslow,  near  Cravens  Arms,  Shropshire, 
and  were  taken  there  by  Mr.  John  Hewer,  who 
remained  as  manager  of  the  cattle  till  the  end 
of  the  year  1822,  or  the  early  part  of  1823. 
Among  the  bulls  taken  to  Purslow  were  the 
famous  Wellington,  Favorite,  and  Old  Sov- 
ereign. This  last  bull  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Tench,  of  Bromfield,  Shropshire,  and  was  given 
by  him  to  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Edmund  Jeffries, 
and  was  the  founder  of  his  good  herd.  In  1824 
Mr.  Browning  was  obliged  to  sell  his  stock  and 
let  the  farm,  the  tenant  taking  the  cattle.  They 
were  subsequently  sold,  and  Mr.  John  Hewer 
bought  some  of  them." 

The  more  probable  date  of  John  Hewer's 
removal  to  Shropshire  is,  we  think,  1817,  a 
view  of  which  is  confirmed  by  the  fact  that 
Sovereign  was  calved  at  Purslow,  in  1820.  The 
change  to  Shropshire,  it  will  thus  be  observed, 
did  not  cause  an  interruption  of  his  connection 
with  his  father's  cattle. 

It  was  John  Hewer  who  was  responsible  for 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Browning's  herd,  and  it 
is  not  surprising  to  learn  that  it  became  the 
talk  of  the  country,  people  going  for  miles  to 
see  it.  Mr.  Lloyd  Roberts,  Crofton  Manor,  was 
introduced  to  Mr.  Hewer  at  this  time  and  he 
says  he  never  saw  a  grander  lot  of  cattle  in  his 
life  than  those  he  brought  to  Purslow.  It  was 
also  when  he  was  at  Purslow  that  the  late  Mr. 
Bowen,  Crofton,  became  acquainted  with  Mr. 


Hewer,  and  he  used  bulls  of  Hewer  blood  for 
about  40  years. 

When  Mr.  Hewer  returned  to  Monmouth,  it 
would  appear  that  he  took  with  him  a  number 
of  the  Herefords  of  his  father's  strains  that 
had  sojourned  for  a  time  in  Shropshire.  It  is 
a  very  important  fact  that  John  Hewer  never 
lost  his  control  over  the  stock,  in  the  breeding  of 
which  he  had  been  closely  associated  with  his 
father.  In  the  words  of  Mr.  John  L.  Hewer: 
"It  was  left  to  my  late  father  (John  Hewer) 
to  finish  what  his  father  had  begun,  to  produce 
a  race  of  cattle  which  were  beautiful  to  look  at 
and  good  rent-paying  animals  of  great  scale 
and  splendid  quality,  and  he  bred  and  let  more 
bulls  than  any  other  man.  There  is  not  a  sin- 
gle herd  of  Herefords  in  existence  but  what 
traces  back  to  his  stock. 

"He  was  a  great  stickler  for  scale  with  qual- 
ity, and  some  of  the  older  bulls  were  immense 
animals,  often  weighing  from  25  to  over  30  cwt. 
(2,800  "to  3,360  American  Ibs.).  The  General 
(1251)  1677  was  32^  cwt.  (3,640  Ibs.)  when 
six  years  old.  He  was  let  for  four  seasons  run- 
ning for  the  sum  of  £84  ($420)  per  season.  Gov- 
ernor (464)  87,  the  sire  of  General,  was  let  for 
£100  ($500)  per  season,  and  I  have  heard  my 
father  say  he  let  Favorite  (442)  292  for  £200 


RYALL   COURT,    WORCESTERSHIRE,    HOME    OF   JOHN 
PRICE. 

($1,000)  per  season,  and  Defiance  (416)  217  for 
£200  ($1,000).  I  have  known  him  have  55 
bulls  let  out  at  one  time  about  the  country,  and 
he  used  to  let  bulls  to  go  into  Scotland.  He 
occasionally  sold  bulls  at  long  prices  to  go 
abroad  as  far  back  as  1835,  and  one  Hampton 
(513)  was  sold  for  £500  ($2,500).  He  also  sent 
a  lot  of  cattle  to  Australia  in  the  year  1840, 
and  he  saw  afterwards  in  an  Australian  paper 
shown  him  by  a  friend,  that  one  of  his  bulls 
was  sold  out  there  for  1,000  guineas  ($5,000)." 


HISTOKY     OF    HEBEFOKD     CATTLE 


41 


About  this  time  his  friend,  Win.  H.  Sotham, 
bought  several  animals  for  export  to  America. 

"My  father  had  what  he  called  his  four  favor- 
ite strains — Countess,  Lofty,  Ked  Eose,  and 
Fanny,  and  those  are  the  ones  from  which  his 
cattle  are  principally  descended.  Ked  Eose 
393  (fl  35  A),  by  Chance  (355)  289,  from  Eose- 
bud  288,  was  his  favorite  cow.  He  kept  her 
until  she  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  I 
believe  she  bred  him  twenty  calves.  She  had 
twins  when  she  was  seventeen  years  old — a  bull 
and  a  heifer — by  Governor  (40-1)  87.  The  bull 


VICTORY    (33),    BRED    BY   J.    PRICE,    CALVED    1839. 

Grateful  (12(50)  1599  was  sold  to  the  late  Mr. 
W.  Stedman,  Bedstone  Hall.  There  were  sev- 
eral cases  of  longevity  amongst  his  bulls,  espe- 
cially Berrington  (-135)  3362,  who  was  a  stock- 
getter  at  twenty-one  years  old;  Sovereign '(404) 
221,  at  fifteen  years  old,  and  a  more  recent  case, 
Above  All  (2910)  3127,  which  was  only  fed  in 
the  winter  of  1883  by  Mr.  Jones,  Preston  Boats, 
Salop,  at  seventeen  years  old." 

It  would  be  impossible  to  give  here  the 
names  of  all  the  famous  animals  bred  by  Mr. 
John  Hewer  during  his  career  as  a  breeder, 
which  practically  extended  from  about  1803  to 
1873,  a  period  of  nearly  seventy  years.  Mr. 
Eyton  mentions  in  Vol.  1  of  the  Herd  Book 
that  he  was  informed  by  Mr.  Hewer  that  Pretty 
Maid,  Primrose,  Beauty,  and  Damsel,  were  the 
four  cows  from  which  his  herd  was  originally 
descended. 

Most  of  the  following  bulls  bred  by  J.  Hewer 
were  extensively  used  in  the  county,  and  have 
left  their  impress  on  the  breed:  Sovereign 
(404)  221,  Lottery  (410)  185,  Byron  (440)  205, 
Hope  (411)  282,  Chance  (355)  289,  Defiance 
(11(5)  217,  Prince  Dangerous  (362)  146,  Lot 
(3(54)  846,  Lottery  2d  (408)  1413,  Young  Fa- 
vorite (413)  350,  Wonder  (420)  451,  Fitzfavor- 
ite  (441)  366,  Hamlet  (512)  275,  Original  1st 
(455)  219,  Young  Waxy  (451)  301,  Purslow 


(446),  and  Conqueror  (412)  262.  But  the  list 
could  be  largely  extended,  and  the  difficulty  is 
to  find  a  single  animal  of  note  in  the  present 
day  that  does  not  inherit  Hewer  blood. 

The  sum  received  for  the  letting  of  Sovereign 
(404)  221  was  £640  18s  ($3,205),  for  Lottery 
(410)  185,  £710  ($3,550),  for  Lottery  2d  (408) 
1413  £645  11s  ($3,225),  and  for  Defiance  (416) 
217  £525  ($2,625).  The  produce  of  Countess 
the  2d  226,  was  valued  at  £455  14s  ($2,280), 
and  the  produce  of  the  cow  Lofty  147  made 
£1,289  ($6,445).  As  illustrative  of  the  weight 
of  some  of  Mr.  Hewer's  cattle,  it  may  be  noted 
that  the  live  weight  of  the  cow  Eosy  5469  was 
one  ton  and  one  cwt.  3  qrs.  or  2,436  Ibs. 

Mr.  Hewer  gained  the  first  prize  at  the  E.  A. 
S.  E.  Show  at  Oxford  in  1839  for  the  best  heifer 
(Lady  Oxford  1414),  and  also  the  following 
year,  at  Cambridge,  with  Duchess  of  Cam- 
bridge. The  widespread  influence  of  the  Hewer 
blood  on  the  breed  arose  very  much  from  Mr. 
Hewer's  habit  of  letting  out  his  bulls,  as  many 
as  fifty-five  having  been,  as  Mr.  J.  L.  Hewer  has 
told  us,  let  out  at  one  time.  In  few  herds  was 
the  Hewer  influence  more  potent  than  in  those 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Jeffries  of  The  Grove  (who  used 
Lottery,  Sovereign  and  Byron),  Mr.  Yeomans 
of  Howton,  Mr.  Yeomans  of  Moreton,  Mr. 
Bo  wen  of  Crofton,  Mr.  Jones  of  Breinton;  Mr. 
Turner,  Noke,  and  Sir  Hungerford  Hoskyns. 
But  in  this  respect  again  it  is  impracticable  to. 
make  a  full  list  without  giving  the  names  of 
nearly  all  the  well-known  breeders. 

In  Mr.  Jeffries'  hands,  however,  it  will  be 
shown,  the  Hewer  blood  was  most  successful. 
The  celebrated  Cotmore  (376)  150,  calved  in 
1836,  bred  by  Mr.  Jeffries,  and  winner  of  the 
first  prize  at  the  initial  show  of  the  Eoyal  Agri- 
cultural Society  at  Oxford  in  1839,  was  got  by 
Mr.  Hewer's  Sovereign  (404)  221,  and  his  dam 
was  by  Lottery  (410)  185.  Then  Chance  (348) 
119,  the  sire  of  the  wonderful  bull  Sir  David 
(349)  68,  was  from  Victoria  186  by  Lottery 
(410)  185,  the  grandam  being  Countess  264,  by 
Old  Sovereign  (404)  221.  Sir  David's  dam  was 
also  by  Chance  (348)  119.  Instead  of  going 
into  elaborate  details  now  as  to  the  influence  of 
the  Hewer  cattle,  it  will  be  more  convenient 
to  allow  the  facts  to  come  out  when  we  refer 
especially  to  the  various  herds. 

It  has  been  somewhat  positively  stated  that 
the  whole  of  Mr.  John  Hewer's  cattle,  as  well 
as  those  of  his  father's,  were  white-faced.  On 
this  point  Mr.  John  L.  Hewer  writes  us:  "My 
grandfather's  herd  were  not  all  pure  white 
faces.  He  had  some  ticked-faced  ones;  also,  I 
believe,  a  few  a  little  mottled,  and  my  father 
had  one  strain  of  the  tick  faces  (fl  36)  which  he 


42 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


prized  very  highly,  the  Lofty  strain  from  which 
descended  Governor  (464)  87,  one  of  the  best 
sires  of  his  day;  he  was  ticked  very  much.  Mr. 
Bowen,  who  bred  mostly  from  Hewer  stock,  had 
several  ticked-faced  ones  in  his  herd  descended 
from  Governor,  of  which  he  thought  a  great 
deal.  They  were  heavily  fleshed  of  nice  quality, 
and  with  great  aptitude  to  fatten;  and,  as  I 
told  you  before,  my  father  went  in  for  great 
scale,  with  symmetry,  weight  and  quality.  There 
were  one  or  two  tick  faces  at  his  last  sale,  but 
they  early  wore  out  from  continually  crossing 
with  the  white  faces,  although  now  and  then 
one  would  crop  up. 

"Lofty  147,  I  may  add,  was  also  the  dam  of 
Wonder  (420)  451,  used  by  the  late  Lord  Ber- 
wick in  his  herd,  also  of  a  steer,  winner  of  a 
first  prize  at  the  Rutland  Show  at  Oakham  in 
1837,  and  first  at  Smithfield.  Her  produce  real- 
ized £1,289  ($6,445).  I  remember  her  very 
well;  she  was  a  favorite  with  me  when  a  boy." 

The  late  Mr.  E.  Bowen,  Crofton,  wrote:  "My 
first  remembrance  of  the  tick-faces  in  Mr.  Hew- 
er's herd  was  in  1838.  I  have  heard  him  say 
that  there  was  a  particular  strain  that  had 
these  face  markings,  viz.,  Old  Lofty  147,  and 
the  Lady  Byron  218  fl[  3 6 A)  families.  In  Gov- 
ernor (464)  87  the  ticks  were  more  blended 
than  in  any  others.  My  Old  Lady  Wiseman 
7723,  by  Cardinal  Wiseman  (1168)  2688,  dam 
a  Governor  cow,  was  also  ticked-faced;  out  of 
fifteen  calves  produced  by  her,  there  was  only 
one  ticked-faced.  That  was  her  last,  named 
Leah,  now  in  my  possession.  She  is  strongly 
marked  with  the  ticks  but  she  has  produced  me 
four  calves,  all  of  white-faces,  so  that  I  think 
with  a  continual  crossing  with  white-faces  the 
ticks  will  disappear." 

Mr.  Forester,  Sherlowe,  remarks:  "Mr.  Hew- 
er's stock  were  all  what  is  commonly  called  red 
with  white  faces.  But  this  description  is  sub- 
ject to  a  variety  of  which  Mr.  Hewer  was  rather 
fond,  namely,  a  ticked-face — not  what  is  usual- 
ly termed  a  mottle  face,  that  is,  one  with  spots 
such  as  could  be  counted,  but  minute  ticks  of 
a  bluish  tint.  The  bulls  Wonder  (420)  451, 
and  Governor  (464)  87,  had  it  and  their  dam, 
Lofty  147,  by  Original  (455)  219,  in  a  marked 
degree;  also  Above  All  (2910)  3127,  and  in  a 
less  degree  his  sire  Abdel  Kader  (1837)  3135." 

But,  after  all,  the  outstanding  feature  of  Mr. 
Hewer's  stock,  as  regards  color,  was  their  white 
faces.  This  uniformity  was  doubtless  produced 
by  careful  selection  in  breeding.  We  may  as- 
sume that  the  animals  originally  obtained  by 
William  Hewer  possessed  the  white  face  and 
other  markings  now  distinctly  characteristic 
of  the  breed,  and  that  in  his  case,  and  that  of 


his  son,  stock  that  reverted  back  to  the  other 
shades  were  not  (except  in  the  strain  of  tick 
faces  to  which  we  have  referred)  retained  for 
breeding  purposes;  size  and  quality  also  re- 
ceived great  attention,  and  the  impressive  power 
of  the  Hewer  sires  in  all  these  particulars  was 
remarkable. 

Mr.  John  L.  Hewer  wrote  Messrs.  McDonald 
and  Sinclair:  "It  seems  strange  to  you,  no 
doubt,  how  my  father  managed  to  breed  from 
his  own  stock  for  such  a  length  of  time,  and 
so  successfully  to  keep  up  the  size  and  character 
of  his  herd.  But  that  was  his  secret.  He  used 
to  say  that  he  had  five  different  strains,  which 
by  judicious  crossing  kept  up  their  stamina." 

The  influence  of  the  Hewer  strains  is  very 
clearly  brought  out  in  an  analysis  of  the  pedi- 
gree of  the  prize  cow  Queen  of  Hearts  1552, 
which  was  drawn  up. by  the  Earl  of  Southesk. 
It  is  seen  from  it  how  many  of  the  best  strains 
traced  back  to  the  bull  Silver  (540)  358  which 
Mr.  Duckham,  in  the  revised  edition  of  Vol.  1 
of  the  Herd  Book,  truly  remarks :  "Appears  to 
have  laid  the  foundation  of  William  Hewer's 
eminence  as  a  breeder." 

Mr.  John  Hewer  did  not  pamper  his  cattle. 
He  kept  them  on  plain  fare  and  aimed  at  de- 
veloping robust  constitutions.  It  is  believed, 
indeed,  that  his  system  of  management  was  of 
a  somewhat  rough  description..  At  any  rate 
there  were  never  any  complaints  as  to  his  ani- 
mals being  delicate. 


YOUNG    TRUEBOY    (32)    630,    BRED    BY    JOHN    PRICE, 
CALVED   1838. 

Mr.  John  L.  Hewer  tells  us  that  his  father's 
system  of  management  differed  very  little  from 
that  of  other  farmers  in  the  district.  He  tried 
to  have  most  of  his  calves  dropped  in  the  early 
summer.  They  ran  with  their  dams  in  the  pas- 
tures until  they  were  weaned,  and  were  then 
brought  into  the  house  and  received  a  little 
cake,  crushed  oats,  bran  and  chaff,  with  a  few 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


43 


roots.  The  cows  were  wintered  in  the  yards  on 
straw — frequently  tacked  out  on  straw.  The 
only  diif'erence  he  made  was  with  his  young 
bulls.  As  yearlings,  he  never  liked  to  pamper 
them,  but  kept  them  in  good  growing  condition, 
as  he  said  they  always  lasted  longer  than  ani- 
mals that  were  pampered  when  young.  He  had 
some  rough  sheds  put  up  in  the  orchards  with 
thatch  for  covering.  The  bulls  ran  out  in  the 
orchards,  and  had  those  sheds  for  shelter  from 
sun  and  rain.  They  had  also  an  allowance  of 
cotton  cake  and  crushed  oats  daily. 

The  only  fault  that  he  had  was  that  he  was 
often  overstocked,  and  one  or  two  of  his  bulls 
were  sometimes  poor  in  condition.  "But  that 
could  not  be  altered,"  remarks  our  correspon- 
dent, "as  we  frequently  had  as  many  as  twenty- 
five  to  thirty  bulls  let  out  all  over  the  Kingdom. 


"POOLE    HOUSE,"    UPTON-UPON-SEVERN,    HOME    OF 
JOHN    PRICE. 

The  consequence  was  that  some  of  them  came 
home  in  a  shocking  plight,  and  it  took  some 
time  to  get  them  in  condition  again,  although 
I  must  give  most  of  our  customers  credit  for 
sending  them  home  in  good  condition — indeed, 
some  of  them  took  a  pride  in  sending  them 
home  in  better  condition  than  they  received 
them." 

Consequent  on  his  frequent  removals  and 
owing  to  other  circumstances,  Mr.  Hewer  had 
many  sales  of  stock.  The  first  of  these  was  in 
1839  at  Hampton  Lodge,  when  an  average  of 
l!.")S  ($290)  was  obtained.  The  highest  price 
was  £346  10s  ($1,733)  for  the  four-year-old 
cow  Lady  Byron  218,  got  by  Chance  (355)  289, 
dam  Fatfrumps  276.  The  purchaser  was  Mr. 
Williams,  Bristol,  who  also  bought  the  cow  Red 
Hose  393,  by  Chance  (355)  289,  dam  Rosebud 
288,  for  £105  ($525),  and  the  bulls  Baron  (418) 
2860,  for  £120  ($600),  Dangerous  (419)  1699, 
for  £252  ($1,260),  and  Lot  (364)  846,  for  £267 
15s  ($1,340).  Mr.  Lumsden,  Auchry,  Aberdeen- 


shire,  purchased  the  bull  Matchless  (415)  2524 
for  £105  ($525),  and  the  bull  Wonder  (420) 
451  sold  for  the  same  price. 

Another  sale  was  held  at  Hampton  Lodge 
in  October,  1843,  when  the  cow  Lady,  sire 
Chance  (348)  119,  dam  Lady  Byron  218,  sold 
for  100  guineas  ($500).  A  sale  was  held  at 
Lower  Wilcroft  in  October,  1846,  and  sales  also 
took  place  at  Vern  House  in  1855,  1861,  and 
1866. 

At  the  Grove  (Jeffries')  sale  in  1844,  Byron 
(380)  190,  calved  in  1842  by  Confidence  (367) 
255,  dam  Lady  Byron  136  by  Hewer's  Byron 
(440)  205,  was  sold  for  £75  ($375),  Lady  By- 
ron 136  going  for  £84  ($420)  to  Mr.  Price.  Con- 
fidence (367)  255,  tracing  to  Hewer  stock,  and 
first  at  the  Derby  Show  of  the  R.  A.  S.  E.,  being 
sold  for  £100  ($500)  to  Mr.  Smith. 

Faugh-a-Ballagh  (368)  5464,  by  Confidence 
(367)  255,  Regulator  (360)  174  by  Sovereign 
(404)  221,  dam  by  Lottery  (410)  185  (the  latter 
well  known  in  connection  with  the  Monaughty 
herd),  and  Hope  (439)  324,  by  Byron  (440)  205, 
from  the  same  dam  as  Cotmore  (376)  150,  from 
which  many  of  Mr.  Carpenter's  (Eardisland) 
winners  were  descended,  may  be  mentioned  as 
intimately  connecting  the  Hewer  stock  to  some 
of  the  best  stock  of  the  present  day. 

In  connection  with  Herefords  in  America, 
the  following  bill  of  sale  from  the  Hewers  to 
W.  H.  Sotham  is  of  interest. 

The  following  are  the  pedigrees  of  the  beasts 
sold  by  me  this  day,  April  10th,  1840,  to  Wil- 
liam H.  Sotham,  Perch  Lake  Farm,  Jefferson 
County,  New  York,  North  America: 

1.  An  eight-year-old  cow,  Lumpy,  was  sired 
by  Nelson,  dam  by  Panic,  grandam  by  Alpha. 
Nelson's  sire  was  by  Trojan,  dam  Bloomy,  gran- 
dam  Old  Bloomy. 

2.  A  five-year-old  cow,  Gay,  and  bull  calf, 
Sir  George.     Gay  sired  by  Noble,  which  was 
sired  by  Sovereign,  that  sired  Cotmore  which 
won  the  prize  at  Oxford  Royal  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, 1839,  and  is  admitted  by  all  breeders  to 
have  sired  more  prize  beasts  than  any  other  in 
the  county  of  Hereford.    Dam  by  Conqueror, 
grandam  Spot  by  Alpha;  Alpha  by  Trojan,  the 
owner  of  which  offered  to  show  against  any  bull 
in  England  for  a  thousand  pounds,  and  was  not 
accepted. 

3.  Young  Sir  George,  by  son  of  Sir  George 
that  won  the  prize  at  Hereford  for  best  aged 
bull. 

4.  Four-year-old   cow  Maria  and  calf,    by 
Young  Favorite,  by  a  son  of  Alpha,  dam  by 
Noble. 

5.  Calf  Matilda  by  Major,  which  won  the 
prize  at  Hereford  with  his  dam  and  sire,  for 


HISTOUY     OF    HE BE F OB D     CATTLE 


bred  were  The  Sheriffs  (356)  283,— by  Sov- 
ereign,, a  prize  bull  by  Gloucester  and  sold  to 
Mr.  Mason  at  The  Grove  sale  in  1836  for  £60 
($300)  ;  Portrait  (372)  194,— by  Lottery  (410) 
185,— sold  in  1836  to  Mr.  Rogers  for  £52 
($260);  Grove  (370)  247  sold  at  the  same  sale 
for  £80  ($400),  and  Conservative  (270)  sold  for 
£70  ($350). 

Mr.  Thos.  Jeffries  is  acknowledged  to  have 
been  one  of  the  most  successful  and  skillful 
breeders  of  the  Herefords.  Beginning  with  the 
old  Jeffries  blood,  he  seems  to  have  perceived 
that  the  best  course  for  him  to  pursue  was  to 
infuse  a  large  proportion  of  Hewer  blood.  He 
had  on  hire  Mr.  John  Hewer's  grand  bulls  Sov- 
ereign (404)  221,  Lottery  (410)  185,  Byron 
(440)  205,  and  Fitzfavorite  (441)  3.66.  The  cat- 
tle thus  bred  were  of  the  very  highest  merit, 
being  of  large  size,  good  form,  splendid  quality, 
and  generally  uniform  in  color  markings.  He 
did  more  than  any  other  breeder  to  spread 
abroad  the  fame  of  the  Hewer  stock,  and  en- 
couraged by  his  success  many  of  the  best  breed- 
ers of  the  day  imitated  his  example  and  crossed 
their  stock-  with  the  Hewer  bulls.  Indeed,  it  is 
not  too  much  to  say  that  it  is  largely  owing  to 
.Mr.  Hewer,  Mr.  Yeomans,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Jef- 
fries that  the  uniform  color  marking  of  the 


breed  was  established.  It  is  not  necessary  here 
to  go  into  much  detail  regarding  the  many  im- 
pressive sires  that  were  distributed  over  the 
country  from  The  Grove  herd. 

Cotmore  (376)  150,  bred  by  T.  Jeffries, 
calved  in  1836  (got  by  Hewer's  Sovereign  (404) 
221,  when  he  was  fifteen  years  old),  dam  by 
Lottery  (410)  185,  was'  considered  to  have  been 
one  of  the  finest  Hereford  bulls  ever  seen.  Be- 
sides gaining  first  prizes  at  Hereford  as  a  two- 
year-old,  three-year-old,  and  later  in  the  aged 
class,  he  was  the  first  prize  winner  at  the  Ox- 
ford Show  of  the  E.  A.  S.  E.  in  1839.  His  live 
weight  was  35  old  English  cwt.  (or  3,920  Ibs.). 
Hope  (439)  324  (fl  38)  from  same  dam  as  Cot- 
more,  was  a  grand  animal  and  impressive  sire 
that  left  his  mark  on  the  breed,  (ff  38B) 

Mr.  Thos.  Jeffries'  services  were  not  over- 
looked by  his  contemporaries.  A  subscription 
list,  prefaced  by  the  following  notice,  appeared 
in  the  Hereford  papers  in  1839 :  "Many  ad- 
mirers as  well  as  breeders  of  Hereford  cattle 
having  viewed  with  feelings  of  pride  the  suc- 
cess of  Mr.  Thos.  Jeffries  of  The  Grove  in  ob- 
taining at  the  first  meeting  of  the  English  Agri- 
cultural Society,  held  at  Oxford  on  Wednesday, 
the  17th  day  of  July,  1839,  a  prize  for  exhibit- 
ing the  best  Hereford  bull,  desire  to  present 


• CROOME   COURT,"   WORCESTERSHIRE,  SEAT  OF  THE  EARL,  OF  COVENTRY. 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


47 


him  with  a  piece  of  plate,  as  an  expression  of  the 
highest  estimation  in  which  his  services  are 
held  as  a  breeder  of  Herefords."  (fl  38a)  A 
very  handsome  response  was  made,  and  Mr.  Jef- 
fries at  a  dinner  at  which  he  was  entertained 
at  Kington,  presided  over  by  Sir  Robert  Price, 
was  presented  with  a  magnificent  service  of 
plate.  The  service,  along  with  a  large  number 
of  cups,  are  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Henry 
Jeffries,  of  Guilford,  who  treasures  them  not 
only  as  evidence  of  the  skill  of  his  father  and 
other  members  of  the  family  in  breeding  Here- 
fords,  but  also  as  a  testimony  of  the  esteem  in 
which  Mr.  Jeffries  was  held  by  a  wide  circle  of 
friends. 

The  most  eminent  of  the  early  improvers  who 
come  in  chronological  order  next  to  those  al- 
ready mentioned,  may  be  appropriately  intro- 
duced by  continuing  the  account  drawn  up  by 
the  late  Mr.  T.  C.  Yeld  of  The  Broome,.from 
which  a  quotation  was  made  in  a  preceding 
chapter: 

"No  one,"  Mr.  Yeld  says,  "ever  bred  better 
cattle  than  the  late  Mr.  T.  A.  Knight.  There 


THE   RIGHT  HONORABLE    EARL  OF    COVENTRY. 
(From  a  photograph   taken  in  1902.) 

was  no  one  who  knew  the  principles  of  breeding 
cattle  better,  and  he  took  great  pains  to  try  the 
various  crosses,  the  only  success  being  with 
Scotch  heifers.  His  white  bull,  entered  in  the 
Herd  Book  as  Snowball,  or  Knight's  White 
Bull  (246)  328,  was  used  after  Mr.  Turley,  by 
Mr.  Rea  of  The  Rock,  and,  I  believe,  by  his 


son,  Mr.  Rea  of  Monaughty,  by  his  son-in-law, 
Mr.  Taylor  of  Eye,  by  Messrs.  Hill  and  Trump- 
er  of  Orleton,  and  afterwards  by  Mr.  Yeld  of 
The  Broome." 

Mr.  Yeld  tells  us:  "There  were  very  few  stocks 
at  this  time  fit  to  breed  bulls  from  besides  those 
of  Tomkins,  Price,  Galliers,  Skyrme,  Tully, 
Hewers,  Jeffries,  Knight,  Mr.  Proctor,  Black- 
hall,  Mr.  Martin,  Wistaston,  Mr.  Sheward,  Lit- 
tle Dilwyn,  Mr.  Yarworth,  Brinsop,  in  what 
may  be  termed  the  Pyon  district;  and  in  Pern- 
bridge  district,  Mr.  Parry,  Birley;  Mr.  Farrier, 
Luntly;  Mr.  J.  Jones,  Charbrook;  Mr.  Jones, 
The  Lowe,  Pembridge;  Mr.  Powel,  Marston, 
and  Mr.  Turner,  Aymestry.  On  the  Hereford 
side  was  also,  first,  Mr.  Weyman,  Moreton,  suc- 
ceeded by  Mr.  Chute  Hayton,  Mr.  Clarke,  Lyde, 
Mr.  Walwin,  Sir  John  Cotterell,  Col.  Matthews, 
Belmont."  Mr.  Yeld  adds:  "I  am  speaking 
now  of  the  first  twenty  years  of  the  present 
century." 

"All  the  above  named  herds,"  says  Mr.  Yeld, 
"possessed  form  and  quality.  There  was  an- 
other class  of  Herefords  to  appear  to  have  been 
bred  solely  for  working  purposes,  being  large 

in  size,  with  very  heavy  bone There  was 

a  third  class  of  what  were  termed  Welsh  Here- 
fords, red  and  white-faced,  but  that  carried  no 
flesh  and  when  grazed  on  the  best  land  would 
never  stretch. 

"During  the  French  revolutionary  war,  and 
up  to  1821,  the  return  to  cash  payments,  every- 
thing sold  high,  and  farmers  could  pay  high 
rents,  but  with  the  winter  and  spring  of  1820- 
21  Peel's  Monetary  Bill  came  into  full  force. 
Down  went  the  manufacturers,  down  went  the 
bank  and  down  went  the  farmers.  At  this  time 
scores  were  ruined  by  force  of  circumstances, 
and  those  farmers  who  had  not  real  property  to 
fall  back  upon  were  bound  to  go  to  the  wall. 
I  have  seen  whole  streets  filled  with  cattle  in 
the  years  1821-22-23,  and  no  one  asked  what 
they  were  bought  for. 

"I  well  remember  the  stock  of  Mr.  John  Jones 
of  Charbrook,  sold  in  1822.  They  were  as 
good  as  anything  I  ever  saw;  the  cows  and 
heifers  magnificent.  Cows  sold  from  £7  to  £12 
(or  $35  to  $60)  each;  most  beautiful  two-year- 
old  heifers  from  £6  to  £8  ($30  to  $40)  each. 
There  was  as  good  a  cart  team  as  it  was  possible 
to  find;  the  highest  price  £11  ($55).  At  Here- 
ford Fair  in  1822  some  very  splendid  barren 
cows,  bred  by  Col.  Matthews  of  Belmont,  were 
bought  by  a  neighbor  of  mine  at  £6,  7s,  6d 
($34)  each. 

"At  this  time  graziers  found  they  could  make 
no  profit  by  feeding,  rarely  making  more  than 
£1  ($5)  for  summer  profit  over  price,  and  farm- 


HIS TOBY  OF  EEBEFOBD  CATTLE 


bred  were  The  Sheriffs  (356)  283,— by  Sov- 
ereign, a  prize  bull  by  Gloucester  and  sold  to 
Mr.  Mason  at  The  Grove  sale  in  1836  for  £60 
($300)  ;  Portrait  (372)  194,— by  Lottery  (410) 
185,— sold  in  1836  to  Mr.  Rogers  for  £52 
($260);  Grove  (370)  247  sold  at  the  same  sale 
for  £80  ($400),  and  Conservative  (270)  sold  for 
£70  ($350). 

Mr.  Thos.  Jeffries  is  acknowledged  to  have 
been  one  of  the  most  successful  and  skillful 
breeders  of  the  Herefords.  Beginning  with  the 
old  Jeffries  blood,  he  seems  to  have  perceived 
that  the  best  course  for  him  to  pursue  was  to 
infuse  a  large  proportion  of  Hewer  blood.  He 
had  on  hire  Mr.  John  Hewer's  grand  bulls  Sov- 
ereign (404)  221,  Lottery  (410)  185,  Byron 
(440)  205,  and  Fitzfavorite  (441)  3.66.  The  cat- 
tle thus  bred  were  of  the  very  highest  merit, 
being  of  large  size,  good  form,  splendid  quality, 
and  generally  uniform  in  color  markings.  He 
did  more  than  any  other  breeder  to  spread 
abroad  the  fame  of  the  Hewer  stock,  and  en- 
couraged by  his  success  many  of  the  best  breed- 
ers of  the  day  imitated  his  example  and  crossed 
their  stock-  with  the  Hewer  bulls.  Indeed,  it  is 
not  too  much  to  say  that  it  is  largely  owing  to 
.Mr.  Hewer,  Mr.  Yeomans,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Jef- 
fries that  the  uniform  color  marking  of  the 


breed  was  established.  It  is  not  necessary  here 
to  go  into  much  detail  regarding  the  many  im- 
pressive sires  that  were  distributed  over  the 
country  from  The  Grove  herd. 

Cotmore  (376)  150,  bred  by  T.  Jeffries, 
calved  in  1836  (got  by  Hewer's  Sovereign  (404) 
221,  when  he  was  fifteen  years  old),  dam  by 
Lottery  (410)  185,  was'  considered  to  have  been 
one  of  the  finest  Hereford  bulls  ever  seen.  Be- 
sides gaining  first  prizes  at  Hereford  as  a  two- 
year-old,  three-year-old,  and  later  in  the  aged 
class,  he  was  the  first  prize  winner  at  the  Ox- 
ford Show  of  the  E.  A.  S.  E.  in  1839.  His  live 
weight  was  35  old  English  cwt.  (or  3,920  Ibs.). 
Hope  (439)  324  (ff  38)  from  same  dam  as  Cot- 
more,  was  a  grand  animal  and  impressive  sire 
that  left  his  mark  on  the  breed.  (f[  38B) 

Mr.  Thos.  Jeffries'  services  were  not  over- 
looked by  his  contemporaries.  A  subscription 
list,  prefaced  by  the  following  notice,  appeared 
in  the  Hereford  papers  in  1839 :  "Many  ad- 
mirers as  well  as  breeders  of  Hereford  cattle 
having  viewed  with  feelings  of  pride  the  suc- 
cess of  Mr.  Thos.  Jeffries  of  The  Grove  in  ob- 
taining at  the  first  meeting  of  the  English  Agri- 
cultural Society,  held  at  Oxford  on  Wednesday, 
the  17th  day  of  July,  1839,  a  prize  for  exhibit- 
ing the  best  Hereford  bull,  desire  to  present 


••CROOME   COURT,"   WORCESTERSHIRE. SEAT  OF  THE  EARL,  OF  COVENTRY. 


HISTORY    OF    H  E  R  E  F  0  R  D    C  A  T  T  L  E 


him  with  a  piece  of  plate,  as  an  expression  of  the 
highest  estimation  in  which  his  services  are 
held  as  a  breeder  of  Herefords."  (fl  38a)  A 
very  handsome  response  was  made,  and  Mr.  Jef- 
fries at  a  dinner  at  which  he  was  entertained 
at  Kington,  presided  over  by  Sir  Robert  Price, 
was  presented  with  a  magnificent  service  of 
plate.  The  service,  along  with  a  large  number 
of  cups,  are  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Henry 
Jeffries,  of  Guilford,  who  treasures  them  not 
only  as  evidence  of  the  skill  of  his  father  and 
other  members  of  the  family  in  breeding  Here- 
fords,  but  also  as  a  testimony  of  the  esteem  in 
which  Mr.  Jeffries  was  held  by  a  wide  circle  of 
friends. 

The  most  eminent  of  the  early  improvers  who 
come  in  chronological  order  next  to  those  al- 
ready mentioned,  may  be  appropriately  intro- 
duced by  continuing  the  account  drawn  up  by 
the  late  Mr.  T.  C.  Yeld  of  The  Broome,.  from 
which  a  quotation  was  made  in  a  preceding 
chapter: 

"No  one,"  Mr.  Yeld  says,  "ever  bred  better 
cattle  than  the  late  Mr.  T.  A.  Knight.  There 


THE   RIGHT  HONORABLE    EARL  OF   COVENTRY. 
(From  a  photograph   taken  in  1902.) 

was  no  one  who  knew  the  principles  of  breeding 
cattle  better,  and  he  took  great  pains  to  try  the 
various  crosses,  the  only  success  being  with 
Scotch  heifers.  His  white  bull,  entered  in  the 
Herd  Book  as  Snowball,  or  Knight's  White 
Bull  (246)  328,  was  used  after  Mr.  Turley,  by 
Mr.  Rea  of  The  Rock,  and,  I  believe,  by  his 


son,  Mr.  Rea  of  Monaughty,  by  his  son-in-law, 
Mr.  Taylor  of  Eye,  by  Messrs.  Hill  and  Trump- 
er  of  Orleton,  and  afterwards  by  Mr.  Yeld  of 
The  Broome." 

Mr.  Yeld  tells  us:  "There  were  very  few  stocks 
at  this  time  fit  to  breed  bulls  from  besides  those 
of  Tomkins,  Price,  Galliers,  Skyrme,  Tully, 
Hewers,  Jeffries,  Knight,  Mr.  Proctor,  Black- 
hall,  Mr.  Martin,  Wistaston,  Mr.  Sheward,  Lit- 
tle Dilwyn,  Mr.  Yarworth,  Brinsop,  in  what 
may  be  termed  the  Pyon  district;  and  in  Pern- 
bridge  district,  Mr.  Parry,  Birley ;  Mr.  Farrier, 
Luntly;  Mr.  J.  Jones,  Charbrook;  Mr.  Jones, 
The  Lowe,  Pembridge;  Mr.  Powel,  Marston, 
and  Mr.  Turner,  Aymestry.  On  the  Hereford 
side  was  also,  first,  Mr.  Weyman,  Moreton,  suc- 
ceeded by  Mr.  Chute  Hayton,  Mr.  Clarke,  Lyde, 
Mr.  Walwin,  Sir  John  Cotterell,  Col.  Matthews, 
Belmont."  Mr.  Yeld  adds:  "I  am  speaking 
now  of  the  first  twenty  years  of  the  present 
century." 

"All  the  above  named  herds,"  says  Mr.  Yeld, 
"possessed  form  and  quality.  There  was  an- 
other class  of  Herefords  to  appear  to  have  been 
bred  solely  for  working  purposes,  being  large 

in  size,  with  very  heavy  bone There  was 

a  third  class  of  what  were  termed  Welsh  Here- 
fords, red  and  white-faced,  but  that  carried  no 
flesh  and  when  grazed  on  the  best  land  would 
never  stretch. 

"During  the  French  revolutionary  war,  and 
up  to  1821,  the  return  to  cash  payments,  every- 
thing sold  high,  and  farmers  could  pay  high 
rents,  but  with  the  winter  and  spring  of  1820- 
21  Peel's  Monetary  Bill  came  into  full  force. 
Down  went  the  manufacturers,  down  went  the 
bank  and  down  went  the  farmers.  At  this  time 
scores  were  ruined  by  force  of  circumstances, 
and  those  farmers  who  had  not  real  property  to 
fall  back  upon  were  bound  to  go  to  the  wall. 
I  have  seen  whole  streets  filled  with  cattle  in 
the  years  1821-22-23,  and  no  one  aske.d  what 
they  were  bought  for. 

"I  well  remember  the  stock  of  Mr.  John  Jones 
of  Charbrook,  sold  in  1822.  They  were  as 
good  as  anything  I  ever  saw;  the  cows  and 
heifers  magnificent.  Cows  sold  from  £7  to  £12 
(or  $35  to  $60)  each;  most  beautiful  two-year- 
old  heifers  from  £6  to  £8  ($30  to  $40)  each. 
There  was  as  good  a  cart  team  as  it  was  possible 
to  find;  the  highest  price  £11  ($55).  At  Here- 
ford Fair  in  1822  some  very  splendid  barren 
cows,  bred  by  Col.  Matthews  of  Belmont,  were 
bought  by  a  neighbor  of  mine  at  £6,  7s,  6d 
($34)  each. 

"At  this  time  graziers  found  they  could  make 
no  profit  by  feeding,  rarely  making  more  than 
£1  ($5)  for  summer  profit  over  price,  and  farm- 


48 


ers  began  to  pay  more  attention  to  breeding. 

"After  1820,  among  the  very  best  breeders 
were  Mr.  Hayton,  Mr.  Smythies,  Mr.  J.  Monk- 
house  (fl  39),  and  especially  Mr.  John  Turner 
(ff  40)  of  Noke  Court,  who  not  only  bred  but 
managed  his  stock  in  a  highly  creditable  man- 
ner, and  his  three-year-old  steers  were  always 
greatly  admired.  I  may  also  mention  two  gen- 
tlemen who  never  pushed  themselves  into  no- 
tice, but  who  brought  out  some  of  the  best 
steers  I  ever  saw,  viz.,  Mr.  Kichard  Hill  and  Mr. 
Trumper,  of  Orleton.  Besides  those  before 
named,  there  were  many  others  possessing  very 
excellent  herds,  including  Mr.  Davis,  Ladycott; 
Mr.  Davis,  Oxhouse;  Mr.  Joseph  Edwards, 
Kingsland,  and  Mr.  W.  Wheeler,  Irving  Park. 

"At  this  time,  1825,  several  new  stocks  were 
creeping  into  notice  and  eventually  took  a  lead- 
ing place,  viz.,  Mr.  T.  Roberts  (ff  41),  of  Iving- 
tonbury;  Mr.  James  Bowen,  of  Monkland;  Mr. 
Yeld,  TJje  Broome ;  Mr.  John  Morris,  Stockton- 
bury;  Mr.  W.  Bennett,  Strettford;  Mr.  John 
Thomas  and  Mr.  Vaughan,  Cholstrey;  also  Mr. 
Wm.  Parry,  Mr.  J.  Williams,  Kingsland;  Mr. 
Samuel  Peploe,  and  others,  (ff  42) 

"Few  people  at  this  time  had  better  stock  or 
were  better  judges  than  the  Eev.  J.  R.  Smythies. 
He  began  about  the  year  1820,  and,  regardless 
of  price,  bought  the  best  he  could  find.  He 
bought  the  remainder  of  Mr.  William  Galliers' 
stock.  After  retiring  from  business,  Mr.  Gal- 
liers took  the  Lynch  House,  and  a  portion  of 
the  meadow  land,  and  there  took  some  of  the 
very  best  of  his  herd,  all  of  which  were  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Smythies,  among  them  the  cele- 
brated bull  Cupid  (198)  311  and  the  cows 
Venus  and  Browny,  which  were  equal  to  any- 
thing ever  bred  in  Herefordshire.  Mr.  Smyth- 
ies also  bought  some  of  the  finest  of  Mr.  Yar- 
worth's  (of  Brinsop)  herd,  among  which  were 
Countess  and  Larkspur.  He  also  bought  about 
the  same  time  some  of  the  very  best  of  Mr. 
Sheward's  (of  Little  Dilwyn)  herd,  which  cer- 
tainly was  on  the  whole  equal  to  any  other 


In  addition  to  the  aid  afforded  them  by  Mr. 
Yeld's  statement,  Messrs.  McDonald  and  Sin- 
clair were  enabled  to  estimate  the  position  of 
the  leading  herds  during  the  first  twenty  years 
of  the  nineteenth  century  by  analyzing  the  prize 
lists  of  the  shows  of  the  Herefordshire  Agricul- 
tural Society.  These  they  compiled  by  the  ad- 
vertisements and  reports  contained  in  the  Here- 
ford Journal,  the  early  records  of  the  society 
not  having  been  discovered,  if,  indeed,  they  are 
in  existence.  They  found  it  necessary  to  qual- 
ify the  record  by  mentioning,  that  "of  course 
there  were  good  herds  whose  owners  did  not  ex- 


hibit/"1 thus  on  only  one  occasion  did  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Tomkins  send  an  animal  for  competition 
at  the  show.  The  list  is,  however,  interesting 
and  valuable  evidence  as  to  the  relative  position 
of  the  various  herds. 

The  completion  of  the  records  mentioned  re- 
late to  the  shows  commencing  1798  and  con- 
cluding 1819,  and  from  them  it  appears  that 
the  largest  number  of  first  prizes  for  breeding 
stock  were  won  by  Mr.  Galliers,  Frogdon,  who, 


WOODSTOCK  (24)  164,  CALVED  1833,  BRED  BY  J.  PRICE. 

as  previously  stated,  secured  thirteen — Messrs. 
Jeffries  of  The  Grove  and  The  Sheriffs  won 
nineteen  (nine  falling  to  Mr.  Jeffries,  The 
Grove,  and  five  to  Mr.  Jeffries,  The  Sheriffs); 
Mr.  T.  A.  Knight  followed  with  nine;  Mr.  Wat- 
kins,  Brinsop;  Mr.  Yarworth,  Troy,  and  Brin- 
sop, seven;  Mr.  Walker,  Burton,  six;  Mr.  Tench, 
Bromfield,  five;  Mr.  Walker,  Wessington,  five; 
Mr.  Samuel  Tully,  Huntington,  four;  Mr. 
Moore,  Wellington,  four.  Each  of  the  follow- 
ing gained  three  first  prizes:  Mr.  Jos.  Tully, 
Bay  wood;  Col.  Matthews,  Mr.  Yeoman,  How- 
ton,  and  Mr.  R.  Wainright,  Hereford.  Those 
who  gained  two  first  prizes  were  Messrs.  John 
Apperley,  of  Withington;  Mr.  Skyrme,  of  Stret- 
ton;  Williams,  of  Thingehill;  Rev.  J.  R,  Smyth- 
ies, of  Lynch;  Kedward,  Westhydc;  Williams, 
Brinsop;  Smith,  Gattertop;  Deykin,  Brierly; 
Weaver,  Stretton;  Hardwick,  Wier;  Jones,  Faw- 
ley;  Cooke,  Wintercott.  The  winners  of  single 
first  prizes  were:  Messrs.  Croose  of  Sugwas, 
Smith  of  Sufton,  Powell  of  Titley,  Downes  of 
Hinton,  Glee  of  Downton,  Downs  of  Ashford, 
Tomkins  of  Wellington ;  Croose,  Ocle ;  Da  vies, 
The  Rodd;  Welles,  Earl's  Croome;  J.  G.  Cot- 
terell;  Barnet  of  Ledbury;  Lowe,  Gattertop; 
Prichard,  Eaton  Mill;  Edward,  Dilwyn;  Oakes, 
Lenthall;  Downes,  Mansell;  Green,  Stoke; 
Hughes,  Marcle;  Stevens,  Cotmore;  Hewer, 
Abergavenny;  Woolaston,  Lynch;  Salwey,  Ash- 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


49 


ley  Moor;  Proctor,  Orleton;  Harris,  The  Marsh; 
Wood,  Buryhill;  Mason,  Wooferton;  Hanbury, 
Shobdon;  Stevens,  Brinsop;  Rev.  W.  Bayley, 
Womesley  ({range;  Bannet,  Netherton;  Turner, 
Boekleton;  E.  Jones,  King's  Caple;  Preece, 
Leyeeourt;  Mrs.  Berrow,  The  Green,  Dew- 
church;  Syinonds,  Yatton;  E.  Walwyn  Grave- 
nor,  The  Parks;  J.  Purchas,  Fownhope;  Price, 
Norton  Grounds;  T.  Barnaby,  Brockhampton; 
Tomkins,  Dippers  Moor;  Parry,  Birley;  Wood, 
Burghili,  etc. 

"All  the  gentlemen  whose  names  have  been 
given,  and  many  more,"  say  McDonald  and  Sin- 
clair, "were  noted  breeders  during  the  first 
twenty  years  of  the  present  century.  Their  num- 
ber demonstrates  that  the  Hereford  breed  can 
claim  a  broad  and  solid  foundation." 

It  would  be  manifestly  impossible  to  give  an 
adequate  notice  of  these  many  herds.  It  is,  in- 
deed, inadvisable  to  attempt  to  do  so,  as  many 
of  them  have  not  exercised  a  recognizable  or 
known  influence  on  the  modern  character  of  the 
breed.  Our  remarks  will,  therefore,  be  confined 
to  those  old  herds  that  may  be  regarded  as 
forming  links  with  the  present.  As  to  the 
herds  of  Tomkins,  Galliers,  Tully,  Skyrme, 
Hewer  and  Jeffries  which  are  referred  to  in  the 
list,  all  the  material  facts  in  our  possession  have 
already  been  given.  It  seems  necessary  to  ex- 
plain that  the  number  of  prizes  won  at  the  Here- 
fordshire Show  is  not  alone  a  reliable  indica- 
tion of  the  relative  positions  of  the  herds  ex- 
hibited, inasmuch  as  some  of  them — notably 
those  of  Galliers,  Tully,  and  Skyrme — were  dis- 
persed a  considerable  time  before  the  meeting 


MAXIMUS   (1G15)   1817,   CALVED  1858,  BRED  BY  H.   R.  H. 
THE   PRINCE    CONSORT. 

in  1819,  to  which  the  list  extends;  while  others 
were  represented  at  the  shows  during  the  whole 
period. 

Mr.  Thomas  Andrew  Knight  of  Downton 
(If  43)  was  one  of  the  most  successful  exhibitors 
at  the  early  shows  of  the  Hereford  Agricultural 
Society.  Mr.  Yeld  has  told  us  of  the  estima- 


tion in  which  his  herd  was  held  by  his  contem- 
poraries, and  in  a  former  chapter  reference  has 
been  made  to  the  investigations  carried  out  by 
Mr.  Knight  as  to  the  history  of  the  breed.  Born 
at  Wormesley  Grange  on  August  12th,  1759, 
Mr.  Knight,  after  studying  at  Oxford,  retired 
to  his  country  seat,  and  devoted  himself  to  the 
improvement  of  the  leading  industries  of  the 
county. 

Prior  to  1806  Mr.  Knight  had  become  well 
known  as  a  practical  agriculturist  and  as  an 
improver  of  Hereford  cattle.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  founding  the  agricultural  society  of 
the  county,  and  to  the  end  of  his  life  he  was 
almost  invariably  present  at  its  meetings.  In 
the  letter  written  by  Mr.  Knight  in  1836,  which 
Mr.  Yeld  preserved,  there  is  an  account  of  the 
breeding  of  the  bull  Snowball  (246)  328,  other- 
wise known  as  Knight's  white  bull.  From  this 
it  appears  that  Mr.  Knight's  herd  was  descend- 
ed from  the  stocks  of  Mr.  Skyrme,  Stretton; 
Mr.  Tully,  Huntington;  Mr.  Isaac  Martin,  and 
Mr.  Benjamin  Tomkins.  Mr.  Knight  evidently 
preferred  the  first  to  all  others,  remarking  that 
Mr.  Skyrme  "at  the  time  possessed,  in  his  opin- 
ion, by  far  the  best  breed  of  cattle  in  the  coun- 

ty."  ' 

In  an  article  on  the  Ashley  Moor  herd  of  Mr. 
Theophilus  Salwey,  which  appeared  in  "Bell's 
Weekly  Messenger"  in  1873,  Mr.  Houseman 
remarked:  "The  reader,  acquainted  with  more 
than  the  merest  rudiments  of  Hereford  history, 
need  not  be  reminded  that  the  animals  of  Mr. 
Salwey  were  descended  from  those  of  Mr.  T. 
Andrew  Knight.  In  describing  the  Ashley  Moor 
stock,  we  therefore  shall  have  occasion  to  make 
frequent  allusion  to  the  old  Downton  Castle 
tribes.  And  here  a  tribute  is  due  to  the  mem- 
ory of  a  public  benefactor,  who  was  far  in  ad- 
vance of  his  generation  in  perception  of  the 
principles  of  animal  and  vegetable  reproduc- 
tion, and  of  hereditary  recurrences,  and  ever 
ready  to  inform  and  encourage  the  seekers  of 
knowledge.  His  views  upon  stock  breeding  are 
less  widely  known  than  his  contributions  to 
the  stores  of  horticultural  science;  yet,  upon 
the  subject  of  which  we  now  treat,  he  could 
speak  as  one  who  had  made  himself  its  master 
so  far  as  patient  observation,  with,  long  prac- 
tical experience,  could  give  an  insight  to  its 
mysteries. 

"Sometime  about  the  commencement  of  the 
latter  half  of  the  eighteenth  century,  Mr.  Knight 
had  determined  to  form  a  herd  that  should  be 
well  adapted  to  a  somewhat  poor  and  uneven 
locality,  and  for  that  purpose  he  visited  all  the 
best  herds  of  the  oounty,  and  selected  from 
them  according  to  the  best  of  his  judgment, 


50 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


without  much  regard  to  size,  but  keeping  in 
view  symmetry  and  good  quality.  He  soon  dis- 
covered that  some  very  noble  cattle  of  the 
larger  sorts  were  not  suited  to  his  purpose  on 
account  of  their  inability  to  stand  and  walk 
as  he  knew  that  animals  should  stand  and 
walk.  The  setting  of  the  legs,  their  shape  and 
the  way  of  using  them  were  great  points  with 
him,  and  often  did  he  repeat  to  eager  listeners, 
who  availed  themselves  of  his  counsel,  the 
avowal  of  his  strong  aversion  to  'lamb's  knees 
and  sickle  hocks,'  which  he  said  were  'quite  un- 
fit to  move  upon  Bringewood  Chase'  (near 
Downton  Castle),  where  his  Herefords  were 
kept.  The  result  of  his  antipathy  necessarily 
was  that  animals  characterized  by  the  unpar- 
donable similitudes  were  mercilessly  weeded 
out,  and  after  various  sifting  processes,  the  final 
selection  fell  upon  a  few  animals  from  the 
herds  of  Mr.  Tully  of  Huntington,  near  Here- 
ford; Mr.  Geo.  Tomkins  and  Mr.  Skyrme — the 
grey  element  of  the  stock  (afterwards  celebrated 
as  'the  Knight's  Greys')  deriving  their  blood 
solely  from  the  Tully  strain,  the  dark  red  from 
the  Tomkins,  and  the  pale  red  from  the  Skyrme 
tribes. 

"Xone  of  these  varieties  contributed  remark- 
ably large  animals,  but  the  Herefords  thus  re- 
tained were  invariably  very  thick,  and  stood 
particularly  well  on  their  legs,  so  that  they 
could  easily  move  up  and  down  the  steep  pas- 
tures they  occasionally  had  to  live  upon.  So 
fastidious  was  Mr.  Knight  upon  this  point  that 
he  would  not  choose  a  bull  calf  to  rear  for  use 
as  a  sire  until  he  had  not  only  made  him  walk, 
but  even  trot — a  practice  which  drew  down 
upon  him  sometimes  from  his  old  neighboring 
farmers  remarks  of  contemptuous  merriment, 
which  Mr.  Knight  most  completely  disregarded. 
The  issue  turned  the  laugh  upon  his  side  as 
the  progeny  of  his  'trotting  bulls'  proved 
clever  and  free  in  their  action  to  the  very  last 
stage  of  fattening." 

"I  well  remember/'  says  a  correspondent  who 
in  early  life  knew  that  original  thinker  and  suc- 
cessful breeder,  "most  of  the  leading  points 
which  Mr.  Knight  endeavored  to  obtain  were 
the  following:  Broad  nostrils,  small  from  the 
nostrils  to  the  eyes,  and  fine  large  eyes,  broad 
bash  (scope  of  forehead  down  to  the  line  of  the 
eyes);  open  and  well  developed  horns,  a  little 
dipping  in  the  first  instance  and  then 
gradually  rising;  large  measurements  of 
girth  was  always  a  sine  qua  non,  and 
likewise  that  the  shoulder  should  not  be 
an  upright  one,  but  well  lying  back  from 
the  neck,  the  blade  being  very  oblique  but 
lying  open  toward  the  chine.  He  would  have 


his  animals  thick  through  the  heart,  with  the 
forelegs  going  down  straight  like  two  pegs  (the 
opposite  of  'lamb's  knees'),  ribs  broad  and  well 
arched,  especially  the  last  ribs  at  the  adjoining 
of  the  quarters;  the  table-bones  of  the  sirloin 
long,  flat,  and  well  developed,  particularly  the 
one  adjoining  the  ribs,  thus  making  a  strong, 
well-formed  back,  and  joining  the  quarters. 
Hips  were  always  considered  to  be  secondary  in 
importance,  though  he  never  wished  to  see 
them  prominent,  but  so  formed  and  placed  as 
to  stand  tolerably  even  with  the  sirloin  and  ribs. 
The  catch  (pen-ends,  pin-ends,  or  fool's  point) 
he  wished  to  see  well  developed,  with  not  the 
slightest  prominence  of  frame  between  the 
catch  and  the  hips  (i.  e.,  the  packing  of  hind 
quarters)  nor  anything  in  that  region  which 
might  come  under  the  denomination  of  gaudy. 
"Indeed,"  says  the  writer,  "Mr.  Knight's  am- 
bition was  to  see  an  animal  as  true  in  its  forma- 
tion and  level  as  possible  from  the  catch,  all 


CHARACTERISTIC    HEREFORDSHIRE    FARMYARD. 

the  way  over  the  back,  loin,  chine,  shoulders, 
and  as  far  up  the  neck  as  possible ;  thighs  true, 
deep  and  thick ;  purse  full  and  very  well  spread 
over  the  abdominal  *region,  with  indeed  a  dis- 
position to  fatten  all  the  way  up  to  the  brisket 
(lengthwise  under  the  .body);  thick,  mellow 
skin  and  long,  soft  hair." 

Mr.  Welles  has  placed  it  on  record  that  the 
variety  called  grey  or  roan  would  obviously  arise 
from  an  intermixture  of  the  red  with  those 
possessing  a  large  proportion  of  white.  They 
obtained  their  greatest  celebrity  from  their  be- 
ing favorites  with  Mr.  Andrew  Knight,  much 
of  whose  stock  were  of  that  color;  one  of  the 
earliest  being  a  white  cow,  from  which  he  bred 
one  or  two  celebrated  bulls.  "That  he  pursued 
his  object  with  judgment  as  well  as  ardor/'  says 
Mr.  Welles,  "has  been  evinced  by  prizes  having 
been  awarded  of  late  years  to  many  descendants 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


51 


of  his  stock,  among  others  the  ox  bred  by  Mr. 
Hill,  Orleton,  which  obtained  the  gold  medal 
at  Smithfield  in  1839,  for  the  best  beast  in  the 
yard." 

Few  of  Mr.  Knight's  cattle  have  been -regis- 
tered. Of  these  Snowball  (246)  328  has  already 
been  referred  to.  Lawton  (223)  was  also  bred 
by  Mr.  Knight,  and  used  by  Mr.  Downes'  Aston 
Ball  in  1811.  Stratford  (264)  369  is  entered  as 
having  been  from  Mr.  Knight's  celebrated  white 


JOHN    L.    HEWER,    VERN    HOUSE,     HARDEN,    HERE- 
FORDSHIRE. 


cow,  and  the  Gatley  bull  (501)  3038  was  of  his 
breeding.  Among  those  who  obtained  stock 
from  him  were  Mr.  Rea,  Monaughty,  Mr.  Tur- 
ner, Aymestery,  and  Mr.  Salwey,  Ashley  Moor. 
Through  all  these  herds  the  Knight  blood  is 
still  represented.  Mr.  Sa-lwey  purchased  from 
Mr.  Knight  four  heifers,  from  which  a  valu- 
able progeny  descended  (fl  45). 

Mr.  Boughton  Knight  (ff  44),  of  Downton 
Castle,  some  years  ago  attempted  to  found  a 


herd  of  the  old  Knight  grey  color,  but  finding 
the  red  with  white  faces  were  more  easily  dis- 
posed of,  he  abandoned  the  strain.  Mr.  J.  A. 
Rolls,  The  Hendre,  Monmouth,  is  one  of  the 
few  gentlemen  who  now  keeps  the  stock  of  the 
old  color.  In  other  herds  possessing  the  Knight 
blood,  the  markings  have  not  been  retained,  al- 
though the  fine  quality  and  true  shapes,  for 
which  the  sort  was  celebrated,  were  as  conspic- 
uous as  ever,  the  heads  being  true  to  the  old 
type. 

Mr.  Duncomb,  Historian  of  the  County,  in 
drawing  up  his  report  on  the  agriculture  of 
Hereford  for  the  Board  of  Agriculture  in  1805, 
relied  almost  exclusively  on  Mr.  Knight's  in- 
formation for  his  description- on  the  manage- 
ment of  cattle.  In  his  observation  on  the  sub- 
ject, Mr.  Knight  said  some  of  the  Hereford- 
shire breeders  had  sacrificed  the  qualities  of  the 
cow  for  those  of  the  ox.  He  does  not  value  the 
cow  according  to  the  price  which  the  grazier 
would  give  for  it,  but  in  proportion  as  it  pos- 
sesses that  form  and  character  which  experience 
has  taught  him  to  be  conducive  to  the  excel- 
lence of  the  future  ox.  The  cow  of  Hereford- 
shire (1805)  -is  very  feminine  in  its  character, 
light  fleshed  when  in  common  condition,  but 
is  capable  of  extending  itself  universally  in  a 
short  space  of  time  when  fattening.  It  may 
here  be  remarked  that  there  is  an  extraordinary 
difference  between  the  weight  of  a  Hereford- 
shire cow  and  the  ox  bred  from  her.  Perhaps 
other  sorts,  eminent  for  producing  fine  oxen, 
.are  similarly  distinguished,  but  it  is  a  fact  that 
the  Herefordshire  cow  will  not  unfrequentiy  be 
the  mother  of  an. ox  of  nearly  three  times  her 
own  weight. 

Mr.  Knight  was  convinced  that  the  true  func- 
tion of  the  Hereford  breed  was  to  produce  first- 
class  beef.  He/did  not  believe  in  attempting  to 
develop  the  milking  properties  of  the  race,  con- 
sidering tliat  ijjt  was  sufficient  if  a  cow  gave  milk 
enough  to  k'^ep  its  calf  fat,  and  unless  it  could 
do  so,  it  was  disqualified  from  breeding  a  good 
ox.  What  he  says  descriptive  of  the  cow  bred 
in  Herefordshire  appears  to  mean  simply  that 
preference  should  be  given  to  neat,  compact  ani- 
mals. The  system  in  Leicestershire  of  bestow- 
ing most  of  the  attention  on  theymprovement 
of  the  cow,  and  making  her  an  6&lellent  animal 
for  the  purpose  of  the  grazier,  was,  in  his  view, 
unsound. 


JOHN  HEWER.    BORN  1787,  DIED  1875.    THE  GREATEST  IMPROVER  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 
(From  an  oil  painting  presented  to  him  by  his  friends  in  1861.) 


HISTOEY     OF     HEKEFOKD     CATTLE 


53 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  NOTED  FEEDER  ON  HEREFORDS  AS  BEEF  ANIMALS 


As  to  the  permanent  record  of  the  breed  we 
find  that  in  1787  J.  H.  Campbell  was  a  pur- 
chaser of  Hereford  cattle  and  a  grazier  in  the 
County  of  Kent,  near  London,  an  account  of 
which  is  given  in  the  following  pages  with  the 
correspondence  that  was  published  in  the  "An- 
nals of  Agriculture/'  an  agricultural  paper, 
from  1780  up  to  1805.  I  have  given  this  corre- 
spondence fully,  not  only  to  show  what  the  breed 
was  at  that  time,  but  to  show  also  that  Mr. 
Campbell  was  an  intelligent  breeder  and  feeder, 
and  that  his  statement  was:  that  the  Hereford 
breed  of  cattle  were  the  best  and  most  econom- 
ical feeders  at  that  time;  and  in  1788  Mr.  Mar- 
shall, a  noted  and  intelligent  writer  on  agri- 
culture and  live-stock  subjects,  after  visiting 
Herefordshire  and  adjoining  counties,  pro- 
nounced the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle  the  finest 
in  the  United  Kingdom. 

Taking  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Speed,  given  in 
1627,  and  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Campbell,  a 
grazier  and  feeder,  and  of  Mr.  Marshall,  a  noted 
writer  on  live-stock  interests  of  the  United 
Kingdom,  twenty  years-from  the  time  that  Ben- 
jamin Tomkins  commenced  his  work,  it  must 
be  assumed  that  although  the  complete  record 
is  lacking  between  Lord  Tomkins  (1570  and 
1640)  and  the  time  of  Mr.  Campbell  and  Mr. 
Marshall  (1750  and  1820)  the  breed  was  in  the 
hands  of  good  breeders  during  that  time.  It  is 
certain  that  by  1788,  Mr.  Westcar,  of  Creslow, 
Buckinghamshire,  was  one  of  a  large  number 
of  appreciative  purchasers  of  Hereford  cattle 
for  grazing  and  feeding,  and  that  ten  years  later 
he  was  a  party  to  the  organization  of  the  Smith- 
field  Cattle  Club  and  a  successful  exhibitor  of 
Hereford  cattle  before  that  society  from  its  first 
exhibition  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1819. 

The  winnings  of  the  Herefords  before  the 
Smithfield  Club  were  in  evidence  as  to  the  mer- 
its of  the  breed,  and  a  very  important  feature 
in  the  history  of  the  Hereford  cattle,  is  the  fact 
that  Hereford  breeders  were  farmers  and  not 
exhibitors,  that  they  established  weekly  sale 
days  (ft  46)  at  Hereford  Citv,  and  a  yearly  sale 
in  October  of  each  year,  as  far  back  as  we  have 


any  record,  and  that  those  sale  days  have  been 
continued  up  to  the  present  time. 

We  have  the  fact,  stated  by  Mr.  Fowler,  that 
on  the  annual  sale  day  in  October  there  have 
been  brought  to  the  Hereford  market  as  high 
as  8,000  to  9,000  head,  filling  not  only  the  mar- 
ket grounds  but  the  streets  of  Herefordshire 
with  Hereford  cattle,  and  that  during  all  the 
time  from  the  first  record  we  have  to  the  pres- 
ent, that  cattle  feeders  and  graziers  of  Buck- 
inghamshire and  other  counties  near  London 
have  come  to  the  Hereford  market  on  these  sale 
days  and  to  the  farmers  and  purchased  their 
steers  at  prices  much  in  advance  of  what  like 
ages  of  any  other  breed  have  been  sold  for. 

It  has  been  claimed  by  breeders  of  the  Short- 
horn cattle  that  while  the  Herefords  have  made 
much  larger  gains  before  the  Smithfield  Society 
on  oxen  and  steers,  that  the  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers have  made  larger  gains  by  the  exhibit  of 
Shorthorn  cows.  This  is  explained  by  the  fact 
that  Hereford  breeders  were  not  exhibitors  in 
the  earlier  years  of  this  show.  The  show  of 
Herefords  being  made  by  the  graziers  of  other 
counties  who  bought  their  stocks  in  Hereford- 
shire (fl  47)  (ff  48). 

We  have  folio  wed  Mr.  Benjamin  Tomkins  and 
Mr.  John  Price  in  their  work,  and  the  Hewers . 
in  theirs ;  they  were  undoubtedly  leaders,  Tom- 
kins  and  Price  breeding  more  compact  and 
smaller  animals,  and  the  Hewers  breeding  more 
for  a  larger  scale  and  heavier  weights,  and  be- 
tween these  two  lines,  Tomkins  and  Price,  and 
Hewers,  we  know,  there  has  been  an  army  of 
breeders  through  Herefordshire  and  adjoining 
counties  equally  successful  and  intelligent  in 
their  works. 

We  have  quoted  from  J.  H.  Campbell,  of 
Charlton,  in  Kent,  on  breeds  in  a  preceding 
chapter.  The  following  is  from  a  letter  to  the 
''Annals  of  Agriculture"  published  in  London, 
dated  Charlton,  Jan.  15th,  1789: 

"Sir:  Enclosed  I  send,  as  you  desire,  a  copy 
of  the  queries  I  received  from  a  gentleman  (who 
wished  me  to  inform  him  of  the  method  I  used 
in  feeding  cattle  on  potatoes),  with  what  I  wrote 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


in  answer  to  them.  I  have  added  a  few  words 
which  I  should  have  put  in  my  answer,  but,  be- 
ing rather  busily  employed  just  at  that  time, 
and  the  season  of  the  year  requiring  the  answer 
should  not  be  delayed,  my  answer  was  more 
hastily  wrote  than  1  wished,  and  I  did  not  recol- 
lect all  that  I  ought  to  have  mentioned. 

"You  were  pleased  to  think  so  favorably  of 
my  management  of  the  stall-feeding  business 
that  you  wished  me  to  communicate  in  writing, 
with  a  view  to  its  having  a  place  in  your  Annals, 
an  account  of  my  method  of  proceeding 
throughout. 

"If  I  conceived  that  I  had  really  found  out  or 
was  possessed  of  any  means  excelling  what  oth- 
ers knew  or  practiced,  I  should  most  readily 
and  without  delay  (without  vagging  the  public) 
give  it  into  your  hands,  who,  we  know,  would 
put  it  in  a  way  doing  the  most  good  to  all  whom 
it  might  concern,  and  the  community  at  large, 
but  1  am  conscious  that  there  is  nothing  in  my 


DARLING,    FIRST    BULL,    EVER    BRED    BY    MR.    J.    L. 
HEWER. 

way  of  carrying  on  that  business  that  will  not 
as  well  or  better  be  learned  from  many  other 
persons,  indeed.  The  enclosed  papers  (though 
wrote  only  as  answers  to  inquiries  about  feed- 
ing with  potatoes  only)  tell  you  almost  the 
whole  of  my  proceedings.  That  you  may  not, 
however,  suspect  me  of  disinclination  to  satisfy 
you  about  it,  and  to  show  you  there  is  nothing 
extra  in  my  management,  I  just  run  over  the 
course  here. 

"The  sort  of  oxen  I  take  for  my  stall  feeding 
are  such  as  should  not  go  to  market  till  there 
is  the  greatest  call  for  prime  beef,  and  for  that 
time  they  should  be  completely  fat;  so  that  I 
do  not  propose  any  material  or  regular  sale,  un- 
til Candlemas,  and  sell  so  as  to  clear  all  the 
stalls  some  time  in  May.  With  this  view,  when 
I  buy  cattle  in  the  spring,  and  on  to  August,  I 
make  no  objection  to  good  oxen  (that  is,  mel- 


low, supple-fleshed  ones)  for  being  as  lean  as 
poor  keep  and  hard  work  can  fairly  make  such; 
but  from  that  time  I  look  for  having  them  in 
better  and  better  order,  till  at  the  last  buying 
for  the  year's  feeding,  at  the  end  of  October,  I 
demand  what  may  be  called,  full  of  flesh. 

"I  keep  them  at  tolerable  grass  during  the 
summer,  mending  the  quality  of  that  as  the 
season  draws  later,  and  with  good  latter-math 
(to  which  about  the  beginning  of.  November 
or  how  soon  the  hoary  frosts  hang  much  on  the 
grass  and  the  nights  become  long  and  cold)  I 
add  a  small  feed  of  inferior  sort  of  hay  in  the 
mornings.  The  first  of  December  (or  sooner 
if  severe  rains  or  snow  set  in)  I  take  them  to 
the  stalls,  where  at  first  I  give  them  but 'small 
quantities  of  potatoes  and  a  larger  proportion 
of  hay,  but  increase  the  potatoes  and  decrease 
the  hay  till  they  come  to  about  three-quarters 
of  a  bushel  of  potatoes  and  about  six  pounds 
of  hay  per  ox,  one  with  another. 

"When  they  have  arrived  at  their  full  quan- 
tity of  potatoes,  I  give  them  in  addition  some 
brewers  grains,  beginning  with  about  a  half 
bushel  to  each,  increasing  till  they  will  at  last, 
in  general,  eat  a  whole  bushel  per  day.  To  the 
grains  after  Christmas  I  begin  to  add  either 
pollard  or  (if  to  be  had  proportionately  cheap) 
pea  or  bean  meal;  of  these,  also,  I  begin  with  a 
quart  and  increase  till  they  come  to  a  peck  or 
more  of  pollard,  though  seldom  quite  so  much 
of  meal  except  to -such  as  are  extra  size  and 
therefore  fit  to  be  made  extra  fat. 

"Every  other  particular  of  my  proceeding  you 
will  see  by  the  enclosed  paper. 

"Many  persons  have  expressed  some  wonder 
at  the  rapid  progress  they  observe  my  cattle 
made  in  their  fattening,  and  I  believe  with  some, 
I  get  more  commendation  than  my  proper  share, 
for  the  credit  is  justly  due  to  the  cattle,  not 
to  their  master,  who  claims  no  other  merit  than 
having  taken  extra  pains  to  make  himself  well 
acquainted  with  different  kinds  of  cattle,  giv- 
ing a  fair  and  thorough  trial  to  several  different 
breeds,  thereby  enabling  himself  to  know  what 
breed  would  be  most  to  his  purpose  to 
attend  to. 

"Of  this  true  Herefordshire  breed  (which  Mr. 
Culley  in  his  book  on  live  stock  says  he  is  pretty 
clear  is  neither  more  or  less  than  a  mixture  be- 
tween the  Welch  and  a  bastard  race  of  long 
horns),  I  may  venture  to  say  that  (by  the  as- 
sistance of  my  good  friend  Mr.  Samuel  Pant- 
all,  of  Warhamear,  Hereford),  I  have  some  of 
the  highest  blood,  a  few  of  which  I  was  very 
happy  in  the  opportunity  of  showing  you  and 
Mr.  Macro;  I  wished  you  two  would  have  al- 
•lowed  me  more  of  the  pleasure  of  your  com- 


HISTORY     OF     HEEEFORD     CATTLE 


55 


pany,  and  of  bringing  more  of  my  own  bred 
flock  under  your  examination,  which,  were  un- 
luckily most  of  them  (cattle  and  sheep)  at  Mr. 
Gator's  park,  at  Beckenham-place,  and  my 
working  oxen  out  in  teams. 

"I  will  beg  you  to  remember  that  I  do  not 
suppose  the  true  Herefordshire  cattle  in  re- 
spect to  kindly  disposition  for  feeding,  or  deli- 
cacy of  flesh,  to  more  than  equal  the  true  bred 
Sussex.  But  that  they  are  yet  more  complete 
in  their  make,  generally  wider  and  fuller  over 
the  shoulders  or  fore  chine,  and  the  breast  or 
brisket,  also  in  the  after  part  of  the  rump, 
which  is  much  oftener  narrow  and  shelly  in  the 
Sussex  than  the  Hereford;  the  mouse-buttock 
or  ham  apt  not  to  be  so  round. 

"It  is  time  to  apologize  for  the  tedious  length 
of  my '  letter  and  also  for  speaking  so  freely 
on  some  of  the  expressions  above  alluded  to. 
Allow  me  to  put  you  in  mind  that  you  have  told 
us  (who  are  of  a  different  opinion  from  you  in 
those  points)  that  one  person  has  'established 
the  superiority  of  his  breed  to  all  others  beyond 
an  idea  of  question  or  competition/  that  the 
disposition  to  fatten,  in  that  person's  breed,  is 
so  much  greater  and  beyond  all  others  as  to 
make  a  parallel  absurd,  which  was  surely  rather 
unnecessarily  treating  other  people's  breed, 
other  people's  opinion,  with  more  contempt 
than  they  deserved,  so  I  hope  to  be  more  easily 
pardoned  by  you;  and  am,  sir, 

"Your  most  humble  servant, 

"J.  H.  CAMPBELL. 
"To  Arthur  Young,  Editor. 

"P.  S. — When  I  had  the  pleasure  of  your 
company  here,  I  understood  you  meant  to  feed 
some  cattle  on  bean-meal,  and  that  you  had  not 
practiced  it  before;  if  so,  it  might  not  be  known 
to  you,  or  immediately  occur,  that  chaffing  hay 
and  mixing  it  with  the  bean-meal,  will  keep 
the  beasts'  mouths  clean,  and  stomachs  from  be- 
ing clogged,  and  much  promote  their  feeding, 
as  I  have  heretofore  experienced,  which  makes 
me  take  the  liberty  of  mentioning  it. 

"I  beg  your  pardon — More  last  words. 

"When  you  set  down  the  different  articles  of 
my  stall-feeding,  from  which  you  cast  up  the 
daily  expenses,  I  believe  the  grains  were  set 
down  at  a  bushel  per  day  and  the  meal  at  a 
peck;  if  so,  you  will  remember  I  mentioned 
those  quantities  as  the  largest  that  the  cattle 
were  brought  to  eat  toward  the  finishing  of 
their  fattening.  It  should  be  noticed  also  that 
some  time  lapses  after  their  coming  into  the 
stalls  before  they  have  any  grains,  then  on 
grains  some  time  before  any  meal  is  added; 
then  begin  the  meal  at  the  proportion  of  a  quart 
to  the  bushel  of  grains,  and  by  degrees  only  to  a 


peck  toward  the  latter  end.  At  this  present  time 
of  writing  they  have  but  one-fourth  of  a  bushel 
of  grains  (this,  indeed,  because  the  quantity  of 
grains  I  get  will  not  go  to  more  per  head  of  the 
number  of  beasts  in  the  upper  shed,  and  my 
people  had  given  grains  to  all  in  that  shed  be- 
fore I  came  home  and  I  did  not  think  it  right 
to  put  any  of  them  from  it  again),  and  with  the 
one-fourth  bushel  of  grains  they  have  now  one- 
fifth  bushel  of  the  sort  of  meal  I  mentioned  to 
you. 

"So,  taking  the  average  of  daily  cost  of  food 
from  their  coming  into  the  stalls  to  their  going 
out,  I  believe  you  will  not  find  me  much  wrong 
in  my  reckoning  one  shilling  (25  cents)  per  ox 
per  day,  and  supposing  the  dung  to  pay  for  lit- 
ter and  attendance.  My  garden  having  re- 
quired supply  at  different  times  in  different 
carts,  as  I  could  spare  them  to  carry  it,  and  the 
very  many  matters  I  had  to  set  to  rights  on  my 
farm,  etc.,  since  I  came  here,  prevented  me, 
hitherto,  from  taking  a  true  account  of  the 
quantity  of  dung  made. 

"As  to  the  value  per  load  (what  four  horses 
draw  from  London  to  this  neighborhood)  I 
have,  since  you  were  here,  enquired  of  a  sensible 
farmer,  my  near  neighbor,  who  told  me  he  has 
given  and  should  always  be  glad  to  do  it  when- 
ever he  had  occasion  for  more  manure  than  was 
made  by  his  stock,  five  shillings  ($1.25)  per 


HAMPTON  LODGE   (NEAR  HEREFORD),  OCCUPIED  BY 
JOHN  HEWER,  1835-1846. 


such  load.  Spit  dung  he  allowed  not  so  good 
as  my  stall  dung,  and  when  I  said  the  bringing 
it,  he  added  7s  6d  ($1.87)  per  load,  he  said,  cer- 
tainly it  could  not  be  called  less,  he  rather 
thought  it  should  be  more.  This  is  one  in- 
stance that  shows  how  necessary  it  is  to  take 
locality  into  consideration  in  valuing/' 

The  following  is  extracted  from  another  let- 
ter of  J.  H.  Campbell  to  Editor  Arthur  Young : 


56 


HISTORY     OF     HEEEFORD     CATTLE 


"In  your  review  of  Sussex  you  say  the  Sussex 
are  not  so  broad  and  heavy  in  the  shoulder  as 
the  Herefords,  but  whether  this  is  a  fault  will 
admit  of  argument.  I  wish  you  would  give  me 
what  appeared  to  you  as  such,  but  I  can  con- 
ceive none.  Mr.  Ellman  is  plainly  of  my  opin- 
ion by  the  rules  given  you.  Speaking  of  the 
joints  as  particular  in  a  Herefordshire  ox,  you 
say  great  breadth  before;  you  ought  to  have 
added  behind  also.  No  ox,  I  am  sure,  will  pass 


PALMER'S   COURT,    HOLMER,    OCCUPIED   BY   JOHN 
HEWER,  1848-1850. 

for  a  good  one  in  Herefordshire  which  has  not 
good  hind  quarters  as  well  as  good  fore  ones." 

(ft  49)  COPY  OF  QUERIES  ANENT  FEEDING 
CATTLE  ON  POTATOES,  with  the  answers  which 
were  written  to  them,  published  in  the  "Annals 
of  Agriculture." 

As  Mr.  Campbell's  answers  will  not  be  ex- 
actly to  the  same  terms  he  will  beg  to  promise 
that  he  is  satisfied  beyond  a  doubt  (though 
aware  the  contrary  is  the  established  custom) 
that  the  weight  of  an  ox  can  be  no  rule  to  judge 
by  as  to  the  quantity  of  food  he  will  require  to 
make  him  fat,  or  how  much  of  it  he  will  con- 
sume in  a  day;  nothing  being  easier  than  to 
choose  two  oxen  (of  even  the  same  breed)  of 
equal  weight  that  would  require  very  different 
quantities  of  the  same  food  to  make  them  fat, 
and  would  also  consume  very  different  quanti- 
ties of  it  in  a  day,  still  greater  difference  if 
chosen  from  different  breeds.  A  large  ox,  hav- 
ing more  lean  flesh,  will,  to  be  sure,  allow,  with 
propriety,  of  being  carried  to  a  greater  degree 
of  fatness  than  the  ox  that  has  not  so  much 
lean  flesh  to  put  with  it.  But  the  time  and  the 
quantity  of  any  food  required  to  make  any 
beast  fat  does,  in  Mr.  C.'s  opinion,  depend 
largely  upon  the  thriving  disposition  (easily 
known  by  the  view  and  handling)  and  not  in 
the  least  on  his  weight. 


Query  1st. — What  quantity  of  potatoes  on 
an  average  may  be  sufficient  to  fat  an  ox  of  any 
good  weight,  suppose  100  stone  (1,400  pounds)? 

Mr.  C.  is  of  opinion  that  about  100  bushels 
of  potatoes,  with  a  little  hay  added  to  or  given 
between  every  meal  of  them,  amounting  on  the 
whole,  while  consuming  the  100  bushels  of  po- 
tatoes, to  about  7  cwt.,  would  be  sufficient  to 
complete  the  fattening  of  any  ox  that  was  a 
tolerable  good  thriver. 

Query  2nd. — How  many  in  a  day,  how  often, 
any  preparation  or  cutting 2 

Cattle  generally  take  to  the  eating  of  potatoes 
as  readily  as  any  other  food,  but  some  will  de- 
cline them  for  a  few  days,  but  if  they  take  to 
them  directly,  they  should  be  allowed  but  small 
quantities  at  first  and  increased  by  degrees  to 
any  quantity  they  will  come  to  eat  with  appe- 
tite, always  intermixing  the  dry  food  and  regu- 
lating that  by  the  effect  the  potatoes  are  ob- 
served to  have;  that  is,  if  the  cattle  become  very 
lax,  to  increase  the  proportion  of  dry  food  until 
that  alters  again.  Mr.  Campbell,  being  of  opin- 
ion that  the  more  an  ox  can  be  brought  to  eat 
(with  appetite)  in  a  day,  the  sooner  he  will  be- 
come fat,  and  consequently  the  cheaper  and 
with  more  profit,  never  puts  them  to  allowance. 
but  thinks,  when  feeding  altogether  on  potatoes 
(with  only  a  drying  quantity  of  hay),  the  aver- 
age daily  consumption  per  ox  would  be  about 
one  bushel,  though  many  could  be  brought  to 
eat  one  bushel  and  a  half,  some  even  two  bush- 
els some  days.  With  potatoes,  as  with  every 
other  sort  of  food,  it  will  be  supposed  that  any 
one  ox  will  vary  much  in  the  quantity  he  eats 
on  different  days.  Reckoning  the  potatoes  and 
accompaniment  of  hay  as  one  meal  there  ought 
to  be  at  least  five  servings.  Perhaps  when  the 
days  are  the  shortest  there  may  hardly  be  time 
for  so  many,  but  they  should  be  multiplied  as 
the  days  grow  longer.  Mr.  C.  always  begins 
with  a  very  little  hay;  small  quantities  at  the 
intermediate  meals,  but  ends  at  night  with  as 
much  as  they  will  be  supposed  inclined  to  eat, 
not  having  any  potatoes  with  them  at  night, 
lest  (though  very  unlikely  to  happen)  any 
might  stick  in  their  throats. 

Mr.  C.  never  has  any  cut,  except  when  an  ox 
at  first  rejects  them,  a  few  to  coax  him  to  eat 
them.  If  they  have  much  dirt  sticking  to  them 
they  are  washed  by  putting  them  in  a  long 
trough  under  a  pump  or  run  of  water  and  rat- 
tling them  about  wjth  a  birch  broom  or  some 
such  operation  to  clear  them  from  gross  dirt, 
but  that  can  very  seldom  be  necessary.  They 
are  stored  in  oblong  pits  in  the  dry  ground, 
as  nigh  hand  the  place  where  they  are  to  be 
used  as  may  be,  and  with  care  not  to  let  wet 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


in  and  to  cover  the  end  soon  when  they  are 
taken  out;  they  keep  quite  good  till  grass 
comes  in. 

Query  3d.- — Does  Mr.  Campbell  give  any 
stated  quantity  of  hay,  or  as  much  as  the  ox 
will  eat? 

This  is  answered  by  what  is  said  above. 

Query  4th.— Is  any  corn  or  meal  necessary, 
and  at  what  expense,  if  so? 

None  necessary.  An  ox  may  be  as  complete- 
ly, and  to  as  high  a  degree,  fattened  on  pota- 
toes and  hay,  as  it  is  possible  he  should  be  on 
any  food;  and  beef  so  fed  remarkably  good. 
But  a  variety  of  any  such  sort  of  food  as  men- 
tioned in  this  query,  given  in  addition,  does, 
in  Mr.  C.'s  opinion,  bring  the  ox  on  yet  faster, 
and  therefore  when  such  food  is  to  be  had  at 
a  moderate  price  he  should  always  incline  for 
using  it  as,  according  to  bis  way  of  thinking, 
it  would  tend  to  make  the  whole  of  the  feed- 
ing come  more  profitable,  and  that  is 
cheaper.  Mr.  Campbell,  in  his  present  sit- 
uation, gets  some  brewer's  grains,  and  to  as 
many  of  his  feeding  oxen  as  the  quantity  he 
gets  will  serve  he  gives,  to  two  about  a  bushel, 
among  which  is  mixed  about  a  peck  of  pollard 
or  sometimes  pea  or  bean-meal  coarsely 
ground,  whichever  of  these  or  such  like  matters 
happen  at  the  time  to  be  cheapest  (he  means 
a  price  cheapest  in  proportion  to  the  feeding 
quality  of  the  particular  article). 

Query  5th. — Is  there  anything  particular  in 
the  management  of  the  cattle  thus  fattened 
which  the  above  queries  do  not  include? 

The  greatest  difficulty  that  Mr.  C.  finds  in 
bringing  the  people  who  have  the  care  of  the 
cattle  to  the  trying  of  his  directions,  is  to  break 
them  of  the  practice  of  giving  too  much  at  a 
time.  If  this  is  done,  it  disgusts  the  beast,  puts 
him  off  his  appetite  and  wastes  the  food.  If, 
when  an  ox  has  eaten  up  what  was  put  before 
him,  he  craves,  he  should  have  more  given  him, 
but  as  near  as  may  be,  no  more  should  be  given 
than  he  will  clear;  some  will,  however,  remain, 
and  before  they  are  served  again,  whatever  is 
left  should  be  taken  away;  and  that  never 
should  be  wasted.  Mr.  C.  has  always  some  milk- 
ing cows  or  some  other  cattle  tied  near,  to  which 
such  leavings  of  the  feeding  cattle  are  given. 

Mr.  C.  places  much  dependence  for  the  thriv- 
ing of  feeding  cattle  on  their  being  kept  clean. 
The  part  of  their  mangers  in  which  the  hay  is 
given  them,  is  (whenever  fresh  is  put  in) 
cleaned  from  dirt  and  dust,  and  the  division 
for  potatoes,  or  (if  any)  meal,  or  such  like  feed, 
cleaned  up  with  a  blunt-pointed  trowel  every 
morning  after  they  have  been  served,  and  whilst 
they  are  feeding  on  their  potatoes,  their  stalls 


are  cleaned,  all  dung  and  wet  litter  taken  away, 
and  what  tolerably  dry,  shaken  up,  and  suffi- 
cient fresh  litter  strewed  over;  that  invites  them 
(as  soon  as  they  have  satisfied  their  inclination 
for  eating)  to  lie  down;  they  seem  to  enjoy  the 
clean  bed  much,  and  their  resting,  much.  Mr. 
C.  presumes  it  must  promote  their  fattening. 
Mr.  C.  thinks  that  combing  and  carding  their 
hides  promotes  their  thriving  more  than  equal 
to  the  very  small  portion  of  time  it  takes  up, 
and  orders  that  it  be  done  now  and  then,  when- 
ever time  for  it  may  be  spared  from  the  other 
business  of  the  attendants. 

The  following  account  of  an  ox  fed  by  J.  H. 
Campbell  is  dated  7th  April,  1789: 

An  ox  of  the  true  Herefordshire  breed  fed  at 
Charlton,  near  Greenwich,  in  Kent,  was  ex- 


VERN  HOUSE,  HEREFORDSHIRE,  PROPERTY  OF  JOHN 
HEWER,    1855-1875. 

hibited  at  Greenwich,  on  account  of  his  size  and 
beauty.  The  above-named  ox  came  in  a  lean 
state  to  Charlton,  the  beginning  of  July,  1787. 
That  summer  he  was  kept  on  coarse  grass.  In 
the  latter  end  of  the  autumn,  latter  math,  but 
of  very  indifferent  quality;  first  of  December, 
put  in  the  stall  and  had  potatoes  and  hay; 
about  Christmas  had  some  grains,  also;  some 
time  after  that,  pollard  mixed  with  grass,  think- 
ing at  that  time  to  have  sold  him  in  the  spring, 
1788,  but  afterwards  determined  to  keep  him 
over  to  another  season  (expecting  a  good  in- 
crease of  weight  on  him,  as  he  was  then  only 
six  years  old);  I  turned  him  out  to  grass  the  lat- 
ter end  of  April,  and  he  continued  out  until  the 
latter  end  of  October,  generally  in  grass  of.  a 
middling  quality  that  many  people  thought  he 
must  fall  away  and  said  I  should  spoil  him. 
The  two  last  weeks  of  that  time  he  had  some 
coarse  hay  in  the  morning.  At  the  end  of  Oc- 
tober he  was  taken  to  the  stall,  and  had  pota- 
toes and  hay  as  before,  and  then  grains  after 


58 


HISTOEY     OF    HEREFOKD     CATTLE 


some  little  time,  bean  and  pea-meal  mixed, 
added  among  the  grain,  beginning  with  a  small 
proportion  and  increasing  by  degrees  to  one- 
fourth  of  meal  to  the  grains.  The  4th  of  April, 
1789,  Mr.  Adams,  the  salesman,  sold  the  ox  to 
Mr.  Cowldry,  at  Greenwich,  who  took  him  to 
show  at  Smithfield,  and  afterwards  brought 
him  to  Greenwich  again.  It  was  remarked  that 
he  walked  as  well  and  as  easily  as  any  ox  com- 
monly fat,  and  his  appetite  as  good  as  a  lean  ox, 
readily  eating  any  hay  or  potatoes  given  him, 
and  as  readily  the  straw  thrown  to  him  for  lit- 
ter. 


PARADISE    VILLA,    MARDEN,    NEAR   HEREFORD, 
WHERE  JOHN  HEWER  DIED  IN  1875. 

Measure.  Feet.  In. 

Length  from  poll  to  end  of  rump 8  3 

Height    5  2 

Girt   round  the  first   rib 10  6 

Plumbed  to  the  outside  of  each  first  rib 3  3% 

Girt  behind  the  shoulders   9  .0 

Plumbed  across  the   hips    2  9*4 

Ditto  the  shoulders    2  8V2 

Ditto  the  end  rump,   or  tutts 1  4^ 

Round  the  leg  below  the  knee 0          9 

Round  the  hind  leg  below  the  hock 0  11 

Weights:    Live  weight  was  3,360  pounds. 

The  carcass  dressed  was :  Fore-quarters, 
1,016  Ibs.;  hind-quarters,  896;  total  fore  and 
hind-quarters  weighed  1,912  Ibs.  Fore-quarters 
weighed  120  Ibs.  more  than  the  hind-quarters. 
Tallow  weighed  228  Ibs.  The  hide  was  not 
weighed,  but  Mr.  Cowldry  supposed  that  it 
weighed  120  Ibs.  The  tongue  weighed  12  Ibs.; 
heart  weighed  9  Ibs.;  the  neck  pieces  weighed 
20  Ibs.;  leg  pieces  weighed  18  Ibs.  Mr.  Cowldry 
said,  the  blade  was  not  thick  or  of  more  weight 
than  one  of  a  beast  of  only  640  Ibs.,  but  the  en- 
trails were  much  less  than  it  were  commonly  in 
beasts  of  small  size,  and  the  liver  was  less  than 
any  he  had  ever  met  with  in  any  full  grown 
beast.  Middle  sirloin,  62  Ibs.,  sirloin  for  roast- 
ing, 48  Ibs.;  decrease,  14  Ibs.  This  ox  was  sold 
for  £70  ($350). 


The  following  is  a  letter  on  the  breeds  of 
cattle,  by  Mr.  Campbell,  in  1790: 

"Charlton,  Jan.  2d,  1790. 
"To  the  Editor  of  the  'Annals  of  Agriculture:' 

"Sir :  When  you  favored  me  with  a  letter  on 
receipt  of  mine,  on  the  29th  of  April  last,  you 
wrote  me  that  you  had  seen  the  advertisement 
of  my  famous  ox,  which  you  said  'was  not 
much  to  the  purpose,  in  proving  the  butcher's 
opinion,  if  he  did  not  keep  an  account  of  the 
product  of  all  its  parts;  offal,  hind  and  fore- 
quarters,  tallow,  etc.,  and  that  such  a  particu- 
lar would,  with  the  live  weights,  be  valuable 
for  the  Annals/  In  consequence  of  which  I 
should  have  sent  such  particulars,  but  that  Lord 
Sheffield  informed  me  that  he  had  sent  them  to 
you,  telling  me  at  the  same  time  that  you  were 
then  gone  on  a  tour  abroad.  Hoping  that  you 
are  returned  well,  and  may  now  again  be  some- 
what at  leisure  for  such  correspondence  as  I 
wish  to  trouble  you  with,  I  will  beg  leave  for  a 
few  words  in  justification  of  the  advertisement 
and  the  butcher's  opinion  you  alluded  to,  and 
which  you  have  before  known  to  be  mine  also. 

"The  advertisement  'presumes  that  the  exhibi- 
tion of  that  ox  would  sufficiently  prove  it  to  be 
a  mistaken  notion  and  direction,  that  the  belly, 
shoulder,  and  neck,  should  be  light,  and  that  if 
a  beast  has  a  disposition  to  fatten  or  to  be 
heavy  in  those,  it  would  be  found  a  deduction 
from  the  more  valuable  parts.' 

"You,  and  everybody  conversant  on  these  mat- 
ters at  all,  know  that  any  person,  though  but  a 
tolerable  judge,  could  find  out,  by  view  and 
handling  a  beast  alive,  whether  it  was  defective, 
either  in  proportionable  weights  or  fatness  on 
any  piece  of  the  whole  carcass.  If,  therefore, 
a  beast  is  exhibited  and  submitted  to  such  ex- 
amination, which  will  be  found  by  everybody 
who  does  so  examine  it  to  excel  both  in  weight 
and  fatness  on  these  forbidden  parts,  and  it  is 
also  found  that  so  far  from  such  excellence 
being  at  the  expense  of,  and  being  found  a  de- 
duction from,  the  more  valuable  parts,  that 
those  more  valuable  parts  are  also  in  the  same 
beast,  excellent  both  as  to  weighty  valuable  sub- 
stance and  fatness,  I.  cannot  conceive  how  it 
can  be  denied  to  be  sufficient  proof  of  the  fal- 
lacy of  the  above  quotation. 

"When  I  had  the  pleasure  of  showing  that 
very  ox  to  you  at  this  place  I  did  not  under- 
stand that  you  thought  the  beast  defective  in  the 
weight  or  fatness,  on  any  of  those  valuable  parts, 
or  on  any  part  of  the  whole  carcass.  You  will  re- 
member I  had  at  that  time  declared  to  you  how 
much  I  disliked  such  partial  rules  for  breeding 
cattle ;  and  I  really  then  wished  much  that  if 
you  did  not  see  convincing  facts  in  that  ox  that 


HiSTOEY     OF    HEEEFORD     CATTLE 


you  would  have  been  so  kind  as  to  have  shown 
me  why  you  still  adhered  to  that  opinion  and 
where  (in  that  ox)  I  and  all  others  whom  I 
heard  speak  of  him  were  mistaken. 

"In  my  letter,  which  you  inserted  in  No.  67, 
I  took  the  liberty  of  observing  that  in  your 
62d  number  you  (mentioning  that  the  Sussex 
cattle  were  not  so  broad  and  heavy  in  the  shoul- 
der as  the  Herefordshire)  said,  'whether  this 
is  a  fault  will  admit  an  argument/  I  expressed 
my  wish  that  you  had  expounded  the  argument 
against  its  being  a  fault.  You  did  not  favor 
my  wish  with  any  notice,  either  in  the  Annals 
or  in  your  letter.  But  as  these  particulars,  by 
which  the  right  and  best  shape  and  make  to 
be  aimed  for  in  breeding  cattle  are,  as  you  have 
often  observed,  of  much  consequence  to  public 
benefit,  as  well  as  to  .the  particular  interest  of 
every  individual  who  breeds  cattle,  many  or 
few ;  I  will  still  hope  you  will  favor  us  with  the 
argument  to  prove  a  light  and  narrow  shoulder 
to  be  no  fault.  I  still  undertake  to  produce 
you,  any  day  of  the  year,  ocular  and  manual 
proof,  that  it  may  be  weighty,  broad  and  fat, 
also  without  being  found  a  deduction  from  the 
more  valuable  parts. 

"As  by  what  you  said  of  the  advertisement 
above  mentioned,  I  find  my  last  year's  weighty 
ox,  which  you  viewed  and  handled  here,  did  not 
make  the  impression  on  you  I  thought  he  must, 
and  that  I  had  conceived  he  did  by  your  not 
then  mentioning  an  objection  to  what  I  said. 
I  will  hope  for  the  favor  of  your  company  here 
sometime  this  season,  when  I  may  have  some 
of  my  feeding  stock  in  a  state  of  proof  to  that 
impartial  equality  all  parts  of  a  beef  may  be 
looked  for,  in  respect  to  weight  and  fatness,  as 
well  as  I  shall  have  lean  stock  at  home  which 
may  afford  very  intelligent  signs  of  what,  with 
the  greatest  confidence,  might  be  expected, 
when  coming  to  that  proof. 

"You  mentioned  in  your  63d  number  of  the 
Annals,  when  speaking  of  the  stock  of  this 
place,  that  I  was  a  'warm  advocate  of  the 
Herefordshire  breed  of  cattle  and  sheep;'  I  am 
so  from  the  result  of  long  experience;  if  I  am 
wrong  it  is  not  for  the  want  of  painstaking,  or 
being  thoroughly  acquainted  with  several  other 
breeds,  and  those  particularly  about  which  there 
has  been  most  said,  at  least  in  the  print,  as  to 
which,  after  a  long  continued  trial  (and  in  the 
outset  of  the  trial  as  confident  expectation  as 
anybody  could  have  of  finding  them  better  than 
the  Herefor.ds),  in  the  end,  being  of  opinion 
that  in  most  respects  they  were  very  greatly  in- 
ferior to  them. 

"As  you  have  named  me  of  council  for  the 
Herefordshire  breed,  you  will  allow  me  to  en- 


treat that  an  evidence,  whose  testimony  (from 
the  open,  plain  manner  he  believes  it  in  and 
the  candid,  as  well  as  intelligent  manner  in 
which  he  treats  every  matter  of  this  kind  on 
which  he  has  written)  is,  I  think,  of  much  con- 
sequence, and  I  should  presume  must  neces- 
sarily weigh  much  with  the  jury,  may  have  ac- 
cess into  court;  I  mean  Mr.  Marshall,  whose 
'Eural  Economy  of  Gloucester/  never  that  I  ob- 
served, found  admittance,  or'  was  taken  the 
smallest  notice  of,  in  your  occasional  review- 
ing of  agricultural  books  in  the  Annals. 

"Whereas,  Mr.  Culley's  book  on  live  stock 
stands  forth  very  conspicuously  in  them,  and 
is  ushered  in  with  such  flattering  marks  of  ap- 
probation, and  so  many  very  high  compliments, 
as  most  certainly  add  much  more  weight  to  his 
evidence  with  the  jury,  than  (with  submission) 
it  seems  to  me  to  deserve,  and  if  admitted  by 
them  as  recommended  by  you,  would,  indeed, 
completely  upset  the  cause  of  the  Herefords  as 
a  breed;  for  he  makes  the  cattle  a  strange 
hodge-podge  of  Welch  and  some  illegitimate, 
that  he  represents  wandering  about  some  two 
or  three'  English  counties,  and  the  sheep  only  a 
degeneracy  from  the  breed,  which,  in  most  re- 
spects, I  cannot  consider  as  other  than  one  of 
the  worst  in  the  kingdom. 


HOLMER   CHURCHYARD,    NEAR   HEREFORD,    WHERE 
JOHN    HEWER   IS    BURIED. 

"As  Mr.  Culley  has  brought  so  strong  a 
charge  against  the  Herefordshire  breed  of  cat- 
tle and  sheep,  I  will  beg  he  may  be  confronted 
in  your  court  with  Mr.  Marshall,  evidence  for 
the  defendant,  and  that  they  may  be  placed  in 
manner  and  form  as  understated: 


Mr.  Culley's  book  on  Live 
Stock.  (1794).  Page  21. 
Mentioning  the  number  of 
different  breeds  of  cattle, 
and  naming  fixed  breeds 
with  intent  afterwards,  as 
he  says,  to  point  out  the 


Mr.  Marshall,  in  Vol.  11 
of  his  Rural  Economy  of 
Gloucestershire  (1788-1798). 
Page  226,  and  between  that 
and  page  231:  "The  Here- 
fordshire breed  of  cattle, 
taking  it  all  in  all,  may. 


60 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


perfection  and  imperfec- 
tions of  each  kind,  com- 
pare them  with  each  other, 
and  jthen  offer  his  opinion 
with  regard  to  which  are 
best.  He  says:  "As  to 
Herefordshire  brown  cat- 
tle they  are,  I  am  pretty 
clear,  neither  more  nor 
less  than  a  mixture  be- 
tween the  Welch  and  a 
bastard  race  of  long  horns 
that  are  everywhere  to  be 
met  in  Cheshire,  Shrop- 
shire," etc. 

Page  39.  "It  is  true  they 
draw  a  few  oxen  in  Here- 
fordshire." 

Page  179.  "The  more  milk, 
the  less  beef;  whenever  we 
attempt  to  get  both  we  are 
sure  to  get  neither." 

Page  180.  "If  it  had  not 
been  for  Mr.  Bakewell  per- 
haps we  might  still  have 
been  groping  in  the  dark; 
at  least  that  great  breeder 
was  the  first  I  know  who 
pointed  out  the  valu- 
able parts  and  made  those 
true  distinctions,  u  n  o  b- 
served,  I  believe,  before 
his  day." 


without  risk,  I  believe,  be 
deemed  the  first  breed  of 
cattle  in  this  island."  Of 
the  Fair  at  Herefordshire, 
20th  of  October,  he  says: 
"The  most  valuable  collec- 
tion of  cattle  I  have  met 
with  out  of  Smithfield,  and 
by  much  the  finest  show  I 
have  ever  seen." 

In  Herefordshire  working 
oxen  are  the  particular  ob- 
ject of  breeding.  "Besides 
their  superiority  as  beasts 
of  draught  and  their  being 
eligible  as  dairy  stock,  they 
fat  kindly,  at  an  early  age, 
the  strongest  proof  of  their 
excellency  as  fatting  cat- 
tle. I  have  seen  three- 
year-old  heifers  of  this 
breed,  to  use  a  familiar 
phrase,  as  fat  as  mud; 
much  fatter  than  any  heif- 
ers of  that  age  I  have  seen 
of  any  other  breed,  spayed 
heifers  of  Norfolk  excepted. 
*  *  *  *  "Viewing  the 
Herefordshire  breed  of  cat- 
tle in  this  light,  which  I 
believe  to  be  the  true  one, 
how  unfortunate  for  the 
rural  affairs  of  these  king- 
doms has  been  the  choice 
of  the  spirited  breeders  for 
midland  counties." 

Again,  speaking  highly  in 
commendation  of  the  im- 
provement in  the  breeds  of 
long-horned  cattle  and 
mentioning  some  of  the 
differences  between  them 
and  the  Herefordshire,  he 
says  he  "hopes  soon  to  have 
an  opportunity  of  digest- 
ing his  ideas  respecting 
that  breed,  and,  lest  infat- 
uated by  the  fairness  of 
their  form,  I  may,  in  their 
praise,  be  led  beyond  the 
truth,  I  have  here  com- 
pared their  general  nature 
with  that  of  a  breed  (Here- 
ford) which  I  consider  as 
the  first  the  island  affords. 
By  having  a  standard  to 
refer  to,  I  may  be  the 
better  enabled  to  regulate 
my  judgment." 


"Charlton,  Feb.  23,  1790. 
"Sir:  When  I  had  wrote  the  enclosed  (under 
date  of  Jan.  3d),  I  found  you  was  not  then  re- 
turned to  this  kingdom,  therefore  laid  it  aside 


till  after  the  receipt  of  your  printed  circular 
letter,  which  you  favored  me  with.  As  answers 
to  queries  in  that,  from  this  situation,  would 
be  of  no  use,  1  will  not  trouble  you  on  what 
you  will  be  much  better  informed  from  other 
hands.  I  am,  sir, 

"Your  most  humble  servant, 

"J.  H.  CAMPBELL." 

Of  interest  in  connection  with  the  Campbell 
ox,  which  was  slaughtered  in  April,  1789,  we 
give  the  dimensions  of  a  Hereford  cow,  owned 
by  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  some  eight  years  later. 

DIMENSIONS    OF    HEREFORDSHIRE    COW 

In  the  possession  of  ihe  Duke  of  Bedford. 
October,  1797. 


in. 
5 
3 
1 

7% 

6% 
7% 
9% 


2 

7 

6V2 

2% 

7V* 

6 

0% 

9V2 

OV2 

7% 

1 

4 

9 

1 


iHind  quarter  

,  4 

Height 

of  

Shoulder   

4 
1 

Hock 

1 

(  Dewlap  

..  1 

_ 

•\    Brisket  

1 

1  Chest  .. 

..  1 

Length  of  the. 


Round  of 


Breadth   of   the. 


Hind  quarter  from  the 
rump  to  the  extrem- 
ity of  the  hip  bone...  2 

From   poll    to   tail 6 

Face    1 

Horn   1 

Chop    1 

Cheek  and  forehead 3 

Neck  3 

Chest    6 

Knee  1 

Bone  of  the  foreleg 0 

Coronet  of  the  fore  foot  1 

Hock  1 

Hind  leg  bone 0 

Coronet  of  the  hind  foot  1 
Horn  0 

Face     across     the     eye 

bones    0 

Hip  2 


LOTTERY   (410)  185,   CALVED  1824,   BRED  BY  J.   HEWER. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


61 


CHAPTER  VI. 


''You ATT"  ON  BRITISH  CATTLE 


One  of  the  important  events  in  the  cattle  in- 
terest, especially  as  regards  the  Herefords,  was 
the  issuing  of  what  has  been  styled,  "Youatt's 
History  of  British  Cattle"  (1835),  and  pur- 
ported to  he  "a  full  history  of  the  various 
races."  The  author,  Mr.  W.  Youatt,  is  rated 
"a  scholar,  distinguished  for  the  extent,  variety 
and  elegance  of  his  attainments,"  "a  veterinary 
surgeon."  His  work  was  published  under  the 
auspices  of  the  "Society  for  the  Diffusion  of 
Useful  Knowledge,"  of  which  the  following 
were  officers:  Chairman,  The  Right  Honora- 
ble the  Lord  Chancellor,  F.  R.  S.,  member  Na- 
tional Institute  of  France;  Vice-Chairman, 
The  Right  Honorable  the  Lord  J.  Russell,  M. 
P.,  Paymaster  of  Forces;  Treasurer,  Wm. 
Tooke,  M.  P.,  F.  R.  S. ;  Secretary,  Thos.  Coates, 
No.  59  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  London.  These 
committees  were  of  the  leading  men  of  England 
in  Parliament,  in  the  church  and  in  common 
business,  but  as  with  members  of  such  societies 
in  our  day,  they  were  not  especially  interested 
or  proficient  in  agriculture.  The  north  pole  or 
a  new  star  were  of  vastly  more  importance  to 
these  scientists.  It  was  with  the  organization 
of  the  Smithfield  Club  in  1798  that  we  begin 
to  make  a  connected  and  reliable  cattle  record. 

That  part  of  Hereford  history  easiest  to  es- 
tablish is  the  pre-eminent  fact  that  as  early  as 
1766,  B.  Tomkins,  Jr.,  evolved  from  the  efforts 
of  his  ancestors  a  systematic  work  with  a  view 
to  making  a  standard,  by  which,  or  to  which, 
the  Hereford  breed  should  conform  later. 

Editor  Youatt,  in  giving  the  history  of  the 
Herefords,  says:  "The  Herefordshire  white- 
faced  breed,  with  the  exception  of  a  very  few 
Alderney  and  Durham  cows,  have  almost  exclu- 
sive possession  of  this  county.  The  Herefords 
are  considerably  larger  than  the  North  Devon. 
They  are  usually  of  a  dull  red  and  some  of 
them  are  brown  and  even  yellow.  A  few  are 
brindled,  but  they  are  principally  distinguished 
by  their  white  faces,  throats  and  bellies.  In  a 
few  cases  the  white  extends  to  the  shoulders. 
The  old  Herefords  were  brown,  or  red-brown, 
with  not  a  white  spot  upon  them.  It  is  only 


within  the  last  fifty  or  sixty  years  that  it  has 
been  the  fashion  to  breed  for  white  faces." 

"Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  change  of 
color,  the  present  breed  is  certainly  far  superior 
to  the  old  one.  The  hide  is  considerably  thicker 
than  that  of  the  Devon,  and  the  beasts  are  more 
hardy.  Compared  with  the  Devon,  they  are 
shorter  in  the  leg,  and  also  in  the  carcass; 
higher  and  broader  and  heavier  in  the  chine; 
wider  and  rounder  across  the  hips  and  better 
covered  with  fat;  the  thigh  fuller  and  more 
muscular,  and  the  shoulders  larger  and 
coarser."  He  then  refers  to  an  ox  that  belonged 
to  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  and  he  quotes  Mar- 
shall's opinion  as  given  elsewhere. 

Youatt  continues:  "They  fatten  to  a  much 
greater  weight  than  the  Devons,  and  run  to  50 
or  70  score  (or  1,000  to  1,400  Ibs.).  A  toler- 
able cow  will  average  from  35  to  50  score  (700 
to  1,000  Ibs.).  A  cow  belonging  to  the  Duke 
of  Bedford  weighed  more  than  70  score  (or 
more  than  1,400  Ibs.).  An  ox  belonging  to 
Mr.  Westcar  exceeded  110  score  (2,100  Ibs.). 

"They  are  not  now  much  used  for  husbandry, 
though  their  form  adapts  them  for  heavier 
work,  and  they  have  all  the  honesty  and  docil- 
ity of  the  Devon  ox,  and  greater  strength,  if 
not  his  activity. 

"The  Herefordshire  ox  fattens  speedily  at  a 
very  early  age,  and  it  is  therefore  more  advan- 
tageous to  the  farmer,  and  perhaps  to  the 
county,  that  he  should  go  to  the  market  at  three 
years  old  than  to  be  kept  longer  to  be  employed 
as  a  beast  of  draught. 

"There  are  few  cattle  more  prized  in  the 
market  than  the  genuine  Hereford.  The  Dev- 
ons and  Herefords  are  both  excellent  breeders, 
and  the  prejudice  of  Devonshire  and  Hereford- 
shire farmers  being  set  aside,  a  cross  of  the  two 
breeds  will  give  the  Devons  more  bulk  and 
hardihood,  and  the  Hereford  a  finer  form  and 
activity. 

"They  are  evidently  an  aboriginal  breed  and 
descended  from  the  same  stock -as  the  Devons. 
If  it  were  not  for  the  white  face  and  somewhat 
large  head  and  thicker  neck,  it  would  not  at  all 


62 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


times  be  easy  to  distinguish  between  a  heavy 
Devon  and  a  light  Hereford.  Their  white  faces 
may  probably  be  traced  to  a  cross  with  their 
distant  relations,  the  Montgomeries." 

In  his  notice  of  Sussex,  he  says:  "Of  the 
Hereford  and  Sussex,  the  Hereford  beast  has 
flesh  upon  the  ribs  and  sirloin,  the  Sussex 
more  upon  the  flank  and  inside.  It  cannot  be 
denied  that  the  Herefords  have  theirs  in  the 
best  places,  and  it  is  on  that  account  that  the 
prize  is  so  often  adjudged  to  them  at  the  cat- 
tle shows,  and  particularly  at  Smithfield." 

Youatt  again  says:  "In  some  parts  of 
Glamorganshire  the  pure  Herefords  are  culti- 
vated in  preference  to  any  admixtures  with  the 
native  breed.  Mr.  Bradley,  near  Cardiff,  is 
partial  to  the  Hereford  and  his  stock  does  not 
yield  to  many  in  the  neighborhood  or  the 
country  generally." 

Of  Monmouth,  Youatt  says:  "In  the  vale 
district,  the  farmers  were  content  with  the 
Glamorgans,  and  the  better  kind  of  hill  cattle. 
Of  late  years,  however,  the  Herefords  have,  in 
a  manner,  superseded  both  of  these  breeds." 

Of  Dorset,  Youatt  says:  "Concerning  the 
Hereford  on  the  Dorset  stock  the  points  of  su- 
periority said  to  be  gained  over  the  Devon  cross 


are  larger  size,  more  hardening,  and  a  disposi- 
tion to  yield  a  greater  quantity  of  milk." 

Of  the  Devon,  after  speaking  of  some  trials 
that  had  been  made  by  the  Duke  of  Bedford, 
in  Devonshire,  he  says:  "We  are,  however, 
compelled  to  add  that  the  Duke  of  Bedford  has 
to  a  considerable  extent  changed  his  breed  at 
Woburn,  and  the  Devons  have  in  a  great  degree 
given  away  to  the  Herefords." 

These  are  a  portion  of  the  records  that  You- 
att gives,  outside  of  the  space  given  to  what 
he  terms  the  "History  of  Hereford  Cattle." 

We  will  now  take  up  some  of  the  items  that 
he  might  have  put  to  their  credit,  but  did  not. 
First,  the  prizes  won  at  the  Smithfield  Club 
from  1799  to  1834,  inclusive,  are  as  follows: 
88  premiums  on  Hereford  oxen,  amounting  to 
$5,760.00  (£1,152)  ;  13  premiums  on  Hereford 
cows,  amounting  to  $750  (£150)  ;  total  prem- 
iums on  Herefords,  $6,510.00  (£1,300). 

As  against  35  premiums  on  Shorthorn  oxen, 
amounting  to  $3,175.00  (£635)  ;  17  premiums 
on  Shorthorn  cows,  amounting  to  $925.00 
(£185)  ;  total  premiums  on  Shorthorns  amount- 
ing to  $4,100.00  (£820).  Showing  53  more 
premiums  on  oxen  at  Smithfield  for  the  Here- 
fords than  for  the  Shorthorn. 


SOVEREIGN     (404)     221,     CALVED     1820,     BREP     BY     J.  HEWER. 
(From   an  old  painting.) 


HISTOEY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


We  have  called  attention  previously  to  the 
fact  that  J.  H.  Campbell,  of  Charlton,  Kent, 
and  Mr.  Westcar,  were  buyers  of  Hereford  cat- 
tle, at  the  Hereford  Michaelmas  fair  in  Octo- 
ber, 1779,  probably  earlier  and  up  to  1819.  This 
is  true  at  least  of  Mr.  Westcar,  and  he  won  the 
first  premium  at  the  first  Smithfield  show  in 
1799  with  a  Hereford  ox. 

Mr.  John  Westcar  lived  at  Creslow,  Buck- 
ingham. There  are  reported  sales  of  his  at 
Smithfield  at  long  prices.  The  first  ox  that 
Mr.  Westcar  exhibited,  and  which  won  first 


Kightley's  oxen  were  sold  by  himself,  and  Mr. 
Westcar's  were  sold  by  Mr.  Thomas  Potter.  The 
old  and  famous  breed  of  Herefords  are  not  so 
large  in  frame  as  they  were  fifty  years  back, 
and  are  more  complete  and  mature  at  an  earlier 
age.  Nearly  all  the  above  high-priced,  gigan- 
tic oxen  had  been  worked,  and  had  earned  home 
money  at  the  plow  and  other  labor  before  they 
were  fed.  At  that  time  it  was  well  known  that 
Mr.  Westcar  had  a  large  close  that  kept  the 
whole  of  the  summer  300  large  oxen,  and  with 
the  200  oxen  he  fed  300  ewes  and  their  lambs, 


RED    ROSE    393,    BRED    BY    MR.    JOHN    HEWER. 
(This  was  Mr.  Hewer's  favorite  cow.) 


prize  at  the  meeting  of  1799,  was  bred  by  Mr. 
Tully,  of  Huntington,  Herefordshire,  and  was 
a  grey  six-year-old,  fed  by  Mr.  Westcar ;  weight 
2,198  pounds.  He  showed  also  a  grass-fed  ox 
the  same  year  at  1,806  pounds. 

Mr.  Armesley  says :  "If  memory  serves  me 
right,  in  the  year  1812  or  1813,  I  saw  sold  in 
the  Smithfield  Christmas  market  50  Hereford 
oxen  belonging  to  the  high-famed  Mr.  Westcar, 
living  in  the  Vale  of  Aylesbury,  that  averaged 
50  guineas  ($250)  each,  making  2,500  guineas 
($12,500).  At  the  same  time,  Mr.  Eichard 
Kightley,  of  Castlethorp,  Berks,  sold  30  Here- 
ford oxen  that  averaged  47  guineas  ($235) 
each,  making  1,410  guineas  ($7,050).  Mr, 


and  all  went  to  market  the  same  year.  It  is 
impossible  to  overrate  the  value  of  the  services 
rendered  to  the  breed  by  the  old  graziers." 

Mr.  Westcar  is  reported  as  saying  that  the 
heaviest  Hereford  he  ever  fed,  dead  weight, 
weighed  157  stone,  2  pounds  (14  pounds  to 
the  stone,  making  2,200  pounds).  It  is  re- 
,  ported  on  examination  of  his  books,  that  they 
show  sales  as  follows : 

In  1799,  Dec.  16th,  two  oxen  to  Mr.  Chap- 
man for  £200  ($1,000). 

In  1800,  Dec.  4th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Chapman 
for  £127  ($635). 

In  1800,  Dec.  13th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Harring- 
ton for  £100  ($500). 


64 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


In  1801,  Nov.  26th,  six  oxen  to  Mr.  Giblett 
for  £756  ($3,780). 

In  1802,  Nov.  26th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Giblett  for 
£100  ($500). 

In  1802,  Nov.  30th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Chapman 
for  £126  ($630). 

In  1802,  Dec.  4th,  two  oxen  to  Mr.  Horwood 
for  £200  ($1,000). 

In  1803,  Dec.  4th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Chapman 
for  £100  ($500). 

In  1803,  Dec.  19th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Reynolds 
for  £105  ($525). 

In  1803,  Dec.  19th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Giblett  for 
£105  ($525). 

In  1804,  Dec.  5th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Giblett  for 
£105  {$525). 

In  1805,  Dec.  4th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Giblett  for 
£100  ($500). 

In  1811  Nov.  28th,  one  ox  to  Mr.  Chandler 
for  £105  ($525). 

We  have,  the  statement  of  the  historian,  Mr. 
John  Speed,  in  1627,  that  the  Hereford  cattle 
were  the  best-conditioned  cattle  in  England. 

Mr.  Gillam  says  that  the  Tomkins  family 
were  breeders  for  a  long  time,  and  Mr.  Hay- 


wood  also  confirms  the  same.  In  1779  Mr.  J. 
H.  Campbell  takes  out  one  ox  to  slaughter,  and 
shows  quantity  and  quality  that  could  not  come 
from  a  mongrel  race. 

In  1798  the  Smithfield  show  brings  together 
all  the  breeds  of  the  United  Kingdom,  and  be- 
fore this  tribunal  the  Herefords  led  the  breeds 
of  England,  and  England  led  the  world. 

Up  to  1851  all  breeds  of  cattle  were  shown 
in  competition  for  the  best  beef  animal.  As 
near  as  can  be  ascertained  from  the  records, 
the  relative  standing  of  the  Herefords,  Short- 
horns, Scotch,  and  cross-breeds  is  shown  by  the 
following  statement  of  the  prizes  won  by  the 
different  breeds: 

OXEN  AND  STEERS. 

Herefords  won  185  prizes. 

Shorthorns  won  82  prizes. 

Devons  won  44  prizes. 

Scotch  won  43  prizes. 

Sussex  won  9  prizes. 

Longhorns  won  4  prizes. 

Cross-breeds  won  8  prizes. 

Total  prizes,  185  won  by  Herefords;  190 
won  by  all  other  breeds. 

The  Hereford  oxen  and  steers  winning  with- 
in five  prizes  as  many  as  all  the  other  breeds 
combined. 

Mr.  Youatt  published  his  so-called  "History 
of  British  Cattle,"  and  made  no  mention  of 
these  exhibits  and  the  extraordinary  standing 
of  the  Herefords,  as  to  the  prizes  won,  nor  did 
he  mention  the  more  extraordinary  sales  they 
made. 

The  following  is  an  extract  of  winnings  as 
between  the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns,  for  a 
period  of  36  years,  ending  with  1835,  when 
Youatt  wrote  his  book,  and  the  tabulated  state- 
ment herewith  shows  how  the  breeds  stood : 


"THE   TICK-FACE." 

(Photograph  from  life,  in  1901,  of  a  cow  bred  by  tne  late 
K,  B,  Armour,  and  descended  from  Hewer  stock.) 


HEREFORDS. 
No.  of  Guin-  Dol- 
Year.   orizes.  eas.  lars. 
1799 

SHORTHORNS. 
No.  of  Guin- 
Year.    prizes,   eas. 
1799  

Dol- 
lars. 

1800 

4 

52 

260 

1800 

1801 

1801 

1802 

1802 

1803 

4 

80 

400 

1803 

1804 

1804  

1805 

2 

40 

200 

1805 

1806 

1806  

1807 

2 

30 
40 
40 
50 
10 
40 
40 
45 
90 
40 
25 
50 
40 
55 
45 
25 
55 
15 

150 
200 
200 
250 
50 
200 
200 
225 
450 
200 
125 
250 
200 
275 
225 
125 
275 
75 

1807 

1808 

3 

1808 

1809 

2 

1809 

1810 

3 

1810  

.  1    20 

100 

100 

1811 

1 

1811  

....  1    20 

1812 

2 

1812 

1813 

2 

1813  

.  1    20 

100 
200 
100 
100 

1814  . 

2 

1814  

....2    40 

1815 

...  4 

1815  

.  .  .  .  1    20 

1816 

2 

1816  

.  .  .  .  1    20 

1817 

1 

1817  

1818 

3 

1818 

1819 

2 

1819  

.  1    25 

125 
300 

1820 

.  4 

1820  

....3    60 

1821 

3 

1821 

1822 

2 

1822 

1823 

4 

1823  

.  1    20 

100 
200 

1824  .. 

.  1 

1824  .... 

,  .  ,  .  2    40 

HISTOEY     OF     HEEEFOED     CATTLE 


65 


HEREFORDS. 
No.  of    Guin-    Dol- 
Year.      prizes,      eas.     lars. 


SHORTHORNS. 

No.  of    Guin-    Dol- 
Year.         prizes,      eas.      lars. 


1825  .... 

....  2 

25 

125 

1825  .... 

....  3 

50 

250 

1826  .... 

....  3 

45 

225 

1826  .... 

....  2 

30 

150 

1827  .... 

....  3 

45 

225 

1827  .... 

....  1 

20 

100 

1828  .... 

....  4 

65 

325 

1828  .... 

....  1 

10 

50 

1829  .... 

....  4 

45 

225 

1829  .... 

....  2 

40 

200 

1830  .... 

....  3 

30 

150 

1830  .... 

....  3 

55 

275 

1831  .... 

....  4 

50 

250 

1831  .... 

....  3 

40 

200 

1832  .... 

....  4 

55 

275 

1832  .... 

....  1 

20 

100 

1833  .... 

....  5 

55 

275 

1833  .... 

....  2 

35 

175 

1834  

...  3 

30 

150 

1834  .... 

....  3 

40 

200 

1835  

....  5 

60 

300 

1835  .... 

....  2 

30 

150 

Total  ....  93      1412 


7060 


Total  ....  37       655 


3275 


From  Youatt  is  learned  that  throughout  the 
whole  of  Gloucestershire  the  Herefords  were 
preferred  for  working  and  for  fattening.  In 
the  notice  of  the  Sussex  cattle,  Youatt  tells  us 
that  it  cannot  be  denied  that  the  Herefords 
carry  their  fat  on  the  best  places,  "and  it  is  on 
this  account  that  the  prize  is  so  often  adjudged 
to  them  at  the  cattle  show  at  Smithfield;"  an 
observation  that  proves  that  Youatt  was  well 
aware  of  the  success  of  the  Herefords,  although 
he  did  not  mention  the  fact  in  his  account  of 
the  breed. 

He  also  quotes  a  remark  by  Arthur  Young, 
editor  of  the  "Annals  of  Agriculture,"  that 
"both  in  quality  of  flesh,  thriving  disposition, 
etc.,  both  the  Sussex  and  Devons  exceeded  the 
Staffordshire  Longhorns"  and  the  Herefords  left 
them  far  behind." 


According  to  Youatt  the  Hereford  had  at 
that  time  spread  over  much  of  the  kingdom. 
In  Dorset  some  farmers  were,  with  every  prob- 
ability of  success,  engrafting  the  Hereford  on 
the  Dorsetshire  stock.  Three  points  of  superi- 
ority were  said  to  be  gained  by  the  Hereford 
over  the  Devon  cross — a  larger  size,  more  hard- 
iness, and  a  disposition  to  yield  a  greater  quan- 
tity of  better  milk. 

In  Somerset  some  of  the  dairy  cows  were  red 
with  a  white  face,  which  marked  the  Hereford 
cross.  In  some  parts  of  Glamorganshire  the 
pure  Herefords  were  cultivated  in  preference 
to  any  mixture  with  the  native  breed.  . 

"In  Radnorshire,"  says  Youatt,  "they  have 
principally  had  recourse  to  the  Hereford  as  a 
cross  with  their,,  own  cattle,  and  though  they 
have  thus  produced  a  beast  large  and  too  capa- 
ble of  yielding  beef  to  be  perfected  on  their 
poor  land,  they  have  obtained  one  that  will 
thrive  and  pay  otherwise,  and  that  will  find  a 
ready  market." 

Of  the  Montgomeryshire  cattle,  he  says: 
"The  native  cattle  bear  considerable  resem- 
blance to  the  Devons,  but  in  the  grazing  dis- 
tricts they  are  generally  abandoned  for  the 
Herefords,  which  are  found  to  be  suitable  to  the 
soil  and  climate,  and  are  better  feeders.  Con- 


LADY  BYRON  215  (CALVED  1833),  BRED  BY  JOHN  HEWER,  SOLD  FOR  £346  10s,  or  $1,730.    A  "TICK-FACE. 


66 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


siderable  attention  is  here  paid  to  the  dairy, 
and  particularly  to  the  production  of  cheese, 
which  is  little  inferior  to  the  Cheshire.  About 
nine  months  feeding  with  grass,  hay  and  tur- 
nips, will  add  about  three  score  pounds  weight 
to  each  of  their  quarters." 

In  Breconshire,  recourse  had  been  had  to 
the  Devons  and  Herefords,  with  evident  advan- 
tage in  favor  of  the  Hereford  both  for  work 


were  struggling  for  superiority  on  the  grazing 
ground. 

When  writing  of  the  Monmouthshire  cattle 
Youatt  said:  "The  Herefords  will  never  find 
their  way  into  the  dairy;  they  belong  to  the 
graziers  and  butchers,"  to  which  he  appends  a 
foot-note  by  Mr.  Walker,  of  Burton  in  War- 
wickshire, who  tells  him  that  this  is  too  strongly 
expressed,  it  being  his  opinion  that  "they  want 


COTMORE  (376)  150,  CALVED  1836,  BRED  BY  T.  JEFFRIES. 

Weight,    1  ton    16   cwt.,    English,    equal    to  3,920    American  pounds.      Champion    and    acknowledged    the    greatest    bull 
ever    produced    up    to    his    day.      Note. — The    above  engraving   is   reproduced    from   an   old   painting,    on 
the  face  of  which  all  this  matter  is  written,    including    the    following: 
"Let   each   succeeding   race  employ   your  care, 
Distinguishing  which  to  slaughter,  which  to  spare; 
Mark    well    the    lineage    from    purest   make, 
And  from  pure  blood  its  just  proportions  take." 
"Robert  Hewer,  one  of  the  most  celebrated  herdsmen,  fed  upwards  of  200  winners  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom." 


and  grazing.  The  cattle  on  the  side  of  Brecon 
that  was  nearest  to  Herefordshire  were  in  a  par- 
ticular manner  becoming  very  strongly  mixed 
with  the  Herefords. 

A  cross  with  the  Herefords  had  been  with  evi- 
dent advantage  attempted  by  the  graziers  in 
Carmarthenshire. 

In  Bedford,  the  Duke  of  Bedford  had  given 
an  impetus  to  the  rearing  of  Herefords.  In 
Hampshire  the  Norman  crossed  with  the  Here- 
ford was  not  injured  as  a  milker  while  she  was 
improved  in  size,  and  disposition  to  fatten.  In 
Worcestershire  the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns 


nothing  but  management  to  bring  them  into 
the  dairy;  being  so  admirably  adapted  for  the 
grazier,  their  milk  is  quite  neglected.  The 
Herefordshire  farmers  want  early  calves,  and* 
their  cows  and  heifers  calve  between  the  middle 
of  December  and  February  after  living  entirely 
on  dry  meal,  and  usually  by  the  time  the  grass 
comes  they  are  nearly  or  quite  dry,  but  if  the 
Hereford  heifer  calve  for  the  first  time  at 
grass  and  about  the  middle  of  May,  she  might 
become  a  good  milker.  Some  of  the  cows  will, 
under  the  present  management,  yield  from  ten 
to  twelve  quarts  of  milk  at  one  time,  and  their 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


milk  is  superior  to  that  of  any  other  cow  except 
the  Alderney.  The  quantity  of  milk  given  by  a 
cow  will  greatly  depend  on  her  treatment  with 
her  first  calf.  If  she  has  not  proper  feed  to 
swell  the  milk  veins  at  first  starting  she  will 
never  afterwards  make  a  good  milker.  The 
Hereford  cow  seldom  has  a  fair  chance  here. 
I  speak  from  experience/'  he  says,  "for  I  have 
had  much  to  do  with  the  Herefords  for  several 
years,  and  have  had  many  good  milking  cows 
of  that  breed,"  to  which  Mr.  Youatt  says, 
"these  are  very  important  observations,  and 
although  we  are  not  sufficiently  convinced  to 
alter  what  we  have  written,  and  what  almost 
universal  experience  and  belief  confirm,  the 
remarks  of  Mr.  Walker  deserve  serious  atten- 
tion." 

Mr.  Youatt,  in  making  up  the  history  of  the 
Hereford  cattle,  quotes  from  Marshall  his  de- 
scription of  the  points  on  which  to  judge  the 
Hereford  breed,  but  does  not  quote  Marshall 
when  he  says:  "The  Herefordshire  breed  of 
cattle,  taking  it  all  in  all,  may,  without  risk,  I 
believe,  be  deemed  the  first  breed  of  cattle  in 
this  island.  Their  frame  is  altogether  athletic, 
with  limbs  in  most  cases  sufficiently  clean  for 
the  purpose  of  traveling  (H  52). 

"Their  form  as  beasts  of  draught  is  nearly 
complete.  Besides  their  superiority  as  beasts 
of  draught  and  their  being  eligible  as  dairy 
stock,  being  in  this  respect  similar  to  Glouces- 
tershire, the  females  fatten  kindly  at  an  early 
age, — the  strongest  proof  of  their  excellency 
as  fattening  cattle.  I  have  seen  three-year-old 
heifers  of  this  breed,  to  use  a  familiar  phrase, 
as  fat  as  mud;  much  fatter  than  any  heifers  of 
that  age  that  I  have  seen  of  any  other'  breed, 
the  spayed  heifer  of  Norfolk  excepted. 

"Viewing  the  Herefordshire  cattle  in  this 
light,  which  I  believe  to  be  the  true  one,  how 
unfortunate  for  the  rural  affairs  of  the  kingdom 
has  been  the  choice  of  the  spirited  breeders  of  the 
midland  counties,"  who  had  selected  the  long- 
horn  variety  for  their  use.  Nor  does  he  quote 
Marshall  when  Marshall  says  that  "at  the  Here- 
ford fair,  in  October,  1788,  I  saw  about  1,000 
head  of  cattle,  chiefly  of  this  breed,  a  large  pro- 
portion of  them  of  grown  oxen,  full  of  flesh, 
sold  for,  or  were  worth,  at  the  selling  prices  of 
the  day,  from  £12  ($60)  to  £17  ($85)  an  ox, 
the  most  valuable  collection  I  have  met  with  out 
of  Smithfield  market,  and  by  much  the  finest 
show  I  have  anywhere  seen." 

These  statements,  as  made  by  Marshall,  were 
accessible  to  Mr.  Youatt,  and  should  have  been 
used. 

Neither  does  Youatt  refer  to  the  J.  H.  Camp- 
bell Hereford  ox,  shown  and  slaughtered  at 


Greenwich  in  1789,  whose  live  weight  was  3,360 
pounds  and  dressed  weight  1,912  pounds  (for 
the  four  quarters),  and  was  sold  to  the  butch- 
ers for  $350  (£70).  Nor  does  he  mention  the 
correspondence  that  grew  out  of  the  exhibition 
and  slaughter  of  the  animal  as  contained  in  the 
"Annals  of  Agriculture"  in  Vols.  11,  12  and  13. 

Neither  does  he  refer  to  the  formation  of  the 
Smithfield  Club,  nor  to  the  fact  that  from  1799 
to  1835,  inclusive,  the  Herefords  won  93 
premiums,  amounting  to  $7,060,  against  the 
Shorthorns  winning  37  premiums  and  $3,275. 

Neither  does  he  refer  to  the  sales  of  fat  cattle 
made  at  Smithfield  during  the  years  from  1779 
to  1835,  and  more  particularly  of  the  especially 
well-known  sale  by  Mr.  Westcar  on  Sept.  17th, 
1798,  of  fifteen  oxen  a't  an  average  of  $243,  and 
of  the  still  better  known  fact  that  from  1799 
to  1811  Mr.  Westcar  had  sold  at  Smithfield 
twenty  head  of  Hereford  oxen  at  an  average 


COTMORE,   LYONSHALL.    HEREFORDSHIRE,   HOME  OF 
MESSRS.   JEFFRIES. 

of  $531  as  butchers'  beasts,  or  that  Mr.  Westcar 
made  a  sale  of  fifty  Hereford  oxen  in  1812  or 
1813  for  $250  each. 

These  are  facts  that  were  matters  of  record 
in  London  and  accessible  to  Mr.  Youatt,  as  was 
the  fact  that  at  the  London  market  Herefords 
were  selling  at  5  shillings  ($1.25)  per  hundred 
pounds  of  dressed  weight  higher  than  the 
Shorthorns  (fl  53). 

We  have  made  copious  quotations  from  You- 
att's  "History  of  British  Cattle"  to  reiterate  the 
fact  that  he  had  information  that  would  have 
given  the  Herefords  an  entirely  different  posi- 
tion among  British  cattle  if  the  facts  had  been 
accredited  to  the  breed  in  their  history.  I  re- 
peat that  in  quoting  from  Marshall,  the  emi- 
nent agricultural  historian,  he  omitted  import- 
ant facts.  He  recognized  that  the  Herefords 
were  successful  at  the  Smithfield  Club  from  its 


68 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


organization  to  the  time  he  was  writing,  but 
fails  to  give  any  particulars  as  to  the  winnings 
before  that  society,  or  the  sales  that  were  made 
in  the  London  market,  which  were  accessible  to 
him. 

Beside  the  foregoing  facts  which  were  in  his 
possession  and  used  in  the  description  of  other 
breeds,  there  were  the  following  leading  events' 
in  the  history  of  the  Hereford  cattle  that  were, 
or  might  have  been,  accessible  to  him : 

First,  Mr.  John  Speed,  of  London,*  in  his 
history  (1627),  said  of  the  Herefords,  that  they 
were  the  best  conditioned  cattle  in  England. 
Again,  he  fails  to  notice  the  work  of  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Tomkins,  commenced  in  1766,  and  con- 
tinued for  about  fifty  years,  a  successful  breed- 
er of  Hereford  cattle  and  of  wide  reputation. 
A  public  sale  made  of  his  cattle  averaging 
nearly  $750  per  head,  and  attracting  the  atten- 
tion of  the  kingdom.  He  also  fails  to  notice 
Mr.  John  Price,  of  Ryall,  who  followed  Mr. 
Tomkins,  and  was  a  leading  Hereford  breeder 


THE   SHERIFFS,   LYONSHALL,   HEREFORDSHIRE, 
OCCUPIED  BY  THE  JEFFRIES  FAMILY. 

at  the  time  he  wrote  what  purports  to  be  a  his- 
tory of  Hereford  cattle,  selling  cattle  of  his 
breeding  at  extraordinary  prices. 

He  also  fails  to  notice  the  work  of  the  Hew- 
ers, who  were  at  the*  time  Hereford  breeders  of 
national  reputation,  having  bulls  on  hire  in 
many  counties! 

(fl  54)  He  also  fails  to  notice  the  weekly 
sales  of  Hereford  cattle  at  Hereford,  and  also 
the  annual  October  sales  held  in  Hereford, 
which  sales  were  of  national  reputation;  and 
the  fact  that  graziers  of  cattle  in  Buckingham, 
Kent,  and  other  counties  near  London,  visited 
these  fairs  and  made  purchases  of  cattle  to  be 
fitted  for  the  London  market,  and  for  exhibi- 


*Engl&n<J,  Wales,  and  Scotland  described  (1627). 


tion  at  the  Smithfield  show.  While  he  quotes 
from  Mr.  Marshall  a  description  and  character 
of  the  Herefordshire  ox  as  he  had  seen  them  in 
Herefordshire,  he  fails  to  notice  that  Mr.  Mar- 
shall says :  "The  Herefordshire  breed  of  cattle, 
taking  it  all  in  all,  may,  without  risk,  be 
deemed  the  first  breed  of  cattle  in  England, 
their  superiority  as  beasts  of  draught,  and  their 
being  eligible  as  dairy  stock."  All  of  which, 
and  more  of  the  same  import,  appears  in  the 
same  article  from  which  Mr.  Youatt  quotes  in 
his  history. 

Neither  does  he  take  any  notice  of  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Smithfield  Cattle  and  Sheep  Soci- 
ety, which  was  afterwards  changed  to  the 
Smithfield  Club,  or  of  the  winnings  of  the 
Hereford  cattle  at  the  first  and  subsequent  ex- 
hibitions of  the  society,  all  of  which  were  a 
matter  of  record  in  London  on  the  books  of 
the  society. 

Having  slighted  the  leading  British  breed  of 
cattle  (the  Herefords)  in  every  conceivable 
way,  Mr.  Youatt  deliberately  delivered  the 
preparation  of  the  Shorthorn  section  of  his 
work  into  the  hands  of  a  Shorthorn  enthusiast, 
and  in  embodying  it  as  part  of  his  work,  says, 
"for  every  portion  of  the  text  in  this  excellent 
account  of  the  Shorthorns  we  are  indebted  to 
the  Rev.  Henry  Berry,  than  whom  there  are  few 
more  zealous  breeders  of  cattle,  while  there  is 
no  better  judge  of  them." 

In  giving  a  description  of  the  Herefords  he 
presents  two  cuts,  one  of  a  Hereford  ox,  and 
the  other  a  cow,  in  store  condition,  while  for 
Shorthorns  and  other  breeds  he  gives  cuts  show- 
ing the  animals  in  full  flesh. 

We  are  thus  particular  in  criticizing  Mr. 
Youatt  for  the  reason  that  his  description  of 
the  Hereford  cattle  has  been  quoted  from  that 
time  to  the  present  day  as  a  correct  description, 
and  his  work  has  been  used  to  the  disadvantage 
of  the  Hereford  breed.  It  would  seem  that  not 
only  the  Shorthorns  were  described  by  Mr. 
Berry,  but  that  Mr.  Youatt  took  Mr.  Berry's 
prejudiced  and  selfish  view  of  the  Herefords, 
or  that  he  allowed  the  Shorthorn  fanciers  to 
revise  and  abridge  the  Hereford  history ;  cer- 
tain it  is  that  he  was  unfair  in  writing  the  de- 
scription, and  unjust  (amounting  to  carica- 
ture) in  the  cuts  that  he  used  to  illustrate  the 
character  of  the  Hereford  breed  (fl  50). 

When  the  true  character  of  Youatt's  work  be- 
gan to  be  realized  there  was  an  urgent  demand 
for  an  unbiased  history.  The  Herefords  have 
ever  been  in  the  main  owned  by  tenant  farm- 
ers, who  had  more  care  for  producing  a  supe- 
rior breed  of  profitable  cattle  than  in  advertis- 
ing them.  There  being  no  Herefordshire 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


69 


writer  to  prepare  the  work,  the  Scotch  editors 
whose  experience  in  preparing  the  history  of 
their  favorites,  the  polled  Aberdeen-Angus  cat- 
tle, qualified  them  for  such  work,  took  up  the 
matter.  They  had  no  trouble  in  securing  many 
cf  the  facts  that,  though  easily  accessible  to 
Youatt,  were  ignored  by  him,  a  portion  of 
which  being  so  suitable  to  this  work,  will  close 
this  chapter  (j[  51). 

Benjamin  Tomkins,  the  younger,  drove  20  of 
his  cows  to  Hereford  on  the  day  of  the  agricul- 
tural show,  and  offered  100  guineas  to  anyone 
who  would  show  an  equal  number  superior  to 
them,  bat  the  challenge  was  not  accepted. 

In  1810,  Mr.  Meek,  of  Lichfield,  gave  a  chal- 
lenge to  show  his  Longhorn  bull  against  any 
Hereford  for  100  guineas.  His  challenge  was 
accepted  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Walker,  Burton  Court, 
who  sent  his  bull  Crickneck  (175)  305  to  Lich- 
field, but  when  he  got  there  it  appeared  that 
Mr.  Meek  had  made  himself  acquainted  with 
the  superiority  of  Mr.  Walker's  bull,  and  rather 
than  submit  to  defeat,  allowed  judgment  to  go 
by  default  in  favor  of  the  Hereford. 

Mr.  Haywood,  of  Blakemere,  and  Mr.  Hill, 
Felhampton  Court,  have  portraits  of  the  Here- 
ford bull  Prizefighter,  bred  by  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Haywood,  Clifton-on-Teme.  The  inscrip- 
tion on  the  painting  states  that  he  was  "shown 
at  Shifnal,  29th  December,  1800,  by  Mr.  Tench, 
of  Bromfield,  against  Mr.  Knowles,  of  Nailston, 
Leicester  (whose  nomination  would  doubtless 
have  been  Longhorn),  to  decide  a  bet  of  100 
guineas;  determined  in  favor  of  the  Hereford- 
shire by  Mr.  Pestcar,  Somersetshire." 

Mr.  Price,  of  Ryall,  issued  two  challenges, 
in  1812  he  gave  a  challenge  to  be  decided  at 
Lichfield  Agricultural  Meeting,  to  show  20  of 
his  cows  in  milk  against  20  Longhorn  cows  for 
100  guineas,  which  was  accepted  by  Mr.  Meek, 
and  was  decided  in  Mr.  Price's  favor.  In  1839 
Mr.  Price  sent  forth  a  public  challenge  tp  show 
20  cows  and  a  bull  of  his  own  breeding  against 
the  same  number  of  any  other  person's  breed- 
ing, or  any  breed,  open  to  all  England,  but  no 
one  came  forward  to  accept  it. 

Mr.  Weyman,  of  Stockton,  challenged  all 
England  with  his  bull  Stockton  (237)  167  for 
500  guineas,  which  was  accepted  by  one  of  the 
Tomkins  family,  who,  however,  afterwards 
withdrew,  leaving  Mr.  Weyman  the-  victor. 

Mr.  Turner,  of  Ayniestry,  in  1803  offered  to 
show  a  six-year-old  Herefordshire  ox,  of  his 
own  breeding,  against  any  breeder  in  the  county 
of  Hereford,  or  any  adjoining  county,  for  100 
guineas,  for  "weight  and  least  coarse  meat." 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Burton,  was  offered  60 
guineas  ($300)  by  Mr.  T.  Day,  the  exhibitor 


of  the  Durham  ox,  for  a  four-year-old  work- 
ing ox. 

In  1825,  at  the  Smithfield  Club,  there  was  a 
sweepstakes  between  three  Herefords  belonging 
to  the  Duke  of  Bedford  and  three  Durhams  be- 
longing to  the  Right  Hon.  Chas.  Arbuthnot, 
which  was  won  by  the  Herefords. 

The  preparation  of  an  account  of  what  the 
Herefords  have  done  in  the  show  yards  espe- 
cially engaged  the  attention  of  Mr.  William 
Housman,  whose  intimate  acquaintance  with 


HOPE  (439)   324,   CALVED   1836,   BRED   BY  T.   JEFFRIES. 

the  history  of  the  breed  is  well  known.  In 
order,  however,  to  trace  the  progress  of  the 
breed  it  is  desirable  to  briefly  refer  here  to  some 
of  their  early  achievements  at  shows.  The 
Smithfield  Club  and  the  Agricultural  Society 
of  Hereford  Were  founded  about  the  same 
time.  The  Smithfield  Club  was  instituted 
under  the  title  of  the  Smithfield  Cattle 
and  Sheep  Society,  at  a  meeting  held  in  De- 
cember, 1798,  the  name  by  which  it  is  now  so 
widely  and  favorably  known  having  been 
adopted  in  1802.  The  history  of  the  club  has 
been  written  by  the  late  Sir  Brandreth  T. 
Gibbs.  From  this  valuable  little  book  we 
learn  many  interesting  details  regarding  the 
position  taken  by  the  Herefords  at  the  early 
shows. 

At  the  first  show,  held  in  1799,  Mr.  Westcar's 
first  prize  bullock,  a  Hereford,  sold  for  100 
guineas  ($500),  was  8  ft.  11  ins.  long,  6  ft.  7 
ins.  high,  and  10  ft.  4  ins.  girth.  In  his  Ciren- 
cester  lecture  Mr.  Duckham  said  that  from  the 
dimensions  given  upon  a  colored  print  which 
he  then  exhibited  together  with  the  names  of 
the  feeder  and  purchaser,  all  corresponding 
with  the  figures  given  by  Sir  Brandreth  T. 
Gibbs,  he  had  no  doubt  it  was  intended  to  rep- 
resent this  prize  animal  of  Mr.  Westcar's.  If 
so,  says  Mr.  Duckham,  he  was  bred  by  Mr. 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Tully,  Huntington,  near  Hereford;  his  weight 
was  247  stone  (3,458  Ibs.),  and  he  bore  the  dis- 
tinctive marks  of  the  red  with  white  face,  with 
the  exception  of  the  white  stripe  which  now  ex- 
tends along  the  back,  and  just  over  the  shoul- 
ders, being  shown  in  the  picture  as  far  as  the 
hip  bones,  and  it  also  differed  from  the  modern 
markings  by  the  lower  part  of  the  legs  being 
red  instead  of  white.  We  may  add  that  the 
drawing  in  Garrard's  book  removes  any  doubt 
as  to  the  identity  of  this  animal,  which  was  un- 
questionably bred  by  Mr.  Tully. 

At  the  show  in  1799  it  is  also  stated  that  Mr. 
Grace,  of  Buckinghamshire,  exhibited  a  Here- 
ford ox  7  ft.  high,  which  weighed  upwards  of 
260  stone  (3,640  Ibs.)  and  measured  in  girth 
12  ft.  4  ins.  Among  the  other  winners  at  this 
inaugural  show  of  the  Smithfield  Club  were 
the  Duke  of  Bedford  and  Mr.  John  Ellman, 
both  of  whom  were  breeders  of  Herefords;  the 
latter  had  the  prize  for  the  best  ox  fattened  with 
grass  and  hay  only,  in  the  shortest  time  from 
the  yoke. 

It  is  thus  apparent  that  the  Herefords  con- 
stituted a  very  important  feature  of  the  inaugu- 
ral show  of  the  Smithfield  Club. 

Among  other  curious  details  mentioned  by  Sir 
Brandreth  T.  Gibbs,  in  connection  with  the 
meeting  in  1812,  were  the  following:  "A  Here- 
ford with  a  red  ring  round  the  eye,"  and  a 
"smooth-coated  Hereford."  Mr.-  Duckham 
points  out  that  these  apparently  trivial  cir- 
cumstances go  far  to  prove  that  at  that  time  it 
was  expected  that  Herefords  should  have  white 
faces  and  rough  coats. 


From  the  establishment  of  the  Smithfield 
Club  to  the  year  1851  all  the  different  breeds 
and  cross-breeds  of  cattle  were  exhibited  at  its 
show  in  competition  with  each  other,  except 
during  the  period  from  1807  to  1815,  when 
there  was  a  classification  of  breeds,  separate 
classes  being  assigned  for  Herefords,  Long- 
horns,  Shorthorns,  Sussex,  or  Kent,  Devons, 
and  mixed  breeds.  Some  of  the  records  of  the 
early  shows  are  incomplete,  but  Sir  Brandreth 
T.  Gibbs  states  that  during  the  time  the  breeds 
competed  together — that  is,  before  the  new 
classification  in  1852 — the  general  prizes  were 
thus  distributed: 

The  Hereford  oxen  won  185  prizes.  .  .$13,700 
The  Hereford  cows  won  22  prizes 1.155 


The  Shorthorn  oxen  won  82  prizes.  . 
The  Shorthorn  cows  won  92  prizes.  . 


$14,945 

.  .$  6,995 
.  .      5,665 

$12,660 


The  result,  says  Sir  Brandreth  T.  Gibbs, 
shows  that  the  number  and  amount  of  general 
money  prizes  was  vastly  in  favor  of  the  Here- 
fords, their  principal  winnings  being  in  the 
oxen  and  steer  classes.  The  Shorthorns  owed 
the  fact  of  their  approaching  the  Herefords  in 
total  amount  of  winnings  to  the  success  of  the 
Shorthorn  cows. 

The  Agricultural  Society  of  Hereford,  we 
are  glad  to  say,  under  the  name  of  the  Here- 
fordshire Agricultural  Society,  conducted  with 


LADY     GROVE,     CALVED     1838,     AND     CALF,      FOIG-A-BALLAGH,   BRED  BY  T.  JEFFRIES. 


71 


vigor  and  success,  was  established  in  1797,  its 
object  being  "to  carry  the  breed  of  cattle  and 
sheep  as  to  fleece  and  carcass  to  the  greatest 
points  of  perfection." 

The  old  minute  books  of  the  society  have  not 
been  found,  and  for  notices  of  the  early  shows 
we  are  indebted  to  contemporary  newspapers. 
At  the  show  of  June,  1799,  the  first  prize  for 
best  bull  not  exceeding  20  months  old  was 
awarded  to  John  Apperley,  Withington;  and 
that  for  the  best  bull  not  exceeding  three  years 
and  seven  months  old,  to  Samuel  Tully,  Hunt- 
ington. 

At  the  show  in  June,  1800,  it  is  reported  that 
there  was  an  exhibition  of  cattle  of  very  supe- 
rior form  and  beauty.  "Great  praise,"  says 
the  Hereford  Journal  of  that  date,  "is  due  to 
those  gentlemen  who  so  warmly  patronize  this 
institution,  which,  whilst  it  ultimately  pro- 
motes the  interest  and  advantage  of  the  farm- 
ers and  breeders,  will  extend  and  perpetuate  the 
fame  of  the  county  for  a  species  of  stock  al- 
ready in  reputation  with  competent  judges." 

The  first  prize  for  best  bull  was  awarded  to 
Mr.  Croose,  Sugwas,  for  a  bull  bred  by  Mr. 
Jones,  Fawley,  for  best  yearling  bull  to  Joseph 
Tully,  Haywood,  and  for  best  heifer  to  Mr. 
Skyrme,  of  Stretton. 

At  the  show  in  March,  1801,  it  was  an- 
nounced that  the  following  gentlemen  and 
farmers  intended  exhibiting  bulls:  Mr.  Wey- 
man,  Moreton;  C.  Bodenham,  Eotherwas;  H. 
Moore,  Wellington;  J.  G.  Cotterell,  Garmons; 
E.  Waring,  Lyonshall;  T.  A.  Knight,  Wormes- 
ley  Grange  (2);  S.  Tully,  Huntington  (2). 
Thirteen  bulls  were  presented  for  the  two 
premiums,  and  the  most  successful  exhibitors 
were  Mr.  Smith,  of  Sufton,  and  Mr.  H.  Moore, 
Wellington. 

Another  show  was  held  in  June,  1801,  when 
the  prize  winners  were  Mr.  J.  Tully,  Haywood, 
and  Mr.  Williams,  Thingehill.  The  report  on 
the  show  in  March,  1802,  states  that  it  seemed 
to  be  the  general  opinion  that  so  many  fine  ani- 
mals of  the  sort  were  never  seen  together  be- 
fore. The  successful  exhibitors  were  the  two 
Messrs.  Tully,  of  Huntington  and  Haywood; 
Mr.  Powell,  of  Titley;  Mr.  Galliers,  of  King's 
Pyon,  and  Mr.  Apperley,  of  Withington.  The 
bulls  of  Lord  Essex,  Colonel  Cotterell,  Mr. 
Croose,  of  Ocle;  Mr.  Lowe,  of  Gatterton;  Mr. 
Lewis,  of  Burghill,  and  Mr.  Moore,  of  Barton- 
sham,  were  also,  it  is  added,  much  admired. 

Certificates  were  received  from  nearly  all  the 
candidates  that  their  animals  had  not  been  fed 
with  corn  or  straw  imperfectly  threshed,  during 
the  last  six  months;  and  in  future,  says  the 
chronicler,  this  is  to  be  made  an  express  condi- 


tion, without  which  no  animal  is  to  be  entitled 
to  a  premium. 

At  the  first  show  of  the  Eoyal  Agricultural 
Society  at  Oxford,  in  1839,  the  Herefords  made 
a  very  good  appearance,  and  the  Rev.  J.  R. 
Smythies,  of  Lynch  Court,  won  the  first  prize 
for  the  best  cow  in  milk,  "which,"  in  the  opin- 
ion of  the  judges,  "was  best  calculated  for  dairy 
purposes."  Mr.  T.  Jeffries,  of  The  Grove,  was 
first  for  Hereford  bulls  with  Cotmore  (376) 
150,  full  of  Hewer  blood.  Mr.  Walker,  North- 


HOPE    (439)   324,    CALVED   1836,    BRED   BY  T.   JEFFRIES. 
(From  an  old  painting.) 

leach,  was  first  for  cows;  Mr.  J.  Hewer  first 
for  yearling  bulls,  Mr.  J.  Walker,  Burton,  first 
for  bull  calves,  and  Mr.  E.  West  first  for  heifer 
calves. 

The  favor  in  which  the  breed  was  held  by 
graziers,  the  numerous  challenges,  most  of  them 
resulting  successfully  for  the  Herefords,  the 
victories  at  Smithfield,  and  the  spirit  exhibited 
at  the  meetings  of  the  County  Society — all 
tend  to  show  that  the  breed  was  constantly  im- 
proving; that  the  farmers  of  Herefordshire 
were  proud  of  their  cattle,  and  that  their  mer- 
its were  attracting  widespread  attention. 

Narrow  in  its  treatment  of  the  Herefords 
and  partisan  to  the  Shorthorns  as  was  the  orig- 
inal Youatt's  work,  the  American  revised  and 
abridged  edition  was  narrower  and  more  parti- 
san and  fraudulent,  eliminating  most  of  the 
little  that  Youatt  had  admitted.  The  Ameri-. 
can  edition,  edited  by  Ambrose  Stevens,  issued 
in  1851,  and  purporting  to  be  Youatt's  work, 
was  purely  a  Shorthorn  advertisement.  The 
almost  criminal  fraud  against  the  Herefords 
being  thus  introduced  in  the  preface: 

"In  presenting  an  edition  of  Youatt  to  the 
American  public,  the  American  editor  may 
justly  say,  that  of  all  the  treatises  on  cattle, 
none  is  so  valuable  as  his.  Mr.  Youatt  was  a 
man  of  rare  ability;  a  scholar,  distinguished 


HISTOEY     OF    HEEEFOED     CATTLE 


for  the  extent,  variety  and  elegance  of  his  at- 
tainments ;  for  his  power  of  research,  historical, 
and  scientific;  for  the  brilliancy  of  his  style; 
and  as  a  veterinary  surgeon  of  profound  knowl- 
edge, in  both  the  science  and  practice  of  his  art, 
and  of  devotion  to  its  pursuit.  Scarcely  any 
man  of  all  the  world  was  so  happily  fitted  as 
he  to  produce  a  great  historical  and  medical 
work  on  cattle. 

"And  while  he  was  so  peculiarly  qualified  to 
write  such  a  work,  the  circumstances  that  orig- 
inated it  were  eminently  the  ones  to  insure  him 
success  in  the  undertaking.  An  association  ex- 
isted in  Englaiid,  under  the  name  of  'The  So- 
ciety for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful  Knowledge/ 
Men  of  eminence  in  every  variety  of  learning 


were  its  members;  the  publication  of  practical 
treatises  in  all  departments  of  useful  knowl- 
edge, its  object.  Appreciating  the  ability  of 
Mr.  Youatt  to  give  the  world  a  valuable  work 
on  the  history,  breeds,  management,  and  dis- 
eases of  cattle,  this  society  enlisted  him  in  its 
production. 

"In  preparing  this  treatise  for  publication, 
the  American  editor  has  abridged  it  of  the  his- 
tory of  local  and  inferior  breeds  of  cattle  in 
England,  in  which  the  American  farmer  and 
amateur  has  no  interest.  There  is  not  a  page 
in  the  whole  but  has  been  carefully  considered, 
and  where  it  required  its  matter  advanced 
to  the  present  state  of  knowledge  on  the 
subject." 


J.    A.    MONKHOUSE.    THE    BLIND    VETERAN    OF    THE 
STOWE. 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEKEFOKD  CATTLE 


73 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  COUNTY  OF  HEREFORD — HEREFORDSHIRE 


It  is  of  interest  to  know  about  the  section 
of  England  where  the  best  breed  of  beef  cattle 
of  the  present  day  originated.  Probably  no 
more  authentic  or  reliable  information  can  be 
obtained  than  the  account  as  given  in  the  "En- 
cyclopedia Britannica." 

It  will  be  seen  in  the  parliamentary  returns 
of  1873  that  some  of  the  well-known  thorough- 
bred Hereford  cattle  breeders  were  large  land 
owners.  The  Hon.  J.  H.  Arkwright  (who  bred 
our  famous  Sir  Richard  3d  (9702)  4978  and 
Mr.  Sotham's  recently  imported  sensational 
Improver  (19206)  94020)  having  over  ten 
thousand  acres;  Sir  A.  K.  Boughton  Knight 
over  ten  thousand  acres,  and  Lord  Bateman 
(][  55),  who  bred  the  first  cattle  imported  by 
Mr.  F.  W.  Stone,  nearly  seven  thousand  acres. 

"The  English  county  of  Hereford  is  on  the 
south  border  of  Wales.  Its  greatest  length 
from  Ludford  by  Ludlow  to  the  Doward  Hills 
near  Monmouth  is  38  miles ;  its  greatest  breadth 
from  Cradley  to  Clifford,  near  Hay,  is  35 
miles.  The  country  is  well  watered  with  nu- 
merous rivers  and  is  pre-eminently  a  grazing 
district.  The  climate  is  variable,  owing  to  the 
clamp  and  fogs,  which  moisten  the  earth  and 
account  for  its  great  verdure  as  well  as  its  large 
proportion  of  timber,  not  only  in  parks  and  on 
landed  estates,  but  almost  on  every  hedgerow. 

"The  surface  of  the  country  is  undulating 
in  long  ridges  (ft  56),  as  if  by  subterranean 
ripples.  Ash  and  oak  coppices  and  larch  plan- 
tations clothe  its  hillsides  (ft  59)  and  crests. 
Its  low  lands  are  studded  with  pear  and  apple 
orchards,  of  such  productiveness  that  Hereford- 
shire sometimes,  as  well  as  Kent,  is  called  the 
garden  of  England. 

"Herefordshire  is  also  famous  as  a  breeding 
county,  for  its  cattle  of  bright  red  hue,  with 
mottled  or  white  faces  and  sleek  and  silky  coats. 


The  Herefords  are  a  stalwart  and  healthy  breed, 
and  put  on  more  meat  and  fat  at  an  early  age 
in  proportion  to  food  consumed  than  almost 
any  other  variety.  They  produce  the  finest  beef, 
and  are  'more  cheaply  fed.,  than  Devons  or  Dur- 
hams,  with  which  they  are  advantageously 
crossed. 

"Breeders'  names  from  this  county  are  fa- 
mous at  the  national  cattle  shows,  and  the  num- 
ber, size  and  quality  of  the  stock  are  seen  in 
their  supply  of  the  metropolitan  and  other  mar- 
kets. Prize  Herefords  are  constantly  exported 
to  the  colonies. 

"Agricultural  horses  of  good  quality  are  bred 
in  the  north  and  saddle  and  coach  horses  may 
be  met  with  at  the  fairs,  especially  Orleton, 
Brain pton,  Bryan,  and  Huntington." 

LIVE  STOCK. 

Horses    21,206 

Cattle  77,402 

Sheep   340,741 

Pigs    24,169 

"According  to  the  parliamentary  returns  of 
1873,  the  county  was  divided  among  13,731 
proprietors,  owning  a  total  area  of  506,559 
acres,  with  a  rental  of  £924,640  ($4,623,200). 
Of  the  proprietors  9,085  (66  per  cent)  held 
less  than  one  acre;  2,478  (18  per  cent)  held 
between  one  and  ten  acres,  (ft  61) 

"The  owners  of  the  largest,  holdings  are  J. 
H.  Arkwright  (ft  57),  Hampton  Court,  Leo- 
minster,  10,559  acres ;  A.  R.  Boughton  Knight, 
Downton  Castle,  10,081  acres;  R.  D.  Harley, 
Brampton-Bryan,  9,869  acres;  Sir  Geo.  H. 
Cornewall,  Moccas,  6,946  acres ;  Lord  Bateman, 
Shobdon  Court  (ft  58),  6,815  acres;  Earl  Som- 
ers,  Eastmor  Castle,  6,668  acres." 


74 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  YIIL 

THE  SMITHFIELD  CLUB;   NATIONAL  SHOW 


The  records  of  the  Smithfield  Club  are  mat- 
ters of  history,  that  record  the  first  authentic 
victories  of  the  Hereford  cattle.  The  character 
of  this  great  national  society,  the  nature  and 
importance  of  its  exhibits,  are  important,  as 
for  over  one  hundred  years  they  have  been  the 
court  of  last  resort  for  exhibitors  of  the  meat 
producing  animals  of  Great  Britain.  Cattle 
of  all  breeds  and  crosses  were  shown  in  one  gen- 
eral class,  as  fat  cattle,  before  this  society  until 
the  year  1852,  when  the  several  breeds  were  sep- 
arated and  shown  by  themselves. 

"The  Annals  of  Agriculture"  contain  an  ac- 
count of  the  formation  of  this  club,  by  the 
Smithfield  Cattle  and  Sheep  Society,  by  common 
agreement,  December  17th,  1798,  being  the 
market  day  before'  Christmas.  The  Duke  of 
Bedford  in  the  chair. 

"We,  the  underwritten,  do  hereby  agree  to 
institute  a  society  open  to  all  subscribers,  to 
the  premiums  hereafter  mentioned,  and  subject 
to  such  conditions  as  should  be  agreed  upon  by 
a  committee  to  be  named  this  evening.  The 
subscriptions,  10s  6d  ($2.62),  each  to  be  paid 
immediately."  (If  62) 

Thirty-seven  persons  subscribed  and  paid 
their  initiation  fees,  agreeing  that  Mr.  Arthur 
Young  be  empowered  to  receive  other  subscrib- 
ers, and  that  each  candidate  for  a  prize  should 
give  Mr.  Young  one  month's  previous  notice; 
then  Mr.  Young  should  inform  the  candidate 
of  the  time  and  place  of  showing.  That  it  is 
the  intention  of  the  present  committee  to  give 
premiums  to.  the  best  beasts  fed  on  grass,  hay, 
turnips  or  cabbage ;  and  to  the  best  fed  on  corn 
or  oil  cake^.  The  meeting  then  adjourned  to 
the  Duke  of  Bedford's  Sheep  Shearing  at  Wo- 
burn,  the  17th  of  June  next. 

Expenses  of  the  first  show  in  1799  were  £101 
($505).  Receipts  were  £100  ($500). 

The  following  extracts  from  the  minutes  of 
the  Smithfield  Club  from  its  organization  show 
the  splendid  work  of  this  most  powerful  of  fac- 
tors in  the  encouragement  of  British  breeds  of 
live  stock. 

1798.     At  a  meeting  of    the    agriculturists 


held  December  17th,  1798  (being  Smithfield's 
great  market  day),  the  "Smithfield  Cattle  and 
Sheep  Society"  was  founded  by  mutual  consent. 
Present:  Francis,  Duke  of  Bedford,  in  the 
chair ;  Mr.  J.  W.  Wilkes,  of  Measham,  the  orig- 
inal proposer,  and  twenty-nine  others.,  includ- 
ing Lord  Somerville,  John  Hennet,  the  Earl 
of  Winchelsea,  John  Westcar,  Richard  Astley, 
John  Ellman,  Arthur  Young,  etc.;  subscrip- 
tions 10s  6d  each.  Eight  other  names  were 
added  later  in  the  day,  including  Sir  Joseph 
Banks. 

A  committee  was  appointed,  who  decided  to 
offer  premiums  for  the  best  beast  above  a  stated 
•  weight,  and  fed  on  grass,  hay,  turnips,  or  cab- 
bages ;  also  for  the  best  beast  fed  on  corn  or  oil 
cake;  for  the  best  sheep  fed  on  hay,  grass,  tur- 
nips, or  cabbages;  or  for  the  best  sheep  fed  on 
corn  or  cake. 

Arthur  Young,  Esq.,  was  requested  to  re- 
ceive subscriptions. 

1799.  The  first  show  was  held  at  Wooton's 
livery  stables  (The  Dolphin  Yard),  Smithfield. 
The  three  days'  admission  money  to  this  show 
amounted  to  £40,  3s  ($200.75).  The  first  din- 
ner of  the  subscribers  took  place  at  the  Crown 
and  Anchor  Tavern,  on  the  Friday  previous  to 
the  Christmas  market.  The  following  account 
is  given  of  some  of  the  animals : 

"The  largest  sheep  were  of  the  true  old  Glou- 
cester breed  (Cotswolds),  bred  by  Mr.  Haines 
and  grazed  by  Mr.  Poulton — 6  ft.  5£  in.  in 
girth,  27  in.  across  the  back,  22  in.  over  the 
shoulders  and  stood  only  26  in.  high. 

"A  Hereford  bullock  fed  by  Mr.  Grace,  of 
Buckinghamshire,  7  ft.  high,  weighed  upward 
of  260  stone  (3,024  Ibs.)  and  measured  in  girth 
12  ft.  4  in.  Mr.  Westcar's  champion  bullock 
(Hereford),  which  sold  for  100  guineas,  was  8 
ft.  11  in.  long,  6  ft.  7  in.  high  and  10  ft.  4  in. 
around  the  girth."  [We  have  given  a  picture 
of  this,  the  Tully  ox,  in  a  preceding  chapter. 
T.  L.  M.] 

Among  the  winners  with  Herefords  were  Mr. 
Westcar,  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  Mr.  Edmonds, 
and  Mr.  John  Ellman;  the  latter  "for  the  best 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


75 


ox  fattened  with  grass  and  hay  only  in  the  short- 
est time  from  the  yoke." 

A  committee  of  management  of  fifteen  mem- 
bers was  appointed. 

1800.  The  pieces  of  plate  offered  this  year 
as  prizes  were  divided  between  vegetable-fed 
and  cake  and  corn-fed  cattle,  under  150  stone 
(2,100  Ibs.),  and  above  80  stone  (1,200  Ibs.), 
also  above  150  stone  (2,100  Ibs.),  and  varied 
in  value  from  20  guineas  ($100)  down  to  10 
guineas  ($50).  The  pieces  of  plate  offered  as 
prizes  for  sheep  were  for  wethers  fed  the  same 
as  the  cattle,  and  were  of  the  value  of  12 
guineas  ($60),  and  8  guineas  ($40).  The 
judges  had  to  select  the  two  best  animals,  each 
class  to  remain  for  public  exhibition.  (U  63) 

The  owners  of  prize  animals  were  expected 
to  agree  with  the  butchers  that  the  "judges 
have  full  power  to  inspect  the  killing,  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  the  weight  of  each  ani- 
mal, distinguishing  the  fore  and  hind  quarters, 
the  tallow,  hide,  pelt,  or  offal,  including  blood, 
etc.,  or  by  some  other  satisfactory  mode,  to  as- 
certain the  comparative  live  and  dead  weights," 
and,  having  ascertained  such  points,  the  judges 
were  then  to  decide  which  was  to  be  placed  the 
first,  and  which  the  second  best  in  each  class, 
and  report  accordingly. 


The  exhibitors  were  requested  also  to  furnish 
an  account  of  the  "breed,  age,  time  of  fatten- 
ing, sort  of  food,  and  the  time  the  animals  had 
eaten  cake  or  corn,"  etc.  Early  maturity  in 
sheep  was  to  be  particularly  considered. 

The  butchers  having  objected  to  the  condi- 
tions respecting  the  weights,  and  having  de- 
clared that  they  would  -not  buy  the  animals 
under  such  an  engagement,  it  was  resolved  that 
this  be  not  insisted  on,  but  that  the  proprietors 
and  purchasers  be  requested  to  furnish  such  in- 
formation to  the  judges  as  may  enable  them 
and  the  public  to  decide  as  accurately  as  pos- 
sible on  the  respective  points  of  the  prize  beasts 
and  sheep. 

The  judges  were  appointed  by  a  committee, 
and  were  to  consist  of  three  graziers  and  three 
butchers,  and  the  instructions  to  the  judges 
were,  "to  look  to  the  quality  of  the  meat,  pro- 
portion of  valuable  meat,  proportion  of  meat 
to  offal,  and  time  of  feeding,  and  not  to 
consider  certificates  satisfactory  unless  ex- 
plicit as  to  the  mode  of  feeding  for  some  time 
back." 

The  proprietors  of  the  yard  received  the 
money  of  the  admission  of  the  public,  and  paid 
the  society  60  guineas  ($300).  The  proprie- 
tors had  also  to  furnish  hay,  straw,  etc. 


THE  COURT  OF  NOKE,  PEMBRIDGE,  HEREFORDSHIRE,  SEAT  OF  J.  TURNER. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


The  cattle  prizes  were  won  by  Herefords, 
Sussex,  and  Longhorns. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  committee  December 
13,  1800,  the  Duke  of  Bedford  first  made  the 
proposition  of  a  new  constitution  of  the  society, 
and  "that  it  be  formed  into  a  permanent  club, 
to  consist  of  fifty  members,  viz.,  the  present 
committee,  together  with  Mr.  Wilkes  of  Mea- 
sham,  the  original  proposer  of  the  society,  and 
thirty-four  to  be  elected  by  ballot.  Annual  sub- 
scription 1  guinea  ($5)." 


THE    COURT    OP    NOKE    IN    1902,    OCCUPIED    BY    MR. 
EDWARD   FARR. 

A  guinea  was  paid  this  year  for  each  success- 
ful candidate's  servant  (nine  in  number). 

Distinct  prizes  were  proposed  for  oxen,  and 
for  cows  and  heifers. 

It  was  considered  "that  if  the  cattle  shown 
had  not  been  worked,  then  early  ripeness  was  a 
merit  equally  as  in  sheep." 

Two  oxen  were  exhibited  this  year  (1800)  by 
his  Majesty  the  King. 

1801.  The  prizes  offered  this  year  varied  in 
amount  from  30  guineas  down  to  10  ($150  to 
$50).  There  was  a  separate  class  for  cows  and 
heifers. 

Exhibitors  were  required  to  state  particu- 
larly the  condition  of  the  flesh  of  the  animal  at 
the  time  of  putting  to  fatten. 

March  30,  1801.  The  following  were  elected 
officers :  President,  the  Duke  of  Bedford ;  Sec- 
retary, Arthur  Young,  Esq. ;  Stewards  of  the 
Show,  Mr.  Bennet  and  Mr.  Ellman. 

It  was  determined  to  have  five  judges  for  the 
entire  show,  and  that  each  member  of  the  club 
might  suggest  in  writing  the  names  of  such 
persons  as  he  thought  qualified  to  he  judges. 
A  selection  was  made  by  the  committee,  and  the 
president  and  stewards  ultimately  appointed 
the  judges.  It  was  recommended  that  in  future 
the  state  of  the  flesh  of  the  animals  when  put 


to  fatten  be  attested  in  the  certificates  by  two 
respectable  parties.  The  number  of  members 
of  the  club  was  now  extended  to  sixty-five. 

1802.  It  was  required  that  beasts  shall  have 
had  no  cake,  except  in  the  year  1802,  and  that 
the  whole  of  the  food  consumed  from  October 
1  to  November  30  be  certified. 

Heifers  were  excluded  from  competing.  Only 
cows  that  had  had  three  calves  and  had  calved 
either  in  1801  or  1802  were  qualified.  The  time 
when  dried  of  milk  was  to  be  certified. 

The  title  of  the  Smithfield  Cattle  and  Sheep 
Club  last  occurs  in  the  minutes  December  8, 
1802,  and  from  that  time  it  is  styled  the 
"Smithfield  Club." 

Francis,  Duke  of  Bedford,  the  president, 
died.  John  Drake,  of  Bedford,  was  elected  pres- 
ident December  8,  1802.  The  number  of  mem- 
bers of  the  club  was  extended  to  one  hundred. 

Placards  were  placed  over  each  animal,  stat- 
ing breed,  age,  etc. 

A  guinea  was  paid  this  year  to  the  exhibitors' 
servants  in  charge  of  first-prize  animals. 

1803.  Resolved,  That  it  be  a  condition  of 
the  prizes  to  be  offered  next  year  (1804)  that 
no  beast  shall  have  been  put  to  fatten  previous 
to  the  1st  of  January. 

Several  animals  were  disqualified,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  certificates  not  giving  the  re- 
quisite details  as  to  the  mode  of  feeding. 

1804.  Several  prizes  were  withheld,  in  con- 
sequence of  no  returns  of  dead- weights  having 
been  sent  in.     The  prizes  were  not  paid  until 
the  returns  of  dead-weights  were  produced. 

It  was  resolved  to  appoint  a  person  in  future 
to  attend  at  the  killing  and  weighing  of  live- 
stock, who  shall  report  the  results  to  the  club. 
Mr.  King,  Jr.,  appointed. 

The  number  of  members  increased  to  120. 
The  show  was  held  in  the  Swan  Yard. 

1805.  Resolved,  That  the  number    of    the 
members  of  the  club  be  unlimited.    Election  to 
be  by  ballot,  and  one-third  present  to  exclude. 

A  Devon  ox  was  driven  126  miles  to  the  show. 
The  show  was  held  at  Dixon's  Repository. 

1806.  Arthur  Young,  Esq.,  resigned  the  sec- 
retaryship, not  being  able  to  attend  at  the  time 
the  meetings  were  held. 

The  offices  of  treasurer  and  secretary  were 
made  distinct.  Mr.  John  Farey  was  appointed 
secretary,  with  a  salary,  and  "liberty  of  pub- 
lishing the  proceedings  and  papers  of  the  club 
for  his  own  benefit,  as  Mr.  Arthur  Young  had 
heretofore  done." 

Mr.  Paul  Giblett  was  appointed  treasurer. 
The  show  was  held  this  year  at  Sadler's  Yard, 
Goswell  street;  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke  of  York 
gained  a  prize  for  a  pig.  Lord  William  Russei 


was  elected  chairman  during  the  Duke  of  Bed- 
ford's absence  abroad. 

Lord  Somerville  and  Mr.  H.  King,  Jr.,  were 
appointed  inspectors  to  attend  the  weighing  of 
prize  animals. 

It  was  determined  to  offer  for  next  year 
(1807)  seven  prizes  for  fat  oxen  or  steers  of  the 
weight  of  120  stone  (1,680  Ibs.)  and  upwards, 
viz. : 

Class  I,  Herefords,  20  guineas  ($100)  ; 
Class  II,  Longhorns,  20  guineas  ($100)  ;  Class 
111,  Shorthorns,  20  guineas  ($100)  ;  Class  IV, 
Sussex  or  Kent,  20  guineas  ($100)  ;  Class  V, 
Devons,  20  guineas  ($100)  ;  Class  VI,  mixed 
breeds,  20  guineas  ($100).  Also  an  additional 
prize  for  the  best  ox  or  steer  in  the  foregoing 
classes,  £10  ($50).  The  following  conditions 
were  added:  "The  animals  exhibited  for  the 
above  premiums  must  have  worked  at  least  two 
years  ending  the  1st  of  January,  1807,  and 
must  not  have  been  put  to  fatten  previous  to 
the  5th  of  April,  and  the  whole  of  the  food  con- 
sumed from  the  1st  of  October  to  the  30th  of 
November  must  be  certified.  The  time  of  put- 
ting to  feed,  and  the  state  of  the  flesh,  must 
be  certified,  under  the  attestation  of  two  re- 
spectable witnesses." 

1807.  There    were    no    exhibitors  for    the 
Longhorn,  Shorthorn,  and  Sussex  prizes.     The 
prize  in  the  class  for  Devons  was  not  adjudged, 
for  want  of  sufficient  merit.     There  were  no 
exhibitors  for  the  cow  prize. 

Resolved,  That  in  future  there  be  three 
judges  instead  of  five. 

Also  that  the  secretary's  salary  be  30  guineas. 
The  club's  dinner  was  held  in  the  Free  Mason's 
Hall. 

1808.  The  proprietor  of  Sadler's  Yard,  Gos- 
well  street,  paid  the  club  only  £50  ($250),  he 
finding  provender  as  usual.     The  club  also  en- 
tered into  the  same  agreement  with  Mr.  Sadler 
for  holding    Lord    Somerville's   show.      Again 
this  year  there  was  no  exhibitor  for  the  Long- 
horn  prize.    The  only  competitor  for  the  Short- 
horn prize  was  disqualified.     There  was  no  ex- 
hibitor in  mixed  breeds.    The  Duke  of  Bedford 
very  liberally  paid  upwards  of  £68,  charged  for 
three  years'  use  of  rooms  at  Freemasons'  Tavern 
for  meetings,  etc.     Resolved,  That  no  person 
who  has  gained  a  prize  in  either  of  the  first 
five  classes  be  entitled  to  show  a  beast  in  the 
same  class  next  year. 

1809.  For  the  Shorthorn  and  Sussex  prizes 
there  were   no   exhibitors.     The  judges   were 
not  to  be  informed  of  the  names  of  the  owners 
of  the  animals,  but  were  to  adjudicate  by  num- 
bers placed  over  each.     Resolved,    That  from 


next  year   (1810)   a  prize  be  offered  for  pure 
Merino  sheep. 

1810.  The  conditions  respecting  Longhorn 
and  Shorthorn  oxen  having  been  worked  were 
dispensed  with.     It  was  decided  that  in  1811, 
Hereford,  Sussex,  or  Kent,  and  Devon  oxen  or 
steers,  be  shown  in  pairs  or  yokes,  of  the  same 
age  and  one  person's  breed,  the  premiums  to  be 
equally  divided  between  the  breeder  and  grazier. 
A  portable  weighing  machine    for    cattle    was 
hired  from  Mr.  Shepherd,  of  Woburn. 

1811.  There  were  no  exhibitors  for  the  prizes 
for  yokes  or  pairs  of  oxen  in  the  Hereford  or 
Devon  classes.     The    arrears    of    subscription 
amounted  to  468  guineas. 

1812.  Members  were  required  to  subscribe 
to  the  "signature  book,"  engaging  to  pay  sub- 
scriptions (f  64). 

Some  curious  descriptions  of  the  colors,  etc., 
of  the  animals  occurred: 

"A  Hereford  with  a  red  ring  around  the 
eye;"  "a  red,  frosty-faced  Sussex;"  "a  red  and 
white  Devon;"  "a  smooth-coated  Hereford." 

1813.  The  Duke  of  Bedford  resigned  the 
office  of  president  when  about  to  proceed  to  .the 
continent.     The  Marquis  of  Tavistock  was  re- 
quested to  accept  this  office,  but  declined.     A 


!  it.  a  4 


IVINGTONBURY,     SEAT    OF    MR.     T.    ROBERTS,     WHO 
BRED   SIR  THOMAS. 


committee  of  management  was  elected,  consist- 
ing of  the  stewards  and  thirteen  members.  Thos. 
Coke,  Esq.,  was  requested  to  become  president, 
but  declined.  Resolved,  That  in  future  the 
prizes  be  in  plate  instead  of  money.  The  num- 
ber of  show  days  was  reduced  from  three  to 
two.  The  subscriptions  and  arrears  due  to  the 
club  amounted  to  £1,086  15s  ($5,434).  The 
number  of  members  was  272. 

1814.  The  Duke  of  Bedford  offered  100 
guineas  ($500)  annually  for  additional  prizes. 
His  Grace  afterwards  increased  this  sum  to  125 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


EDWARD    FARR,    PRESENT 

OCCUPANT    (1902)   OF   THE 

COURT    OF    NOKE. 


guineas  ($625)  in  order  that  a  five-guinea 
($25)  medal  might  be  given  to  the  breeders  of 
the  animals  in  each  of  the  five  proposed  classes. 
These  were  subsequently  styled  the  "Bed- 
fordian" plate  and  medals.  The  Duke  of 
Bedford  was  requested  to  continue  president; 
Lord  Somerville,  Sir  John  S.  Sebright,  Bart., 
C.  Callis  Western,  Esq.,  M.  P.,  afterwards  Lord 
Western,  Thos.  Mellish,  Esq.,  were  elected  vice- 
presidents.  Mr.  Thomas,  -of  Bond  street,  was 

consulted  respect- 
ing a  die  with  a 
profile  of  the 
Duke  of  Bedford, 
for  the  Bedford- 
ian  medals,  and 
subsequently  a  die 
was  engraved  by 
Mr.  Jos.  Porter 
of  Fleet  street, 
from  the  original 
model  for  a  bust 
by  Mr.  Nollekens. 
Mr.  Thomas  un- 
dertook to  have 
suitable  articles  of 
plate  on  view  for 
the  successful  can- 
didates to  choose 
from.  It  was  ordered  that  the  certificates  be 
delivered  to  the  secretary  eight  days  before  the 
show. 

1815.  The  Duke  of  Bedford  was  again  elect- 
ed president.     Mr.  Farey  was  elected  treasurer 
as  well  as  secretary,   with  40  guineas  salary. 
The  rule  requiring  the  dead-weights  of  animals 
was  rescinded.    Resolved,  That  no  animal  once 
shown  be  exhibited  again  except  as  extra  stock. 

1816.  Arthur  Youqg,  Esq.,  resigned   being 
a  member  of  the  club.    The  finances  were  in  so 
bad  a  state  that  the  president  proposed    that 
the  club  should  not  offer  any  prizes  next  year. 

1817.  The  classification  of  cattle  according 
to  breed  was  discontinued.    No  prizes  were  of- 
fered this  year  out  of  the  club's  funds,  only 
the    Bedfordian    plate  and  medals,  value    25 
guineas.     Nevertheless,  the  judges  reported  fa- 
vorably of  the  show.     The  Duke  of  Bedford 
suggested  "whether  the  ends  for  which  the  club 
was  associated  were  not  sufficiently  answered;" 
but  in  case  the  club  should  judge  otherwise,  he 
expressed  his  readiness  to  continue  the  Bedford- 
ian premiums.     Sir  John  Sinclair  having  ex- 
pressed his  anxious  hope  that  the  club  should 
continue  its  useful   exertions  in  this  time  of 
agricultural  depression,  it  was  resolved: 

"That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  that 
great  advantages  have  accrued  to  the  landed 


interests  and  the  community  in  general  from 
the  exertions  of  this  club,  which  have  tended 
materially  to  increase  the  supply  of  animal  food 
of  superior  quality  to  meet  our  greatly  increased 
population  and  consumption.  That  the  late 
exhibitions,  and  the  present  one  in  particular, 
show  that  the  improvements  in  live  stock  are 
yet  in  successful  progress  as  to  the  essential 
points  of  disposition  to  fatten,  early  maturity, 
and  consequent  cheapness  of  production,  and 
that  further  and  greater  benefits  may  be  ren- 
dered to  the  community  by  the  continuance  of 
these  exertions;  under  these  impressions  it  is 
the  decided  opinion  of  this  meeting  that  the 
club  should  continue  and  receive  the  utmost 
support  from  its  members." 

1818.  The  prizes  offered  out  of  the  club's 
funds  amounted  to  £50  without  classification 
as  to  breed  of  cattle,  but  with  conditions  as  to 
weight  only.     The  Bedfordian  premiums  were 
also  offered  as  before. 

Resolved,  That  one  steward  retire  each  year. 
That  the  judges  be  taken  in  rotation  from  the 
list  of  names  which  shall  be  determined  on  at 
the  meetings  of  the  club. 

That  in  future  there  be  three  judges  of  cat- 
tle, and  three  of  sheep  and  pigs,  to  be  chosen 
from  the  following  lists,  viz. : 

Experienced  breeders  and  graziers  of  cattle; 
experienced  breeders  and  graziers  of  long 
wools;  experienced  breeders  and  graziers  of 
short  wools;  experienced  butchers  in  or  near 
London. 

That  the  stewards  supply,  as  heretofore,  any 
vacancy  that  may  occur  by  non-attendance. 

1819.  That  no   exhibitor  be   allowed   next 
year  to  gain  a  prize  in  the  same  class  in  which 
he  has  gained  one  this  year,  nor  in  future  to 
win  in  the  same  class  any  two  consecutive  years 
(1165). 

That  the  sheep  be  shorn  before  the  judges 
award  the  prizes. 

A  class  for  cows  was  re-instituted;  the  same 
as  in  the  year  1815. 

The  secretary  reported  the  death  of  Lord 
Somerville,  a  vice-president  of  the  club,  and 
one  of  its  original  members. 

N.  B. — From  the  prize  sheet  for  1819  it  ap- 
pears that  an  exhibitor  was  allowed  to  enter 
two  beasts  in  the  same  class,  but  where  two 
prizes  were  offered  he  was  only  allowed  to  gain 
one. 

1820.  Mr.  Sadler  was  allowed  to  charge  non- 
members  for  the   standing    room    for    imple- 
ments. 

Sir  Joseph  Banks,  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers and  promoters,  died. 

1821.  December  6,  1821.     A  letter  was  re- 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


79 


ceived  from  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  stating  his 
determination  to  withdraw  from  the  club,  and 
to  discontinue  the  Bedfordian  prizes,  and  ex- 
pressing his  opinion  that  "the  advantages  which 
on  the  first  formation  of  the  institution  were 
held  out  to  the  public  have  been  amply  realized 
and  that  any  further  incentive  to  improve  the 
breeds  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  swine  is  become 
wholly  useless. 

"The  only  object  was  to  increase  the  animal 
production  of  the  kingdom  and  this  object  has 
been  fully  attained.  The  markets  of  the  me- 
tropolis and  throughout  the  kingdom  are 
abundantly  supplied.  The  best  and  most  profit- 
able breeds  of  cattle  and  sheep  have  been 
brought  into  notice,  and  have  made  rapid  and 
extraordinary  progress  in  the  estimation  of  the 
breeder  and  grazier." 

It  was,  however,  unanimously  resolved  by  the 
meeting  of  the  members  after  considerable  de- 
liberation that  "the  club  ought  to  continue  and 
receive  the  utmost  support  from  its  members." 

Sir  John  Sebright,  Bart.,  was  requested  to 
become  president,  but  declined. 

Resolved,  That  in  future  an  exhibitor  be  en- 
titled to  win  in  the  same  class  two  consecutive 
years,  provided  he  be  both  breeder  and  feeder. 

Lord  Strathaven,  a  vice-president,  died. 


1822.  The  judges  declared  this  to  be  one  of 
the  best  shows  they  ever  witnessed.     The  club 
was  without  a  president. 

1823.  The  Duchess  of  Rutland  became  a 
member. 

Resolved,  That  in  future  the  prizes.be  in  cash 
or  plate  the  same  as  previous  to  1814. 

That  in  future  the  restrictions  as  to  an  ex- 
hibitor not  winning  in  the  same  class  two  con- 
secutive years,  unless  he  be  both  breeder  and 
feeder,  be  abolished. 

1824.  Resolved,  That  in  future  there  be  two 
classes   of  cows,  viz.,  one   for   fattened   dairy 
cows,  which  have  calved  in  their  full  time  twice 
at  least,  and  have  given  fair  proportion  of  milk. 
The  other  class  for  cows  or  heifers  (not  spayed) 
which  may  not  be  eligible  for  the  above  class. 

From  the  prize  sheet  for  this  year,  it  appears 
that  exhibitors  sending  two  beasts  for  the  same 
class  had  to  select  which  of  the  two  should 
compete  for  the  prize. 

1825.  Viscount  Althorp    (afterwards   Earl 
Spencer)  was  elected  the  president  of  the  club. 
There  was  a  sweepstakes  between  three  Here- 
fords,  belonging  to  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  and 
three   Durhams,    belonging   to   the   Rt.     Hon. 
Charles  Arbuthnot,  won  by  the  Herefords. 

Resolved,  That  "no  motion  having  for  its 


DOWNTON  CASTLE. 
(Prom  a  photograph  taken   in  1902.) 


80 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


object  either  the  dissolution  of  the  club,  or  ma- 
terially altering  its  constitution,"  should  be 
taken  into  consideration  until  a  copy  has  been 
sent  to  ea(ch  member,  with  a  statement  of  the 
position  of  the  club's  funds,  etc.,  and  a  second 
meeting  being  appointed,  at  least  twenty-one 
days  from  the  first,  for  discussing  and  decid- 
ing upon  it. 

It  was  ordered  to  be  mentioned  in  the  prize 
sheet,  that  "next  year  the  prizes  will  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  successful  candidates  at  the  an- 
nual dinner." 

1826.  Mr.  John  Farey  died,  having  been 
secretary  twenty  years. 

Resolved,  "That  no  officer  receiving  pay  from 
the  club  shall  be  made  a  member  of  the  club." 

Mr.  William  Farey  was  appointed  secretary. 
(11  66) 

Resolved,  That  in  future  the  ears  of  one-year- 
old  sheep  be  marked  to  prevent  their  being 
shown  again. 

That  in  future  no  animals  be  shown  without 
the  exhibitors  certifying  that  they  have  had 
them  in  their  possession  six  months  at  least. 


MR.  A.   J.   R.   B.   KNIGHT,   OP  DOWNTON  CASTLE,   1902. 

Resolved,  That  the  butcher's  returns  of  the 
dead  weights  be  again  required. 

1827.  Resolved,  That  there  be  three  stew- 
ards. 

That  there  be  three  judges  for  the  whole 
show. 

That  each  steward  be  expected  to  procure  a 


breeder  of  cattle  or  sheep,  or  a  grazier,  who  will 
be  willing  to  act  as  judge  of  the  show. 

1828.  Resolved,  That  the  prizes  be  in  pounds 
instead  of  guineas. 

That  in  future  the  officers  of  the  club  shall 
not  be  allowed  to  answer  in  their  official  capac- 
ities any  inquiries  respecting  the  proceedings 
of  the  club,  except  such  as  are  entered  and  writ- 
ten in  the  minute  book. 

That  the  judges  be  paid  their  traveling  ex- 
penses, fixed  at  £5  ($25)  for  1829. 

The  president  proposed  sweepstakes  for  oxen 
and  steers,  and  cows  and  heifers,  to  be  decided 
by  the  club's  judges  next  year. 

1829.  Resolved,  That  silver  medals  be  given 
to  the   breeders  of  the  first  prize   animals  in 
Classes  1,  2  and  3  this  year,  and  for  the  future 
to  the  breeders  of  first-prize  animals  in  each 
class. 

Mr.  Kitelee  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  club 
the  £10  prize  awarded  to  him,  to  be  offered  in 
a  gold  medal  for  the  best  beast  that  may  be  ex- 
hibited in  any  of  the  classes  at  the  club's  next 
show. 

Resolved,  That  silver  medals  be  given  in  fu- 
ture on  extra  stock  for  the  best  beast,  the  best 
long-wooled  sheep,  the  best  short-wooled  sheep, 
and  the  best  pig. 

1830.  Resolved,   That    in     future    a    gold 
medal  be  given  to  the  breeder  of  the  best  beast 
in  any  of  the  classes,  and  also  a  gold  medal  to 
the  breeder  of  the  best  pen  of  sheep  in  any  of 
the  classes.     The  officers  and  leading  members 
of  the  club  decided  to  raise  subscriptions  of  a 
guinea  each,  in  order  to  present  a  piece  of  plate 
to   Viscount   Althorp,   the  president,   in   testi- 
mony of  his  valuable  services  in  raising  the  club 
to  its  present  eminence. 

3831.  An  extra  gold  medal  (£5)  was  voted 
for  the  second  best  animal  in  Class  1,  there  be- 
ing no  second  prize  offered. 

A  gold  medal  (£10)  was  offered  for  any  ox 
not  gaining  the  prize  in  Class  1,  but  which 
shall,  in  the  opinion  of  the  judges,  possess  ex- 
traordinary merit. 

Resolved,  That  stewards  in  future  audit  the 
club's  accounts,  and,  if  possible,  previous  to 
the  Friday's  meeting. 

That  there  be  separate  gold  medals  in  future 
for  long-wooled  sheep  and  for  short-wooled 
sheep. 

Sir  John  Sebright,  Bart.,  offered  to  give  a 
gold  medal  in  1832  for  the  best  pen  of  three- 
year-old  Southdowns. 

At  the  dinner  a  candelabrum,  value  200 
guineas  ($1,000),  was  presented  to  Viscount 
Althorp. 

1832.     Richard  Astley,  Esq.,  the  then  father 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


81 


of  the  club,  and  one  of  its  most  active  sup- 
porters, died;  also  Thos.  Mellish,  Esq.,  a  vice- 
president. 

His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Richmond  was  elected 
a  vice-president. 

Resolved,  That  in  future  the  breeders'  certifi- 
cates be  required. 

That  any  member  who  shall  become  10 
guineas  in  arrears  be  excluded  from  the  list  of 
members. 

1833.  Resolved,  That  the  extra  gold  medal 
in  Class  1  be  discontinued. 

1834.  The  Duke  of  Richmond  won  a  match 
made  with  Lord  Huntingfield  for  the  five  best 
shearling  Southdown  wethers. 

Messrs.  Hoars  were  appointed  the  bankers  of 
the  club,  the  secretary  to  draw  upon  them. 

1835.  The  Marquis  of  Exeter  won  a  match 
with    Earl    Spencer    for    the    best    freemartin 
heifer. 

Mr.  Ellman  won  a  match  with  Thomas  Coke, 
Esq.,  for  Southdowns. 

Resolved,  That  a  silver  medal  be  given  to  the 
butcher  who  shall  purchase  animals  to  the  larg- 
est amount  out  of  the  classes,  upon  his  duly 
producing  to  the  secretary  the  certificates  of 
purchase.  (K  67) 

N".  B. — From  the  prize  sheet  for  1835  it  ap- 
pears that  only  one  beast,  one  pen  of  three 
sheep,  and  one  pen  of  three  pigs  belonging  to 
the  same  person  could  be  exhibited  in  each 
class. 

1836.  Humphrey   Gibbs,   Esq.    (afterwards 
Humphrey  Brandreth),   was   elected   honorary 
secretary. 

1837.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  see  if 
better  premises  could  be  obtained  for  the  club's 
show. 

Resolved,  That  any  member  of  the  club  who 
has  paid  up  all  arrears  of  his  subscription,  or 
any  new  member  on  his  admission,  may  com- 
pound for  all  future  annual  subscriptions  by 
the  payment  of  10  guineas. 

The  Duke  of  Richmond  having  called  atten- 
tion to  the  importance  of  the  dead-weight  re- 
turns, the  Hon.  Secretary  offered  to  be  present 
at  the  weighing,  which  offer  was  accepted  with 
thanks. 

1838.  This  was  the  last  year  of  the  show 
being  held  at  Goswell  street. 

1 839.  The  show  was  held  at  the  Baker  street 
Bazaar  for  the  first  time. 

Resolved,  That  in  consequence  of  the  great 
increase  of  stock  shown  of  late  years,  there  be 
for  the  future  three  judges  of  cattle  and  long- 
wooled  sheep,  and  three  judges  of  short-wooled 
sheep,  and  pigs. 

That  three  additional  stewards  be  appointed 


for  the  purpose  of  selecting  the  judge  of  short- 
wooled  sheep,  and  pigs. 

That  new  classes  of  Scotch  and  Welsh  cattle 
be  formed. 

1840.  His  Royal  Highness,  Prince  Albert, 
visited  the  show. 

A  die  for  the  medals,  with  a  profile  of  Earl 
Spencer,  president,  was  ordered  to  be  engraved 
by  Wm.  Wyon,  R.  A. 

1841.  His  Royal  Highness,  Prince  Albert, 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  club. 


BROCKSWOOD     (485),     CALVED     IN    1843,     BRED     BY    J. 

RICKETS. 
(From    an    old    lithograph.) 

Resolved,  That  in  future  no  animals  fed  on 
milk  during  twelve  months  previous  to  the 
show,  except  pigs,  be  qualified. 

The  president  having  expressed  a  wish  that 
the  meeting  would  give  its  opinion  as  to  the 
age  that  drew  distinction  between  a  cow  and  a 
heifer,  it  was  found  to  be  the  opinion  of  the 
meeting  that  the  term  heifer  applied  until  the 
animal  was  four  years  old,  and  after  that  it 
should  be  considered  a  cow.  Also,  that  the 
term  steer  applied  until  the  animal  was  four 
years  old;  after  that  it  should  be  considered  an 
ox. 

That  the  butchers'  medal  be  offered  for  the 
future  the  same  as  in  1835. 

His  Royal  Highness,  the  Duke  of  Cam- 
bridge, was  elected  a  member  of  the  club. 

1842.  A  new  class  for  cross-bred  sheep  (long 
and  short-wooled  cross)  was  formed  for  1843. 

On  the  motion  of  the  president,  Earl  Spencer, 
it  was 

Resolved,  That  in  future  the  club's  gold 
medals  be  given  to  the  feeders,  in  place  of  the 
breeders. 

That  members  who  have  paid  twenty  annual 
subscriptions  be  allowed  to  compound  for  five 
guineas. 

"That  no  animal,  the  property  of  or  bred  by 


82 


HISTOEY    OF    HEBEFOED     CATTLE 


any  person  who  has  been  expelled  from  any 
agricultural  society,  or  otherwise  disqualified 
from  exhibiting  stock  at  any  agricultural  show 
in  consequence  of  having  been  proved  to  have 
exhibited  stock  with  a  false  certificate,  shall  be 
exhibited  at  the  shows  of  the  Smithfield  Club, 
provided:,  that  if  the  person  so  disqualified  or 
expelled  shall  have  taken  any  legal  proceedings 
in  consequence  of  such  expulsion  or  disqualifi- 
cation and  a  court  of  law  shall  have  decided 
in  his  favor,  the  case  may  be  submitted  to  the 
club,  who  shall  have  the  right  to  determine 
whether  the  above  rule  shall  apply  to  his  case." 

1843.  Humphrey  Gibbs  (H.  Brandreth)  re- 
signed the  office  of  honorary  secretary. 

B.  T.  Brandreth  Gibbs  elected  honorary  sec- 
retary. 

Her  Majesty,  the  Queen,  and  Prince  Albert 
honored  the  club  by  visiting  the  show  Decem- 
ber 13. 

Earl  Spencer,  the  Duke  of  Eichmond,  and 
B.  T.  Brandreth  Gibbs  were  elected  trustees. 


HEREFORD  HIGH   TOWN   IN  1850,   SHOWING  THE   OLD 

MARKET    HOUSE. 
(From  an   old  print.) 

Resolved,  That  in  future  a  separate  gold 
medal  be  offered  for  the  best  cow  or  heifer  in 
the  classes. 

That  no  member  who  is  more  than  one  year 
in  arrears  of  his  annual  subscription  shall  enjoy 
any  of  the  privileges  of  the  members  of  the 
Smithfield  Club. 

Lord  Weston,  a  vice-president,  died. 

1845.  The  Earl  Spencer  died,  having  been 
president  of  the  club  twenty  years,  (fl  68) 

His  Grace,  the  Duke  of  Eichmond,  K.  G., 
was  elected  president. 

On  the  motion  of  Philip  Pusey,  Esq.,  P.  M., 
the  following  resolution  was  unanimously 
passed : 

"That  we  desire  to  record  our  lasting  grati- 
tude to  the  late  Earl  Spencer  for  his  long  exer- 


tions in  the  service  of  the  Smithfield  Club, 
which  were  neither  interrupted  by  the  discharge 
of  more  arduous  duties  nor  damped  by  the  re- 
tirement from  public  life  or  by  the  advance  of 
years;  and  also  to  express  our  affectionate  ven- 
eration for  his  manly  and  noble  character." 

Resolved,  That  for  the  future,  in  the  sheep 
classes  which  are  restricted  to  weights,  live- 
weights  be  substituted  for  dead-weights. 

Lord  Portman  was  elected  a  trustee,  in  the 
room  of  the  late  Earl  Spencer. 

A  class  for  Scotch,  Welsh  and  Irish  cattle 
was  re-established  for  next  year.  It  was  deter- 
1  mined  to  offer  a  gold  medal  for  the  best  pen  of 
pigs  in  the  classes. 

Sir  John  S.  Sebright,  Bart.,  vice-president, 
died. 

Earl  Spencer  elected  vice-president. 

1840.  J.  M.  Cripps,  Esq.,  a  vice-president, 
died. 

Resolved,  That  in  future  all  restrictions  as 
to  feeding  in  the  oxen  and  steer  classes  be  done 
away  with. 

That  in  future  non-members  pay  a  fee  of  a 
guinea  to  the  funds  of  the  club  to  entitle  them 
to  exhibit. 

That  in  future  the  judges  be  not  made  ac- 
quainted with  the  kind  of  food  on  which  the 
animals  have  been  fed. 

That  disqualified  animals  be  removed  from 
the  yard  before  the  public  exhibition. 

That  in  future  the  cross-bred  sheep  be  judged 
by  the  short- wooled  judges. 

That  in  future  no  return  of  dead-weights  be 
required  from  the  exhibitors  or  the  butchers. 

1848.  Resolved,  That  the  restrictions  on  the 
feeding  of  sheep  be  done  away  with. 

-    That  the  judges  be  not  made  acquainted  with 
the  traveling  of  the  animals  to  the  show. 

That  a  new  class  be  formed  for  short-wooled 
sheep,  not  Southdowns. 

1849.  Resolved,  That  in  future  exhibitors 
of  stock  be  admitted  to  a  private  view  of  the 
show,  viz.,  between  eight  and  ten  o'clock  in  the 
evening  of  the  day  of  adjudication,  provided 
the  judges  have  signed  their  awards. 

Thomas  Gibbs,  Esq.,  the  father  of  the  club, 
died. 

1850.  Her  Majesty  the  Queen,  and  his  Eoyal 
Highness,  the  Prince  Albert,  again  honored  the 
club  by  visiting  the  show. 

Full  power  was  delegated  to  the  president  to 
admit  the  royal  family  of  this  or  other  coun- 
tries at  whatever  time  he  may  consider  expe- 
dient. 

Resolved,  "That,  the  club  being  anxious  to 
evince  and  perpetuate  its  feelings  of  respect  to- 
ward the  Duke  of  Eichmond,  the  president  de- 


n  > 

"     NH 

S# 


85 


sires  that  his  Grace's  profile  should  appear  on 
the  reverse  side  of  the  club's  medals,  and  that 
his  Grace  be  requested  to  sit  to  W.  Wyon,  Esq., 
K.  A.,  of  her  Majesty's  Mint,  for  the  prepara- 
tion of  a  die." 

1851.  Resolved,  That  in  future  the  cattle  be 
classified  according  to  breed. 

That  all  notices  of  motion  be  delivered  to  the 
honorary  secretary  on  or  before  the.  last  day  on 
which  certificates  are  to  be  received. 

That  a  copy  be  sent  by  the  secretary  to  each 
member  stating  the  meeting  at  which  such  mo- 
tion is  to  be  considered,  etc. 

1852.  The  cattle  were  classified  into  distinct 
breeds,    viz.,    Herefords,    Devons,    Shorthorns, 
Scotch,  Welsh  or  Irish;  other  pure  breeds,  cross 
or  mixed  breeds. 

A  committee  reported  its  recommendation  to 
add  poultry  to  the  show,  but  it  was  subsequently 
found  that  the  space  would  not  admit  of  it. 

1853.  Resolved,  That  it  shall  be  incumbent 
on  the  exhibitors  and  breeders  of  animals  ex- 
hibited at  the  Smithfield  Club's  shows  to  prove 
the   correctness  of   their   certificates,   if   called 
upon  by  the  stewards  to  do  so. 

Separate  classes  were  formed  for  Welsh  cat- 
tle, (fl  69) 


1854.  His  Koyal  Highness,  Prince  Albert, 
his  Koyal  Highness,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and 
his  Eoyal  Highness,  Prince  Alfred,  honored  the 
show  by  visiting  it. 

Resolved,  That  in  future  the  ages  of  animals 
be  calculated  to  a  fixed  date,  viz.,  the  first  of 
December. 

That  the  judges  give  in  a  reserve  number  in 
each  class,  in  case  of  prize  animal  being  dis- 
qualified. 

That  in  future  no  person  be  eligible  to  be 
elected  a  steward  unless  he  shall  have  been  a 
member  of  the  club  three  years. 

That  in  future  steam  engines,  etc.,  may  be 
exhibited  down  stairs. 

1855.  Resolved,  That  for  the  future,  in  extra 
stock  long-wools,  and  also  short-wools,  there  be 
a  silver  medal  for  the  best  wether  sheep,  and 
another  for  the  best  ewe. 

That  in  future  members  who  shall  have  paid 
their  subscription  for  the  current  year  be  ad- 
mitted to  the  private  view  by  a  special  card. 

That  a  silver  medal  be  awarded  to  the  breeder 
of  each  first-prize  animal  in  the  Scotch  and 
Welsh  classes,  provided  he  has  furnished  the 
breeder's  certificates. 

That  the  outgoing  stewards  shall  nominate 


THE  CELEBRATED    FEEDER    OF   PRIZE     STEERS,    RICHARD  SHIRLEY,  AND  FAMILY,   OF  BAUCOTT. 

(House  built  in  1600.) 


86 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


their  successors  to  the  honorary  secretary  pre- 
viously to  the  annual  notice  paper  being  sent 
to  the  members,  prior  to  the  annual  meeting; 
and  that  no  member  shall  be  considered  eligible 
to  be  appointed  unless  he  shall  have  been  three 
years  a  member  of  the  club. 

A  testimonial  of  plate  was  presented  to  B.  T. 
Brandreth  Gibbs,  honorary  secretary,  at  the 
annual  dinner  of  the  club. 

Philip  Pusey,  Esq.,  a  vice-president,  died. 

1856.  The  amount  of  prizes  offered  to  the 
club  was  still  further  increased,  and  additional 


^50 


YOUATT'S    TYPICAL    HEREFORD    COW. 

(Drawn   from    imagination.      Reproduced   from    "Youatt   on 

Cattle.") 

separate  classes  added  for  Sussex,  Norfolk,  or 
Suffolk-polled,  Longhorned,  Scotch-polled  and 
Irish  cattle. 

Resolved,  That  in  future  the  award  be  not 
read  at  the  dinner,  except  the  portion  relating 
to  the  gold  medals. 

That  in  future  the  certificates  be  lodged  with 
the  honorary  secretary  on  a  fixed  day,  viz.,  al- 
ways November  1,  except  the  first  fall  on  Sun- 
day, and  then  to  be  on  Monday,  the  2d. 

1857.  The  thanks  of  the  club  were  voted  to 
the  honorary  secretary  for  his  "History  of  the 
Club,"  and  ordered  to  be  recorded  on  the  min- 
utes. 

That  in  future  the  club's  accounts  and  state- 
ments thereof  be  made  up  the  first  of  Decem- 
ber; that  the  statements  show  the  balance  car- 
ried forward  from  year  to  year;  and  that  the 
stewards  audit  the  accounts  up  to  the  first  of 
December  annually;  and  that  the  statement  be 
that  of  cash  actually  received  and  paid. 

Earl  Spencer,  a  vice-president,  died. 

1858.  The  Right  Honorable    Lord    Fever- 
sham  elected  a  vice-president.     On  the  motion 
of  Mr.  John  Giblett,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  inquire  into  the  practicability  of  procuring  a 


better  and  more  commodious  place  for  the 
Smithfield  Club  to  hold  its  annual  exhibitions. 

That  there  be  three  additional  judges,  viz., 
three  for  cattle,  three  for  long-wooled  sheep 
and  pigs,  and  three  for  short-wooled  sheep  and 
cross-bred  sheep.  Those  for  cattle  and  long- 
wooled  sheep  and  pigs  to  be  nominated  by  the 
stewards  of  cattle  and  long-wools. 

That  in  future  all  the  pigs  shall  have  their 
dentition  examined  by  a  competent  authority, 
previously  to  the  judges  making  their  awards, 
and  if  the  dentition  shall  satisfactorily  indicate 
that  the  age  of  any  pig  had  been  incorrectly  re- 
turned in  the  certificate,  the  stewards  shall  dis- 
qualify such  pig  and  report  their  having  done 
so  to  the  first  meeting  of  the  club,  and  that 
such  disqualification  shall  be  final  and  without 
appeal. 

That  there  be  two  silver  medals  for  extra 
stock  cattle,  viz.,  one  for  steers  or  oxen,  and 
one  for  heifers  or  cows. 

That  the  judge's  award  be  not  read  in  ex- 
tenso,  but  laid  on  the  table. 

That  no  alteration  be  made  in  any  of  the 
implement  stands,  except  under  the  actual  direc- 
tions of  the  stewards  or  secretary,  both  as  to 
the  articles  to  be  exhibited  and  the  arrangement 
of  their  stands. 

1859.  His  Royal  Highness,  the  Price  Con- 
sort, visited  the  show. 

The  show  yard  committee  reported  on  the 
site,  etc.,  that  had  been  offered  for  the  club's 
show,  including  a  proposition  from  the  Crystal 
Palace  at  Sydenham.  (][  70) 

Mr.  John  Giblett  having  suggested  the  for- 
mation of  a  company,  the  show  yard  committee 
recommended,  "That,  if  a  responsible  company 
be  formed  and  adequate  terms  offered  to  the 
club,  the  club  should  lease  their  exhibitions  for 
a  term  of  not  exceeding  twenty-one  years."  The 
committee  was  empowered  to  further  consider 
the  subject  and  report  again  in  May,  1860. 

That  a  tabular  statement  of  the  amounts  of- 
fered in  prizes  and  the  number  of  entries  in 
the  different  classes  during  the  last  three  years 
be  printed  and  furnished  to  the  members. 

That  no  article  (except  agricultural  books) 
exhibited  in  the  implement  galleries  be  allowed 
to  be  removed  during  the  time  the  show  is  open 
to  the  public. 

The  Right  Honorable  Lord  Walsingham 
elected  a  vice-president. 

C.  T.  Tower,  Esq.  (the  father  of  the  club), 
elected  a  vice-president. 

1860.  Preliminary   prospectus   of  the  pro- 
posed Agricultural  Hall  Company  issued,  with 
Mr.  Jonas  Webb  as  chairman. 

The  show  yard  committee  reported  their  rec- 


HISTORY     OP     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


87 


ommendation  in  favor  of  the  site  known  as 
"Dixon's  lair,"  at  Islington: 

"That  if  a  responsible  company  be  formed 
who  will  enter  into  an  agreement  to  erect  a 
suitable  building  on  this  site  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  club,  also  to  pay  the  club  £1,000  ($5,000) 
per  annum,  and  to  enter  into  an  arrangement 
on  similar  terms  to  those  now  made  with  Mr. 
Boulnois,  the  club  shall  lease  their  exhibition 
for  a  term  of  not .  exceeding  twenty-one  years, 
commencing  1862." 

Several  meetings  were  held  on  the  subject  of 
the  removal  of  the  show  to  the  proposed  new 
Agricultural  Hall. 

On  the  17th  of  July  the  following  resolution 
was  carried :  "That  the  report  of  the  sub-com- 
mittee appointed  at  the  general  meeting  of 
December  9,  1859,  to  inquire  into  the  practi- 
cability of  providing  a  more  commodious  place 
for  holding  the  annual  exhibitions  of  the  Smith- 
field  Club,  having  been  adopted  at  the  special 
general  meeting  of  the  22d  of  May,  1860,  and 
the  report  of  the  legal  arrangements  committee, 
appointed  on  the  same  22d  of  May,  to  conclude 
the  terms  of  an  agreement  with  the  agricultural 
meeting  held  on  the  6th  of  June,  1860,  this 
meeting  does  in  the  fullest  manner  confirm 
those  proceedings." 

Power  was  given  to  the  committee,  or  any 
two,  to  sign  the  agreement,  and  a  copy  of  it 
ordered  to  be  entered  on  the  minutes. 

His  Grace,  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  K.  G., 
president  of  the  club,  died. 

Resolved,  That  the  meeting  desires  to  record 
its  deep  regret  at  the  irreparable  loss  the  club 
has  sustained  by  the  decease  of  the  late  presi- 
dent, His  Grace,  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  K.  G., 
who  has,  during  a  number  of  years,  given  the 
greatest  attention  to  further  its  objects  and 
promote  its  prosperity. 

The  Earl  of  Yarborough,  a  vice-president, 
died. 

Her  Majesty,  the  Queen,  and  his  Royal  High- 
ness, the  Prince  Consort,  visited  the  show,  De- 
cember 10,  1860. 

Her  Majesty,  the  Empress  of  the  French, 
visited  the  show. 

Resolved,  That  the  president  be  elected  for 
the  term  of  one  year,  and  that  the  said  presi- 
dent be  not  eligible  for  re-election  for  the  term 
of  three  years,  and  that  this  be  the  rule  of  the 
club  for  the  future. 

That  Right  Honorable  Lord  Berners,  elected 
president  for  1861,  be  the  first  of  the  annual 
presidents. 

Lord  Portman  and  Mr.  Brandreth  Gibbs  re- 
signed their  offices  of  trustees,  and  the  thanks 
of  the  club  voted. 


Charles  Barnett,  Esq.,  Thos.  Greetham,  Esq., 
and  Samuel  Druce,  Esq.,  elected  trustees. 

Resolved,  That  all  exhibitors  of  cross-bred 
animals  shall  be  required  to  specify  the  exact 
nature  of  the  cross — that  is,  the  breed  of  sire 
and  dam  respectively,  and  whether  the  animal 
exhibited  is  the  result  of  a  first  or  more  remote 
cross. 

Prize  sheet  rearranged  and  fresh  divisions 
and  classes  added,  and  prizes  to  amount  of 
nearly  £800  ($4,000)  extra. 

The  following  were  added  to  the  list  of  vice- 
presidents  :  Lord  Berwick,  the  Honorable  Col. 
Hood,  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  the  Duke  of  Rich- 
mond. 

Lord  Berwick,  a  vice-president,  died. 

1861.  Lord  Tredegar  elected  a  vice-presi- 
dent. 

Implement  committee  appointed  to  arrange 
as  to  allotment  of  space  and  determine  the  rules 
and  regulations  for  the  implement  department. 

Resolved,  That  the  honorary  secretary  be  re- 
quested to  make  the  same  arrangements  as  to 
catalogues  that  he  has  been  in  the  habit  of  mak- 
ing with  Boulnois,  and. that  the  entire  arrange- 
ment shall  rest  with  the  honorary  secretary 


TT51 '" 

YOUATT'S   TYPICAL   SHORTHORN   COW. 

(Drawn  to  flatter  Rev.   H.   Berry.     Reproduced  from 

"Youatt   on    Cattle.") 


of  the  club,  who  is  to  fix  the  maximum  prices 
at  which  the  catalogues  are  to  be  sold  by  the 
Agricultural  Hall  Company.  (|[  71) 

1862.  This  show  held  at  the  Agricultural 
Hall  for  the  first  time. 

His  Royal  Highness,  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
visited  the  show,  accompanied  by  his  Royal 
Highness,  the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia.  His 
Royal  Highness,  the  Duke  of  Brabant  (now 
king  of  the  Belgians),  and  his  Royal  Highness, 
the  Prince  Louis  of  Hesse ;  also  his  Royal  High- 


88 


HISTORY     OF     HEEEFOKD     CATTLE 


ness,  the  Duke  of  Cambridge;  her  Royal  High- 
ness, the  Duchess  of  Cambridge,  and  her  Royal 
Highness,  the  Princess  Mary  of  Cambridge. 

Prize  sheet  revised  and  £600  ($3,000)  added 
to  the  prizes. 

Resolved,  That  an  implement  catalogue  be 
published  on  the  same  terms  as  the  live  stock 
catalogue. 

That  in  future  any  member  of  the  club  who 
has  duly  served  his  three  years  as  steward  of 


R.S&ttBEKV 

YOUATT'S    IDEA   OF    A    HEREFORD    WORKING-OX. 

(Drawn    from    imagination.      Reproduced   from    "Youatt   on 

Cattle.") 

the  yard  shall  not  be  eligible  for  reappointment 
for  the  next  six  years. 

That  both  the  nomination  and  election  of  the 
new  stewards  be  in  the  business  of  the  general 
meeting,  and  that  no  retiring  steward  have  the 
especial  right  of  nominating  his  successor. 

On  the  motion  of  Major-General,  the  Hon- 
orable A.  1ST.  Hood,  it  was  resolved : 

1st,  That  the  management  of  the  Smithfield 
Club  be  vested  in  a  council  consisting  of  the 
President,  Vice-Presidents,  Trustee,  Honorable 
Secretary  and  twenty-four  members. 

2d,  That  one-third  of  the  twenty-four  mem- 
bers shall  go  out  annually  by  rotation,  and  not 
be  re-eligible  for  one  year. 

3d,  That  the  council  shall  prepare  rules  and 
regulations  for  the  management  of  the  club, 
and  shall  submit  them  for  consideration  and 
adoption  at  a  special  general  meeting  of  the  club 
in  May,  1863. 

His  Royal  Highness,  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  club. 

Two  silver  cups,  value  £40,  for  cattle ;  three 
silver  cups,  £20,  for  sheep,  offered  in  lieu  of 
gold  medals,  also  separate  silver  medals  for 
ewes  in  extra  stock. 

1863.  On  March  5th,  the  council  of  the  club 
held  its  first  meeting  and  considered  the  draft  of 
by-laws  as  preliminarily  prepared  by  the  hon- 
orary secretary. 


Resolved,  That  the  honorary  secretary  be 
empowered  to  appoint  an  assistant  secretary, 
at  a  salary  of  50  guineas  per  annum ;  that  the 
appointment,  removal  and  control  of  such  as- 
sistant secretary  shall  rest  entirely  with  the 
honorary  secretary. 

Resolved,  That  one  month  shall  be  added  to 
the  ages  of  sheep,  viz.,  to  be  under  twenty-three 
months  and  under  thirty-five  months,  instead 
of  twenty-two  months  and  under  thirty-four 
months. 

That  a  silver  cup,  value  £10,  be  offered  in 
lieu  of  the  butcher's  medal. 

By-laws  of  the  club  finally  discussed  and 
agreed  to. 

The  private  view  arranged  to  take  place  on 
the  Monday  afternoon  of  the  show,  and  the 
public  to  be  admitted  at  5s  ($1.25)  each. 

Resolved,  That  every  member  of  the  coun- 
cil be  invited  to  send  the  names  of  fitting  per- 
sons for  judges  in  each  particular  class. 

That  the  council  shall  select  the  judges. 

That  the  council  shall  have  power  to  add 
names  to  the  list. 

That  the  members  of  council  sending  in  any 
names  shall  first  ascertain  that  the  respective 
parties  are  willing  to  act  as  judges. 

That  the  names  be  delivered  to  the  honorary 
secretary  on  or  before  the  1st  of  November. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  fifteen  judges,  viz., 
six  for  cattle,  six  for  sheep  and  three  for  pigs. 

Resolved,  That  all  the  judges  of  cattle  shall 
be  joined  to  decide  the  adjudication  of  the  sil- 
ver cups,  and  in  case  of  equality  of  votes,  the 
stewards  shall  call  in  a  judge  for  umpire  out 
of  one  of  the  other  divisions. 

That  the  six  judges  of  sheep  shall  be  joined 
to  decide  the  last  cup  named  on  the  prize  sheet, 
and  in  case  of  equality  of  votes,  the  stewards 
shall  call  in  an  umpire,  as  in  the  case  of  cattle. 

A  special  divine  service  given  for  the  first 
time  by  the  Vicar  of  Islington  for  the  men  in 
charge  of  live  stock. 

The  first  report  of  the  council  laid  before 
the  general  meeting. 

Two  stewards  of  implements  appointed. 

Humphrey  Brandreth,  Esq.  ( formerly  honor- 
ary secretary),  elected  a  vice-president. 

1864.  Resolved,  That  members  of  the  club 
and  exhibitors  be  admitted  to  the  galleries  dur- 
ing the  judging. 

That  a  framed  diploma  and  a  sovereign  be 
given  to  the  man  (to  be  named  by  the  exhib- 
itor) who  has  had  charge  of  the  stock  winning 
first  prize  in  each  class.  The  ages  in  the  class 
for  steers  were  rearranged.  (See  prize  sheet.) 

The  marking  of  the  sheeps'  ears  was  discon- 
tinued. 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


89 


Resolved,  That  all  protests  against  animals 
exhibited  at  the  club's  show  must  be  delivered 
in  before  six  o'clock  p.  M.  on  the  Tuesday  of 
the  show,  and  that  no  protests  be  received  after 
that  time. 

Fines  were  instituted  for  the  non-exhibition 
of  animals  that  had  been  entered. 

Resolved,  That  the  club  will  not,  in  any  case, 
or  under  any  circumstances,  hold  itself  respon- 
sible for  any  loss,  damage,  or  mis-delivery  of 
live  stock  or  article  exhibited  at  the  club's 
tshows. 

Rosettes  placed  over  winning  animals. 

Resolved,  That  for  the  information  of  the 
agricultural  and  such  other  journals  as  may 
wish  to  publish  the  awards  the  same  evening, 
the  winning  numbers  be  posted  on  a  placard 
in  the  gallery  from  time  to  time  as  the  judges 
proceed. 

That  the  reporters  of  the  press  generally 
shall  obtain  the  complete  award  by  applying 
at  the  honorary  secretary's  office  at  the  hall  at  3 
o'clock,  when  a  clerk  will  be  in  attendance  to 
read  over  the  numbers,  so  that  the  reporters 
may  mark  their  catalogues. 

Veterinary  Inspector's  fee  raised  to  £15. 

Judge's  fee  raised  to  £7. 

Freemartins  to  be  allowed  to  compete  in  the 
heifer  classes. 

The  Marquis  of  Huntley,  vice-president,  died. 

Humphrey  Brandreth,  Esq.,  vice-president, 
died. 

1865.  Resolved,  That  the  stewards  be  paid  a 
fee  of  £10  each. 

That  a  silver  cup  be  substituted  for  the  gold 
medal  hitherto  given  for  the  best  pen  of  pigs. 

That  a  gold  medal  be  given  in  lieu  of  a  silver 
medal  for  the  breeder  of  the  best  ox  or  steer, 
also  to  the  breeder  of  the  best  cow  or  heifer  in 
any  of  the  classes. 

That  there  be  three  butcher's  cups — one  for 
beasts,  one  for  sheep,  and  one  for  pigs. 

The  date  of  the  show  was  put  a  week  later 
than  usual  in  consequence  of  the  cattle  plague 
necessitating  early  slaughter  after  the  show. 

Various  stringent  rules  were  enacted  in  or- 
der to  guard  against  the  plague,  animals  ex- 
hibited at  any  show  within  a  month  being 
excluded ;  veterinary  certificates  being  required 
to  be  sent  with  the  animals,  conveyances  being 
required  to  be  disinfected ;  animals  to  be  exam- 
ined by  a  veterinary  inspector  before  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  show;  constant  attendance  of 
veterinary  inspector  night  and  day,  etc. 

Resolved,  That  this  year  the  show  shall  close 
on  the  Thursday  evening  instead  of  the  Fri- 
day. 

Resolved,  That  the  stewards  of  live  stock  and 


implements,  not  already  members  of  the  coun- 
cil, be  so  ex-officio,  during  their  terms  of  stew- 
ardship. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  gen- 
eral meeting  of  the  Smithfield  Club,  held  this 
12th  day  of  December,  1865,  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  government,  under  the  formidable  visita- 
tion by  which  this  country  has  been  afflicted, 
to  issue  such  orders  for  the  regulation  of  the 
cattle  trade  in  Great  Britain  as  may  be  neces- 
sary to  check  the  extension  of  the  cattle  plague, 
so  that  the  practice  may  be  uniform  throughout 
the  country;  also  that  this  meeting  concurs  in. 
the  spirit  of  the  recommendations  made  to  the 
Privy  Council  by  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Ag- 
ricultural Society  of  England  in  reference  to 
the  cattle  plague,  and  begs  to  press  on  the  gov- 
ernment the  extreme  importance  and  urgency 
of  its  taking  immediate  steps  to  insure  uni- 
formity of  action  throughout  the  country. 

1866.  Resolved,  That  the  condition  disqual- 
ifying spayed  heifers  be  struck  out. 

That  the  butchers'  cups  be  discontinued. 

That  the  rule  excluding  animals  exhibited 
elsewhere  within  a  month  be  rescinded  for  this 
year. 

That  all  the  other  rules  and  regulations  in 
reference  to  cattle  plague  be  enforced  as  last 
year,  with  the  exception  of  that  altering  the 
date  of  the  show. 

That  no  steps  be  taken  by  the  Council  of  the 
Smithfield  Club  to  obtain  a  relaxation  of  the 


YOUATT'S  HEREFORD  FEEDING  OX. 

(Drawn    from    imagination.     Reproduced   from   "Youatt   on 

Cattle.") 

orders  of  Privy  Council  in  reference  to  the  cat- 
tle plague. 

That  a  deputation  consisting  of  the  presi- 
dent and  honorary  secretary  shall  wait  on  the 
Privy  Council  to  advocate  the  following  recom- 
mendations : 

(j[  73)  1st.  That  no  fair  or  market  for  store- 
stock  should  be  opened  before  the  1st  of  April. 


90 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


2d.  That  the  greatest  care  should  be  taken 
that  the  regulations  as  to  quarantine  be  rig- 
idly carried  out. 

3d.  That  permanent  lairs  be  established  at 
the  ports  of  debarkation. 

1867.  Resolved,  That  a  list  of  the  winners 
of  the  gold  medals  and  silver  cups  at  the  past 
shows  of  the  Club  be  printed  at  the  end  of  the 
annual  Prize  Sheets,  the  same  to  be  a  reprint 
and  continuation  of  the  tabular  statement  in 
the  appendix  to  the  honorary  secretary's  "His- 
tory of  the  Smithfield  Club.''* 

That  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  club  be 
printed  at  the  end  of  the  Prize  Sheets. 

That  none  but  the  official  placards  respecting 
the  food  on  which  the  animals  have  been  fed 
be  allowed  to  be  placed  over  the  heads  of  the 
animals  in  the  hall. 


T54- 


YOUATT'S    ORIGINAL    DURHAM    COW. 

(Drawn    from    imagination.     Reproduced   from    "Youatt   on 

Cattle.") 


Lord  Feversham,  vice-president,  and  C.  T. 
Tower,  Esq.,  vice-president  and  father  of  the 
club,  died ;  also  Thos.  Greetham,  a  trustee,  died. 

The  club  entered  into  arrangements  with  the 
Agricultural  Hall  Company  respecting  various 
alterations  in  the  hall,  by  which  on  the  one 
hand  the  club  had  to  pay  the  Hall  Company 
£1,000  ($5,000)  in  consideration  of  the  en- 
largement of  the  galleries ;  building  of  a  dining 
room,  in  which  the  club's  annual  dinners  are 
to  be  held ;  store  room  for  animal's  food,  and 
construction  of  a  new  building  for  the  pigs,  and 
other  improvements. 

On  motion  of  the  President  (Major-General 
Hood), 

Resolved,  That  £15  be  given  for  a  report  on 
the  animals  exhibited  at  the  club's  show. 


The  Duke  of  Marlborough  and  the  Earl  of 
Powis  elected  vice-presidents. 

The  president  was  requested  to  lay  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  before  the  Privy  Council  as 
recommendations  from  the  Council  of  the 
Smithfield  Club: 

That  all  foreign  stock  be  slaughtered  at  the 
place  of  landing. 

That  sheep  be  included  in  the  present  quar- 
antine regulations  for  store  stock. 

Mr.  H.  H.  Dixon  was  appointed  to  write  the 
report  of  the  present  year's  show. 

Resolved,  That  in  future  each  member  of  the 
Council  shall  not  nominate  more  than  one  per- 
son to  each  division  of  judges,  and  that  the 
conditions  requiring  that  the  nominators  shall 
have  first  ascertained  their  willingness  to  act 
be  remitted. 

Her  Majesty  the  Queen  exhibited  for  the 
first  time  in  her  own  name. 

His  Royal  Highness,  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
exhibited  for  the  first  time. 

A  donation  of  £25  ($125)  was  received  from 
Her  Majesty  the  Queen  in  lieu  of  that  of  £5 
($25)  hitherto  annually  paid  by  Major-Gen- 
eral,  the  Hon.  A.  N.  Hood. 

SMITHFIELD  CLASSIFICATIONS. 

(fl  74)  The  following  are  the  Smithfield  Show 
classifications  made  on  cattle  from  the  organi- 
zation of  the  society  to  1835 : 

(Note. — A  stone  was  reckoned  at  14  Ibs.  for 
live  weight  and  8  Ibs.  for  dressed  or  dead 
weight,  "sinking  the  offal."  In  live  weight  2 
stone  equaled  a  quarter  or  28  Ibs.  Four  quar- 
ters made  one  hundred  weight  (cwt.)  or  112 
Ibs.) 

1799.  Oxen  or  steers.     Class  for  beasts  fed 
on  oil-cake  or  corn,  class  for  beasts  fed  on  grass 
feed,  etc.,  class  for  beasts  under  24  score  (480 
Ibs.  dressed  or  840  Ibs.  live  weight). 

1800.  Oxen  or  steers.     Class  for  beasts  un- 
der 150  stone    (2,100  Ibs.),  above  80    (1,120 
Ibs.),  grass  fed,  etc.     Class  for  beasts  under 
150  stone    (2,100   Ibs.)    above    80  (1,120)    fed 
on  oil-cake,  etc.     Class  for  beasts  above   150 
stone  (2,100  Ibs.),  grass  fed.     Class  for  beasts 
above  150  stone  (2,100  Ibs.),  cake  or  corn  fed. 

1805.  Oxen  or  steers.  Class  for  160  stone 
(3,240  Ibs.)  or  upwards,  not  to  have  cake  or 
corn  before  the  5th  of  April,  1805.  Class  for 
100  stone  (1,400  Ibs.),  not  to  have  had  cake  or 
corn.  Class  for  under  100  stone  (1,400  Ibs.), 
not  to  have  had  cake  or  corn.  Class  for  oxen 
or  cows  that  have  gained  the  greatest  weight 
from  the  1st  of  April  or  later,  to  1st  December, 
grass  fed. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Cows.  Class  for  fat  cows,  must  have  had 
three  calves  at  least, 

1810.  Oxen  or  steers.  Class  for  any  age, 
classified  separately,  as  according  to  breed,  as 
follows:  Herefords,  Longhorns,  Shorthorns, 
Sussex  or  Kent,  Devons.  Class  for  any  breed, 
5  years,  above  100  stone  (1,400  Ibs.).  Class  for 
any  breed,  5  years,  under  100  stone  (1,400 
Ibs.).  Cows.  Class  for  fat  cows,  must  have 
had  three  calves. 

1815.  Oxen  or  steers.  Class  for  any  age, 
classified  separately,  according  to  breed,  as  fol- 
lows: Herefords,  Sussex  or  Kent,  Devons, 
Longhorns,  Shorthorns.  Class  for  any  breed 
under  5  years,  100  stone  (1,400  Ibs.)  or  up- 
wards. Class  for  any  breed  under  100  stone 
(1,400  Ibs.).  Bedfordian  plate  for  oxen,  110 
stone  (1,540  Ibs.),  or  upwards.  Bedfordian 
plate  for  oxen  under  110  stone  (1,540  Ibs.). 

Cows.  Class  for  fat  cows  that  have  had  at 
least  three  calves. 

1820.  Oxen  or  steers.  Class  for  any  breed 
under  36  months.  Class  for  any  breed,  160 
stone  (2,244  Ibs.),  not  exceeding  5  years.  Class 
for  any  breed  above  120  stone  (1,680  Ibs.)  and 
under  160  (2,240  Ibs.),  not  exceeding  5  years. 
Class  for  any  breed  under  120  stone  (1,680 
Ibs.),  not  exceeding  4  years.  Bedfordian  plate 
for  130  stone  (1,820  Ibs.)  and  upwards.  Bed- 
fordian plate  for  under  130  stone  (1,820  Ibs.). 

Cows.  Class  for  any  breed  of  cows  that  have 
calved  twice. 

1825.  Oxen  or  steers.  Class  for  any  breed 
under  36  months.  Class  for  any  breed  160 
stone  (2,240  Ibs.)  or  upwards.  Class  for  any 


breed  under  160  stone  (2,240  Ibs.)  and  above 
110  (1,540  Ibs.).  Class  for  any  breed  under 
110  stone  (1,540  Ibs.). 

None  of  the  above  to  have  had  cake,  etc.,  pre- 
vious to  the  September  twelve-months  preced- 
ing. 

Cows.  Class  for  cows  that  have  calved  twice 
at  least.  Class  for  cows  not  spayed. 

1830.  Oxen  or  steers.  Class  for  any  breed 
under  six  years.  Class  for  any  breed  or  age, 
160. stone  (2,240  Ibs.)  or  upwards,  that  have 
had  no  cake,  corn,  etc.,  before  August  1st,  1830. 
Class  for  any  breed  under  160  stone  (2,240 
Ibs.)  and  above  120  stone  (1,680  Ibs.),  no  cake, 
etc.,  as  above.  Class  for  any  breed  under  120 
stone  (1,680  Ibs.),  no  cake,  etc.,  as  above. 

Cows.  Class  for  cows  that  have  calved  twice 
at  least.  Class  for  cows  of  any  age,  must  have 
calved  once  in  years  1828-29,  and  not  been 
dried  last  time  previous  to  November  1st,  1829. 
Class  for  cows  or  heifers  not  eligible  as  above, 
freemartins  and  spayed  heifers  not  qualified. 

1835.  Oxen  or  steers.  Class  for  any  breed 
under  5  years.  Class  for  any  breed  under  6 
years,  90  stone  (1,260  Ibs.)  and  upwards,  no 
cake,  etc.,  previous  to  August  1st,  1835.  Class 
for  any  breed  under  5  years,  under  90  stone 
(1,260  Ibs.)  and  above  70  stone  (980  Ibs),  no 
cake,  etc.,  as  above.  Class  for  any  breed  not 
more  than  4  years,  3  months,  under  70  stone 
(980),  no  cake,  etc.,  as  above. 

Cows.  Class  for  cows  under  5  years.  Class 
for  cows  5  years  and  upwards.  Freemartins 
and  heifers  not  qualified. 


LORD     BATEMAN,     1826-1901,     LORD     LIEUTENANT     OF 

HEREFORDSHIRE,    1852-1901,    THE    CELEBRATED 

BREEDER  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE. 


HISTORY' OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  IX. 


CONTEMPORARY  REPORTS  OF  SMITHFIKLD  CLUB  MATTERS 


We  find  that  considerable  light  can  be  shed 
on  the  cattle  history  of  the  early  years  of  the 
nineteenth  century  by  giving  what  was  pub- 
lished in  the  agricultural  publications  of  that 
day. 

The  Smithfield  Cattle  and  Sheep  Society, 
gathered  in  London,  Dec.  13,  1799,  appears  to 
have  been  a  meeting  for  general  business,  and 
the  following  classification  was  published: 

Class  1.  Beasts  fed  on  grass,  hay,  turnips, 
cabbages,  or  other  vegetables,  under  the  weight 
of  150  stone  but  above  80  stone,  a  piece  of  plate 
not  exceeding  £15  ($75)  for  the  best,  and  a 
piece  of 'plate  not  exceeding  £10  ($50)  for  the 
second  best. 

Class  2.  Beasts  fed  on  oil-cake,  corn,  or  any 
other  food  except  grass,  hay  and  vegetables, 
same  premium. 

Class  3:  Beasts  fed  as  Class  1,  above  the 
weight  of  150  stone  (2,100  Ibs.),  a  piece  of 
plate  not  exceeding  in  value  £20  ($100)  for  the 
best,  and  a  piece  of  plate  not  exceeding  in  value 
£15  ($75)  for  the  second  best. 

Class  4.  Beasts  fed  as  Class  2,  and  the  same 
weight  as  Class  3,  same  premiums  as  Class  3. 

"That  the  cattle  be  brought,  on  the  following 
or  any  other  conditions  that  the  committee  may 
think  proper,  to  a  place  fixed  upon  by  the  com- 
mittee on  Thursday  preceding  the  Christmas 
market  day  for  the  purpose  of  being  accepted 
by  the  judges  on  the  day  succeeding,  who  will 
be  directed  to  select  the  two  best  from  each 
class. 

"Those  selected  to  remain  at  the  place  fixed 
upon  by  the  judges,  for  the  purpose  of  their 
being  exhibited  to  public  view,  and  that  they 
be  exhibited  accordingly  on  Saturday,  Monday 
and  Tuesday  immediately  following  the  day  of 
selection,  when  they  shall  be  returned;  but  it 
will  be  expected  that  the  proprietors  shall  agree 
with  whomsoever  they  may  sell  them  to,  that 
the  judges  shall  have  full  power  to  inspect  the 
killing  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the 
weight  of  each  animal  slaughtered,  distinguish- 
ing the  fore  and  hind-qiiarters,  the  tallow,  hide, 
offal,  including  blood,  etc. ;  or  by  some  other 


satisfactory  mode  of  ascertaining  the  compara- 
tive live  and  dead  weight,  and  having  ascer- 
tained such  points  the  judges  are  then  to  decide 
on  which  is  the  first  and  which  the  second  best 
in  each  class,  and  make  their  report  to  the  com- 
mittee. 

"Resolved,  That  one  of  the  conditions  be, 
that  each  candidate  shall  at  the  time  of  show- 
ing, produce  to  the  judge  a  paper,  signed  by 
himself,  containing  an  account  of  the  breed, 
age,  time  of  fattening,  sort  of  food,  and  time 
they  have  eaten  cake  or  corn,  etc.;  also  the 
name  of  the  breeder  in  case  where  it  can  be 
known. 

"Resolved,  That  no  candidate  shall  be  enti- 
tled to  two  prizes  in  the  same  class. 

"Resolved,  That  the  committee  be  instructed 
to  direct  the  judges  to  take  particularly  into 
their  consideration  age  of  the  sheep,  the  society 
being  of  the  opinion  that  early  maturity  is  a 
merit. 

"Resolved,  That  the  committee  be  instructed 
to  'advertise  the  premiums  in  the  following  pa- 
pers once :  County  Chronicle,  Bath,  Hereford, 
Lewes,  Leicester,  Stamford,  York,  Northamp- 
ton, Cambridge  Intelligencer,  Oxford,  Canter- 
bury, Sherburn,  Ipswich,  Reading  and  War- 
wick, on  the  first  day  of  publication  in  the 
month  of  October,  1800. 

"Resolved,  That  it  be  left  to  the  committee 
to  fix  a  price  to  be  paid  for  admission  to  see  the 
different  prize  cattle  and  sheep. 

"Resolved,  That  the  committee  be  instructed 
to  dispose  of  the  surplus  arising  from  the  sub- 
scribers, shows,  etc.,  in  such  manner  as  they 
think  fit,  rendering  such  disposal  public,  and  if 
there  is  still  a  surplus  after  their  object  is  ac- 
complished to  pay  it  over  to  the  committee  for 
the  year  ensuing. 

"Resolved,  That  the  committee  be  instructed 
to  have  a  dinner  provided  on  the  Christmas 
market  day,  subject  to  such  regulations  as  they 
may  deem  proper. 

"Resolved,  That  the  committee  be  instructed 
to  draw  up  a  report  of  the  whole  of  their  pro- 
ceedings, including  their  receipts  and  expendi- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


93 


ture,  at  as  early  a  period  as  they  conveniently 
can,  and  to  make  the  same  public  in  the  cheap- 
est manner." 

The  first  premium  equal  to  $75  for  the  best 
beast  in  the  show  and  another  equal  to  $50  for 
the  best  ox  fed  on  oil-cake,  was  awarded  to  Mr. 
Westcar,  on  a  Hereford.  A  prize  equal  to  $25 
was  awarded  to  the  Duke  of  Bedford's  Here- 
ford for  the  most  complete  beast  under  the 
weight  of  48  score  (960  Ibs.,  dressed,  or  1,680 
Ibs.  live  weight),  fed  on  oil-cake  and  grain.  The 
Duke  also  gained  $75  for  the  best  beast  fattened 
on  grass  and  hay  only.  A  prize  of  £10  ($50)  was 
awarded  to  Mr.  John  Edmonds,  of  Welford, 
for  the  second  best  ox  fed  on  grass  and  hay 
only",  and  £5  ($25)  to  Mr.  Ellman,  of  Glynd, 
for  the  best  ox  fattened  on  grass  and  hay  only 
in  the  shortest  time  from  the  yoke. 

The  following  are  sample  certificates  pre- 
sented with  cattle  exhibited.  The  Duke  of  Bed- 
ford's reads: 

"Dec.  12,  1800. 

"This  is  to  certify  that  my  two  oxen  were 
purchased  of  the  breeders,  lean  from  the  yoke, 
on  the  15th  of  March,  1800;  and  the  Hereford- 
shire ox  was  bred  by  Samuel  Patrick,  of  Mid- 
dleton,  near  Ledbury,  and  the  Shropshire  ox 


was  bred  by  Thos.  Bishop,  of  Moor,  near  Lud- 
low;  both  were  five  years  old,  and  have  been 
fattened  with  grass  and  hay  only,  and  have  not 
eaten  any  hay  before  the  17th  of  November 
last." 

Another  reads : 

"This  is  to  certify  that  the  two  Sussex  shown 
by  me  for  the  prizes  given  by  the  Smithfield  So- 
ciety were  bred  by  Mr.  John  Ellman,  of  Glynd, 
Sussex;  were  eight  years  old  last  spring  and 
worked  constantly  until  the  last  week  in  May, 
1799,  and  have  been  fed  on  grass  and  hay  only 
until  the  14th  of  December,  1799,  by  Mr.  John 
Ellman;  since  that  time  by  Henry  King,  mak- 
ing together  nineteen  months  from  the  yoke. 

"Witness  our  hands  this  12th  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1800. 

JOHN  ELLMAN, 
HENRY  KING." 

At  the  Christmas  market  at  Smithfield,  Dec. 
21,  1800,  Messrs.  Hixcock  and  Farrow  made  a 
show  of  beasts  that  was  never  equaled  or  ex- 
ceeded in  the  kingdom.  Their  largest  bullock, 
a  real  Herefordshire  one,  was  fed  by  Mr.  Grace, 
of  Buckinghamshire,  and  on  account  of  his  very 
extraordinary  bulk  and  fatness,  was  conveyed 
to  London  by  water.  He  was  seven  feet  high, 


MR.  WM.  PRICE  ON  HIS  FAVORITE  HORSE  AT  "THE  VERN,"  ONCE  OCCUPIED   BY   JOHN  HEWER. 
"The  surface  of  the  country  is  undulating  in  long  ridges," 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


weighed  upwards  of  260  stone  (3,640  Ibs.)  and 
measured  in  the  girth  twelve  feet,  four  inches. 
The  other  killed  by  them  was  a  real  Glamor- 
ganshire, grazed  by  Mr.  Woodman,  of  Buck- 
ingham, and  weighed  220  stone  (3,080  Ibs.), 
and  was  the  fattest  ever  seen  on  the  ribs  and  sir- 
loin. 

A  prize  Hereford  ox  was  purchased  at 
Smithfield  in  1800  by  Mr.  Chapman  for  $500, 
and  exhibited  to  public  inspection  in  the  Fleet 
market  on  Wednesday.  This  fine  animal  was 
fed  by  Mr.  Westcar,  of  Buckinghamshire,  and 
weighed  nearly  300  stone  (4,200  Ibs.),  was 
eight  feet  eleven  inches  long,  six  feet  seven 
inches  high  and  ten  feet  four  inches  around  the 
girt.  He  carried  the  first  prize  at  the  Smith- 
field  Show  of  Cattle. 

SMITHFIELD   CATTLE  SHOW,   1801. 

Dec.  12,  the  judges  met  and  examined  certifi- 
cates of  the  exhibitors  who  had  cattle  to  show. 
Mr.  Westcar,  for  two  oxen  fed  on  cake,  six 
years  old,  one  bred  by  Mr.  Tully,  the  other  one 
by  Mr.  Holman;  have  eaten  cakes  since  last 
September,  at  Ledbury,  March  17,  1799;  also, 
two  others  fed  on  grass  and  turnips,  bought  at 
Hereford,  October,  1799,  bred  by  Mr.  Williams, 
of  Thinghill. 


Class  1.  Several  cattle  were  exhibited  by 
Mr.  Westcar  who  took  the  first  prize  on  a  Here- 
ford ox,  and  the  Duke  of  Bedford  second  prize 
on  a  Hereford  ox. 

Class  2.  The  character  of  the  cattle  in  this 
class  was  not  sufficient  in  the  opinion  of  the 
committee  to  be  awarded  a  premium. 

Class  3.  Mr.  Westcar's  white  Hereford  took 
first  premium. 

1802.  The  following  is  a  report  of  the 
judges  of  the  Smithfield  Cattle  and  Sheep  Club, 
Dec.  8,  1802: 

We,  the  judges,  appointed  by  the  Smithfield 
Club  to  examine  and  report  the  merits  of  the 
cattle,  sheep  and  pigs  shown  for  the  prize  of 
this  year,  having  received  and  read  the  certifi- 
cate of  the  several  candidates  and  duly  consid- 
ered the  instructions  this  day  received  from  the 
club,  do  adjudge: 

Class  1.  First  prize  in  this  class  to  Mr. 
Westcar,  second  prize  to  the  Duke  of  Bedford, 
for  Hereford  oxen. 

Class  2.  The  first  prize  to  Mr.  Westcar  for 
the  Hereford  ox;  second  prize  to  Mr.  Ladds. 

Class  3.  Only  the  Duke  of  Bedford's 
French  ox  shown — if  a  prize  must  be  given  in 
this  class  the  Duke  of  Bedford  is  entitled 
to  it. 


"SAY    WHEN."      MR.    J.    H.     ARKWRIGHT    AND    SON  TROUT    FISHING    AT    HAMPTON    COURT, 


HISTOEY     OF     HEEEFOED     CATTLE 


95 


Class  4.  For  cows,  the  first  prize  to  the 
Duke  of  Bedford. 

The  following  certificate  shows  that  Here- 
ford oxen  of  the  Tomkins  sort  were  strong  com- 
petitors at  the  early  shows : 

Class  1.  This  is  to  certify  that  the  Duke  of 
Bedford's  Hereford  ox  just  shown  for  a  prize 
offered  by  the  Smithfield  Society  (winner  of 
second  prize  in  Class  1 )  was  six  years  old  when 
put  to  fattening,  was  bred  by  Mr.  Tomkins  in 
the  County  of  Hereford,  was  put  to  fattening 
the  1st  day  of  May,  1801,  being  then  respecting 
flesh  very  poor,  having  been  till  then  at  hard 
work;  has  been  fed  on  cakes,  turnips  and  hay. 

Signed  EDMUND  CARTWRIGHT, 

JOHN  CLAYTON. 

Class  2.  The  following  is  the  certified  ac- 
count of  the  food  given  to  Mr.  Westcar's  grass- 
fed  Hereford  ox : 


1802. 

Tankard    turnips      Hay                    Hay 

per  day. 

per  day.          taken  up. 

Oct.  1st     to     8th.. 

.  ...     108  Ibs. 

21  Ibs                %  Ib. 

Oct.  8th   to  15th.. 

...    108  Ibs. 

21  Ibs 

%  Ib. 

Oct.  15th    to    22d. 

.  .  .  .     108  Ibs. 

21  Ibs 

%  Ib. 

Swedish    Turnips. 

Oct.  22d    to    29th. 

....      94  Ibs. 

20  Ibs 

%  Ib. 

Oct.  29th  to  Nov. 

5th      94  Ibs. 

20  Ibs 

V2  Ib. 

Nov.  5th    to    12th 

...      94  Ibs. 

20  Ibs 

%  Ib. 

Nov.  12th   to   19th 

94  Ibs. 

20  Ibs 

%  Ib. 

Nov.  19th    to   30th 

...      94  Ibs. 

20  Ibs 

%  Ib. 

Total     5934  Ibs. 


1221  Ibs. 


3614  Ibs. 


We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  do 
certify  that  the  ox  Mr.  Westcar  shows  for  the 
grass-fed  prize,  was  purchased  by  him  of  Mr. 
Williams,  of  Thinghill,  March  20,  1801,  di- 
rectly from  work,  and  in  store  condition. 

THOS.   HEDGES. 
EGBERT  BYNG. 

An  account  of  the  food  given  to  the  cake-fed 
ox,  Mr.  Westcar's: 

1802. 

Oct.  1st  to  8th.. 
Oct.  8th  to  15th. 
Oct.  15th  to  22d 
Oct.  22d  to  29th. 
Oct.  29th  to  Nov.  5th 
Nov.  5th  to  12th.. 
Nov.  12th  to  19th. 
Nov.  19th  to  30th. 

Total  512%  Ibs.  722  Ibs.  1036  Ibs.   72l/2  Ibs. 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  do 
certify,  that  the  ox  of  Mr.  Westcar  shown  for 
the  cake-fed  prize,  was  purchased  by  him  of 
Mr.  Tully,  of  Huntington,  near  Hereford, 
March  30th,  1801,  directly  from  work  in  store 
condition,  and  that  the  said  ox  never  had  any 
cake  except  in  the  year  1802. 

EGBERT"  BYNG, 
THOMAS  HEDGES. 

The  dressed  beef  of  Mr.  Westcar's  cake-fed 
Hereford  ox  (1802),  bred  by  Mr.  Tully,  was 
as  follows: 


Cakes          Turnips      Hay 

Hay 

per  day.     per  day 

per  day. 

taken  up. 

7  Ibs           24 

Ibs. 

20 

Ibs. 

1 

Ib. 

7  Ibs 

24 

Ibs. 

20 

Ibs. 

1 

Ib. 

8  Ibs 

17 

Ibs. 

19- 

Ibs. 

1 

Ib. 

8  Ibs 

17 

Ibs. 

19 

Ibs. 

1 

Ib. 

h    9  Ibs 

10 

Ibs. 

18 

Ibs. 

1>4 

Ibs. 

9  Ibs 

6 

Ibs. 

18 

Ibs. 

1^4 

Ibs. 

9V2  Ibs.        2 

Ibs. 

17 

Ibs. 

1% 

Ibs. 

10  Ibs.           2 

Ibs. 

17 

Ibs. 

1% 

Ibs. 

Stone.        Lbs. 

Fore-quarter 72         1 

Hind-quarter    ....      65         2 


=577  pounds 
=  442 


One  side   .  ,137 


3     =1019  pounds 


W't  of  whole  body  274         6     =2038  pounds 

Mr.  P.  Giblett,  the  celebrated  London  butch- 
er, gives  the  following  particulars  of  Mr.  West- 
car's  grass-fed  prize  ox  of  1802  : 

Stone.        Lbs. 


Carcass  

225 

6     =1 

,806  pounds. 

Fat  

28 

/?     

230 

Hide  

15 

2     = 

122 

Liver  

1 

5     = 

13 

Entrails,  not  emp'd 

22 

7     = 

183 

Pluck    

1 

6     = 

14  .      " 

Head  

5 

3     = 

43 

Feet    

4 

1     = 

33 

Tongue  

1 

2%  = 

103/4    « 

306         63/4=2,4543^     « 


SHOBDON  COURT,  SEAT  OP  LORD  BATEMAN. 

Smithfield  Show,  Dec.  13,  1803.  Certificate 
Admitted.  Class  1.  This  is  to  certify  that  the 
two  oxen  I  showed  for  the  prize  offe'red  by  the 
Smithfield  Society  were  bred  by  Mr.  Tully,  of 
Huntington,  near  Hereford,  of  whom  I  pur- 
chased them  the  12th  of  April,  1802,  directly 
from  work  and  in  store  condition.  And  I  also 
certify,  the  said  oxen  never  ate  any  corn  of  any 
description  while  in  my  possession,  nor  any  oil- 


1803. 
WESTCAR. 


cake,  except  in  the  present 

Creslow,  Dec.  3,  1803. 
Witnesses  to  the  above  : 

THOMAS  HEDGES. 

JOHN  EOADS. 

Particulars  of  the  food  eaten  by  the  large 
ox:  570*^  cakes  and  919  pounds  hay. 


96 


HISTORY     OF    HEEEFOED     CATTLE 


Particulars  of  food  eaten  by  the  smaller  ox : 
315  cakes,  1,302  pounds  turnips,  1,005  pounds 
hay. 

Mr.  Grace,  two  oxen  cake-fed  and  two  grass- 
fed,  the  grass-fed  five  years  old,  and  the  cake- 
fed  seven  years  old,  bred  by  Mr.  Farmer,  of 
Weobly,  Herefordshire,  and  by  Mr.  Holmes,  of 
Hereford. 

THOMAS  GRACE. 

Premiums  awarded  as  follows :  To  Mr.  West- 
car,  first  premium  of  $60  for  beast  under  150 
stone  (2,100  Ibs.),  fed  with  grass  and  hay,  on 
a  Herefordshire  ox. 

To  Mr.  Edmonds,  first  premium  of  $75  for 
beast  above  150  stone  (2,100  Ibs.),  on  a  Here- 
ford ox. 

To  Mr.  Westcar,  first  premium  of  $75  for 
best  beast  above  150  stone,  fed  with  cake  and 
corn,  being  a  Hereford  ox. 

To  Mr.  Grace,  for  second  premium  of  $50 
for  Hereford  ox  in  the  same  class. 

The  dressed  weight  of  one  of  Mr.  Westcar's 
oxen  was  as  follows:  The  four  quarters 
weighed  1,952  pounds,  one  sirloin  and  rump 
weighed  240  pounds,  six  of  his  fore  ribs 
weighed  176  pounds,  buttock  128  pounds,  his 
leg  20  pounds,  his  head  28  pounds,  his  tongue 


14  pounds;  bought  by  Mr.  Chapman,  of  Fleet 
market. 

Two  oxen  were  shown  by  His  Majesty  at 
Smithfield,  1802.  One  of  them  was  taken  from 
work  Oct.  17th,  1799;  he  was  seven  years 
old,  and  worked  three  and  one-half  years;  he 
was  fed  on  hay  and  grass  only,  except  on  a  few 
potatoes  for  a  few  -weeks  prior  to  his  going  to 
London;  the  other  was  five  years  old,  and 
worked  nearly  two  years,  and  was  taken  from 
work  Sept.  12th,  1799,  was  fed  with  grass  and 
hay  only,  except  on  a  few  potatoes  for  about 
five  weeks;  both  were  bought  for  the  King  by 
Passey,  in  Herefordshire. 

SMITHFIELD    SOCIETY,    1804. 

Certificates  of  Mr.  Westcar's  brown  ox,  oil- 
cake fed : 

Carcass  weight    1,674    pounds. 

Fat ,  204         " 


1,878    pounds. 
Mr.  Westcar's  dark  brown  grass-fed  ox : 

Carcass  weight    1,626    pounds. 

Fat   193 


1,819    pounds. 


A    SCENE    AT    "THE    WHITTERN,"    KINGTON,    PROPERTY    OF    MR.    R.    GREEN. 
"Ash  and  oak  coppices  clothe  its  hillsides." 


nf  flu*  awafrc*nwr  vmi 


hfU'r  mtflf  rrd  u&  mprrmattr  ntlv  retabfobitty  fhf  brr  f  &  ofljw  farMJatHr  in  fimrrtra 

ITi^MfT  ••  .-•-       *        •      — JJV  't 

.',    ,,     .... 


,,,-  ///// 
/,,,„/ 


//',/  A;;  <////// 

/    j  t  S 

.  /  XP»«<«W<*«.* 


FAC-SIMII.E  OF  TESTIMONIAL  TO  T.  I,.  MILLEK. 

Presented  at  Hereford,  Kngland,  August  1,  1883.  by  the  Hereford  Breeders  of  England. 


HISTOKY     OF     HEKEFOKD     CATTLE 


SM1T11FIELD  SOCIETY,   1805. 

Mr.  Westcar's  prize  ox,  fed  on  oil-cake: 

Carcass  weight    1.988    pounds. 

Fat  .  216 


2,204  pounds. 
Duke  of  Bedford's  grass-fed  ox : 

Carcass  weight    1,061  pounds. 

Fat  .  192         " 


1,253    pounds. 
Mr.  Westcar's  grass-fed  ox : 

Carcass  weight    1,439    pounds. 

Fat   .  163 


1,602    pounds. 

Tho  Fourth  Sheep  Shearing  Gathering  of 
the  Duke  of  Bedford  commenced  on  Monday, 
June  the  18th,  1800.  A  large  attendance  was 
on  the  ground  and  the  meeting  occupied  four 
days;  the  time  was  given  almost  entirely  to  the 
shearing  exhibition,  sale  and  renting  of  sheep 
on  Monday.  There  dined  at  the  Duke's  table 
160  persons;  in  the  steward's  room,  60,  making 
220  who  dined  on  Monday,  and  about  the  same 
proportion,  245,  on  Tuesday;  244  on  Wednes- 
day, and  138  on  Thursday. 

The  Duke  offered  and  awarded  large  pre- 
miums to  those  who  expended  the  largest  sums 
in  the  purchase  of  pufe-bred  sheep  in  the 
county  of  Bedford. 

On  the  Wednesday,  after  dinner,  Mr.  West- 
car,  of  Creslow,  Bucks,  informed  the  Duke,  in 
the  hearing  of  the  whole  company,  that  Mr. 
Tully,  of  Herefordshire,  and  his  friends  would 
produce  twenty  Hereford  oxen  at  Woburn  this 
time  twelvemonth,  fresh  from  the  yoke,  for  one 
hundred  guineas,  against  twenty  of  any  one 
breed  in  England,  the  Duke  of  Bedford  to  ap- 
point the  judges.  This  offer  of  a  bet  was  in- 
stantly accepted  by  Sir  Thomas  Carr,  of  Bed- 
ingham,  in  Sussex,  who  offered  to  produce 
twenty  Sussex  oxen. against  them. 

A  friend  of  Sir  Thomas  Carres  here  inter- 
fered, requesting  explanations,  which,  in  the 
opinion  of  very  many,  did  not  appear  necessary 
for  a  plain  bet  explicitly  accepted. 

A  conversation  ensued  upon  fattening  the 
oxen,  and  various  other  circumstances,  on 
which  Mr.  Westcar  (who  declared  that  Mr. 
Tully  would  bet  on  any  fair  conditions)  retired 
in  order  to  offer  two  propositions  in  favor  of 
Sir  Thomas  Carr,  that  if  he  liked  the  second 
better  than  that  he  had  already  accepted,  he 
might  be  indulged  with  it.  This  proposed  the 
following  extension  of  the  bet,  should  Mr. 
Thomas  Carr  wish  it,  which,  before  reading, 


was  explained  to  be  distinct  from  the  first 
proposition,  and  not  annexed  to  it  as  a  neces- 
sary condition. 

"And  that  such  oxen  may  be  fatted  and  pro- 
duced at  the  Christmas  following  at  Smithfield, 
for  a  second  hundred  guineas,  value  to  decide 
the  superiority." 

Here  a  fresh  debate  ensued.  Mr.  Ellman,  of 
Clynd  (Sir  Thomas  Carr's  friend),  proposed 
an  explanation  by  adding  these  words:  "Dis- 
position to  fatten  and  quality  of  flesh  to  decide 


SCENE    ON    THE    RIVER    ARROW,    COURT    HOUSE. 

FARM   OF   JOHN   PRICE. 
"Its  low  lands  are  often  called  the    'Garden  of  England.'  " 

the  superiority  without  size  being  a  chief  ob- 
ject of  consideration." 

This  Mr.  Westcar  rejected,  observing  that  it' 
size  was  thrown  out  of  the  question,  twenty 
runts  might  be  shown  against  Herefords  of  two 
hundred  stone  (2,800  Ibs.). 

Propositions  and  explanations  being  multi- 
plied and  mixed  with  conversation,  the  original 
acceptance  of  the  bet  slipped  from  attention, 
and  the  whole  was  eluded,  but  not  without  the 
Sussex  breed  suffering  somewhat  in  the  repu- 
tation, as  it  was  deemed  all  escape  on  that  side. 

One  bet,  however,  was  clinched.  Mr.  Tench, 
of  Broomfield,  near  Ludlow,  in  Salop,  offered  to 
show  a  Hereford  bull  against  any  bull  in  Eng- 
land for  one  hundred  guineas,  which  was  ac- 
cepted by  Mr.  Knowles,  of  Nailstone,  in  Leices- 
tershire, immediately  entered,  viz. : 

"Mr.  Tench  bets  Mr.  Knowles  one  hundred 
guineas  that  he  shows  a  Hereford  bull  against 
any  Leicester,  bull  to  be  produced  at  Shifnall, 
the  Monday  fortnight  after  the  great  show  at 


98 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Smithfield.     The  Duke  of  Bedford  to  appoint 
judges. 

ROBERT  TENCH. 
SAMUEL  KNOWLES." 

The  above  trial  came  off  and  the  Hereford 
won. 

The  editor  of  the  "Annals  of  Agriculture," 
writing  in  1800  of  a  great  friend  of  the  Here- 
ford and  his  sheep  shearing  show,  says:  "I 
might  expatiate  on  the  husbandry  of  the  Duke  of 
Bedford  and  the  uncommon  improvement  he 
has  made  even  since  the  last  sheep  show. 
The  show  house  for  the  tups  is  ad- 
mirably contrived,  but  these  and  various 
other  articles  highly  interesting  I  reserve 
for  that  register  of  observations  made  at  Wo- 
burn  which  has  been  drawn  up  on  a  former  oc- 
casion, and  which  yet  waits  for  some  drawing 
not  completed. 

"The  meeting  passed  off  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all  present,  and  it  was  an  animating  circum- 
stance to  see  the  lovers  of  agriculture  assem- 
bled together  from  countries  so  remote,  from 
the  most  distant  provinces  of  Ireland,  from 
Germany,  and  from  Switzerland.  Several 
came  expressly  for  this  purpose  about  five  hun- 
dred miles.  It  shows  the  spirit  with  which  ag- 
riculture is  at  present  prosecuted ;  it  marks  the 


genius  of  the  age;  it  presages  (may  the  provi- 
dence of  the  Almighty  permit)  the  future  pros- 
perity of  this  flourishing  empire. 

"To  see  a  prince  of  the  royal  blood  arid 
many  great  lords  sit  down  to  the  same  table 
and  partake  of  the  conversation  of  the  farmer 
and  the  breeder;  to  see  all  animated  with  the 
spirit  of  improvement,  and  listening  with  de- 
light to  the  favored  topic  of  the  plough,  is  a 
spectacle  worthy  of  Britain,  and  in  her  blest 
isle  alone  to  be  beheld:  Esto  perpetua. 

"The  conversation  throughout  the  meeting 
was  entirely  agricultural,  as  it  has  been  on 
every  former  occasion,  opinions  of  stock,  of  cul- 
tivation, discussed,  facts  related,  ideas  sported, 
questions  debated,  bets  proposed,  and  emulation 
active  and  promoted. 

"He  little  knows  the  secret  springs  that  move 
the  public  good  who  does  not  see  the  excellent 
effects  that  must  flow  from  prejudices  being 
worn  away  by  the  attrition  of  contrary  senti- 
ments, by  exhibitions  of  superior  stock  being 
examined  and  compared,  and  by  the  sphere  of 
rural  knowledge  being  thus  extended. 

"The  Duke  announced  premiums  for  the  year 
1801.  May  the  new  century  open  auspiciously 
to  the  plough;  may  the  spirit  of  this  sheep 
shearing  improve  the  flocks  of  Britain  ;  may  her 


HEREFORDSHIRE  PEASANTRY.     CHEAP  LABOR  FOR  THE   REARING  OF  LARGE   CROPS. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFOED     CATTLE 


99 


fields  smile  again  with  ample  harvests;  her 
wastes  by  a  general  enclosure  covered  with  cul- 
tivation; her  farmer  rich;  her  poor  well  fed 
and  happy,  and  may  we  all,  by  reverence  of 
that  being  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,  en- 
deavor to  deserve  them." 

THE    DUKE    OF    BEDFORD'S    SHEEP    SHEARING    IN 

1801. 

On  Monday  255  people  attended,  on  Tues- 
day 259,  on  Wednesday  232,  on  Thursday  132. 
The  sale  and  rental  of  sheep  made  a  very  satis- 
factory progress.  Liberal  premiums  were  paid 


There  hung  a  gloom  over  the  whole  business, 
which  would  not  dissipate.  The  succeeding 
Duke  had  given  orders  for  conducting  every- 
thing exactly  as  on  former  occasions.  Lord 
Somerville  presided  at  the  dinners,  and  the 
general  arrangement  of  business  was  conducted 
by  his  lordship,  and  Mr.  Coke,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cartwright. 

The  company  was  very  numerous  all  the  three 
days  and  on  Tuesday  equal  to  the  appearance 
on  any  former  occasion.  In  addition  to  the 
sale  of  sheep  there  was  a  sale  of  Hereford  cows 
and  heifers,  including  two  bulls,  ten  head,  all 
of  the  Herefordshire  breed.  The  sale  amounted 


HEREFORD   OX,   CHAMPION   AT  SMITHFIELD,   1816.     (Bred  by  S.  &  C.   Haywood,  Worcestershire.) 


to  farmers  of  the  county  for  the  best  cultivated 
farms  and  for  the  largest  improvement  of  the 
sheep,  and  on  different  classes  of  farm  machin- 
ery. 

The  Duke  of  Bedford  died  in  the  spring  of 
1802.  The  Sheep  Shearing  Shows  at  Woburn 
bearing  his  name  were  continued  in  1803  by 
his  son. 

Those  who  attended  this  meeting,  hitherto  so 
bright  and  cheerful,  animated  as  it  was  by  the 
enlivening  presence  of  a  nobleman  so  greatly 
beloved  and  respected,  looked  around  on  every 
scene  with  heavy  eye  and  sorrow  in  their  hearts. 


to  £974  ($4,870),  an  average  of  $487  a  head. 
Premiums  were  awarded  and  paid  to  the  farm- 
ers for  the  best  conducted  iarms  and  the  largest 
improvement  in  live  stock. 

We  quote  Mr.  Young's  "Annals  of  Agricul- 
ture" (Vol.  35,  p.  91)  to  show  the  aims  of 
Herefordshire  agriculturists  in  founding  their 
county  Society,  which,  being  the  oldest  and 
most  flourishing  in  England,  is  another  proof 
of  the  intelligence  of  the  Herefordshire  farm- 
ers: 

"Rules  and  orders  of  the  Herefordshire  Ag- 
ricultural Society,  with  an  account  of  pre- 


100 


HISTOKY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


miums  annually  offered  for  the  encouragement 
of  agriculture  and  industry,  lists  of  members 
and  subscribers,  and  directions  for  the  field  cul- 
ture for  the  early  Lancashire  Dwarf  Potato. 

"Such  is  the  heading  in  view  of  establishing 
an  Agricultural  Society  in  Herefordshire. 

"The  advantages  which  have  already  arisen 
to  the  public  from  the  establishment  of  Agri- 
cultural Societies  in  the  various  parts  of  the 
kingdom,  first  gave  use  to  the  idea  of  a  similar 
institution  in  the  county  of  Hereford.  The 
alacrity  of  persons  of  fortune,  and  of  many  of 
the  most  respectable  land-holders,  in  support 
of  the  measure,  affords  a  well-grounded  confi- 
dence that  the  exertions  of  this  Society  will  not 
be  ineffectual. 

"To  point  out  the  utility  of  such  an  institu- 
tion it  can  only  be  necessary  to  state  what  are 
the  principal  objects  of  its  attention;  these  are 
to  excite  by  premiums  and  otherwise,  a  general 
spirit  of  emulation  amongst  breeders  and  prac- 
tical farmers. 

"To  encourage  industry  and  fidelity  among 
servants  employed  in  husbandry. 

"To  reward  laborers  who  shall  bring  up,  or 
have  already  brought  up,  the  greatest  number 
of  legitimate  children,  without  any  or  with  the 


smallest  relief  from  their  respective  parishes. 

"To  promote  the  knowledge  of  agriculture 
by  encouraging  experiments  on  those  subjects 
which  are  of  the  most  importance  to  it,  and  by 
distributing  rewards  to  such  persons  as  shall 
produce  the  best  and  most  abundant  crops  of 
grain  and  grass,  in  proportion  to  the  quality 
of  land  they  occupy. 

"To  encourage  the  improvement  of  waste  and 
other  lands  by  enclosing,  draining  and  manur- 
ing in  the  most  cheap  and  effectual  manner. 

"To  ascertain  from  actual  experiment  that 
course  of  crops  on  either  light  or  heavy  soils, 
which  shall  prove  most  profitable,  and  leave  the 
lands  in  the  best  state. 

"To  make  generally  known  in  this  county  the 
most  successful  modes  of  husbandry  adopted  in 
others. 

"To  promote  all  improvements  in  the  sev- 
eral implements  now  used  by  the  farmer  here, 
and  to  introduce  such  new  ones  as  experience 
has  proven  to  be  valuable  elsewhere. 

"To  improve  the  breed  of  horses  of  the  cart 
kind  and  to  carry  our  cattle  and  sheep  to  the 
greatest  point  of  perfection. 

"To  ascertain  and  make  public  the  best 
means  of  raising  and  protecting  orchards,  of 


CHAMPION  HEREFORD  OX,  SMITHFIELD,  1837,  AT  4  YEARS  AND  10  MONTHS, 

(Bred  by  J,  Hewer.) 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


101 


propagating  the  best  fruits ;  and  the  most  easy, 
certain  and  efficacious  manner  of  proceeding  in 
all  the  stages  of  manufacturing  their  produce 
into  cider  and  jelly. 

"In  short,  to  recommend  and  bring  into  prac- 
tice all  the  means  of  facilitating  labor,  of  ex- 
citing and  rewarding  industry,  and  of  receiving 
at  the  least  expense  the  greatest  quantity  and 
the  most  approved  quality  of  animal  and  vege- 
table food. 

"These  objects  will  readily  be  allowed  to  be 
of  no  small  importance,  and  the  spirit  with 
which  they  may  be  promoted,  and  the  extent 
to  which  they  may  be  carried  must  depend 


At  the  meeting  of  the  Bath  and  West  of  Eng- 
land Society,  1797,  John  Billingsley,  Vice- 
President,  in  the  Chair;  Lord  Summordor  was 
chosen  President  for  the  year  ensuing. 

The  exhibition  of  cattle,  sheep  and  swine  for 
the  premium  and  bounties  were  considerable  in 
number  and  generally  valuable  in  qualities. 

The  premiums  awarded  were  £3. 3s.  ($15.75) 
each. 

To  Mr.  Whipley  for  raising  twenty  children. 

To  Thos.  Lucas  for  bringing  up  in  like  man- 
ner eight  children. 

To  Wm.  Spencer  for  bringing  up  nine  chil- 
dren. 


CHAMPION  HEREFORD  OX,  SMITHFIELD,  1838.      (Bred  by  H.  Chamberlain,  Leicestershire.) 


much  upon  the  liberality  of  subscriptions. 
And  although  the  Society  looks  with  confidence 
to  general  support,  they  hesitate  not  to  say 
they  most  particularly  invite  the  aid  and  con- 
currence of  practical  farmers." 

One  of  the  battle  grounds  where  Hereford 
cattle  have  won  many  honors  is  the  Bath  and 
West  of  England  Society's  yearly  shows.  The 
yearly  accounts  of  this  society  are  meager. 

An  account  of  their  1799  show,  taken  from 
Mr.  Young's  "Annals  of  Agriculture"  (V.  32, 
p.  24:4),  states  that  a  Hereford  heifer  won  a 
champion  prize  at  that  meeting. 


To  John  Hooker  for  bringing  up  eight  chil- 
dren. 

To  John  Bartlett  for  faithful  service  in  one 
family  for  sixty-five  years. 

To  John  Thomas  for  living  in  one  family 
thirty  years. 

To  James  Batten  for  like  service  for  twenty- 
nine  years. 

To  Joseph  Budgell  for  like  service  for  twen- 
ty-seven years. 

To  Elizabeth  Noyes  for  like  service  for  forty- 
five  years. 


102 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


To  Rebecca  Hunt  for  like  service  for  twenty- 
nine  years. 

To  Mary  Batten  for  like  service  for  twenty- 
nine  years. 

To  Benjamin  Reynolds  as  shepherd  in  one 
family  during  sixty  years. 

The  exhibition  and  sale  of  cattle  and  sheep 
was  held  on  the  next  day.  No  awards  were  re- 
ported. It  is  stated  there  was  a  respectable 
show.  It  may  be  seen  here  that  other  societies 
did  not  cultivate  the  cattle  interest  with  Here- 
fordshire intelligence. 

We  have  thought  best,  even  at  the  risk  of 
being  tiresome,  to  give  and  continue  the  details 
of  the  organization  and  continuance  of  the 
Smithfield  Club,  and  the  awards  to  the  Here- 
ford cattle  up  to  the  time  that  Youatt  wrote  the 
history  termed  the  History  of  British  Cattle. 
We  have  also  given  an  account  of  the  Duke  of 
Bedford's  sheep  shearing  reports  and  the  awards 


that  he  made  and  paid  to  those  gatherings  for 
the  improvement  of  agriculture  and  live  stock 
of  the  farmers  of  his  county,  thus  showing  his 
interests  in  live  stock  improvement  and  prov- 
ing that  it  was  not  for  want  of  care  or  investi- 
gation that  the  Duke  accepted  and  adopted  the 
Hereford  breed  of  cattle  at  Woburn  as  the  most 
valuable  for  farm  purposes.  We  do  this  because 
Mr.  Youatt,  while  stating  the  fact  that  the 
Herefords  had  been  adopted  by  the  Duke  of 
Bedford,  failed,  except  in  one  instance,  to  show 
any  of  the  numerous  experiments  that  he  had 
made,  and  these  the  American  editors  left  out 
entirely. 

From  1839  the  breeders  of  Shorthorn  cattle 
in  this  country  and  in  England  quoted  this  pre- 
tended history  of  Hereford  cattle  by  Youatt 
and  abridged  it  to  discredit  the  Hereford  breed, 
and  advance  the  interest  of  the  Shorthorn  breed 
of  cattle. 


CHAMPION  HEREFORD  OX,  SMITHFIELD,  1839.      (Bred  by  R.  Hill,  Orlton;  exhibited  by  the  Earl  of  Warwick.) 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


103 


CHAPTER  X. 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF  HEREFORD  BREEDING — 1799  TO  1819 


The  Herefordshire  Agricultural  Society, 
naturally,  had  the  largest  exhibits  of  Hereford 
cattle,  in  the  early  days  of  the  breed,  and  all 
information  that  can  be  preserved  of  its  doings 
will  be  of  interest  to  Hereford  cattle  breeders. 

We  give  a  summary  of  the  breeders  of  Here- 
ford cattle  who  were  prize  takers  at  the  shows 
of  the  Herefordshire  Agricultural  Society,  from 
1799  to  1819.  The  record  says :  The  list  has 
not  been  put  into  the  present  shape  without  a 
good  deal  of  trouble,  for  the  minute  books  of 
the  society  have  gone  astray,  and  the  record  has 
had  to  be  made  up  by  a  diligent  search  of  news- 
paper files,  the  chief  source  of  information  be- 
ing the  back  numbers  of  the  Hereford  Journal. 
Mr.  T.  Tomkins  Galliers  of  Wistaston  has  gone 
over  these  files  for  us  and  has  extracted  the 
notes  which  constitute  a  useful  chapter  in  the 
early  history  of  Herefords. 

Herefordshire  Agricultural  Society — estab- 
lished 1798. 

We  find  no  account  of  live  stock  shown  until 
June  meeting,  1799,  when,  for  best  bull,  not 
over  twenty  months,  John  Apperley,  Withing- 
ton,  gains  the  premium;  and  for  best  bull  not 
over  three  years,  Samuel  Tully,  of  Hunting- 
ton,  £5,  5s  ($26.25). 

1800.  Premiums  were  £5,  5s  ($26.25)  cups; 
second  prizes,  £3,  3s   ($15.75)   plate;'  general 
prize  decanter  stands.    At  June  meeting,  1800 : 
for  best  bred  bull,  Mr.  Croose,  Sugwas   (this 
bull  was  bred  by  Mr.  Jones  of  Fawley)  ;  for 
best  yearling  bull,  Joseph  Tully,  Haywood ;  for 
best  heifer,  Mr.  Skyrme,  of  Stretton. 

1801.  March  meeting.     Bull,  three  years, 
seven  months,  Mr.  Smith  of  Sufton;  yearling 
bull,  Mr.  Moore,  Wellington,  Wooton.    At  this 
meeting  it  was  suggested  to  offer  more  prizes 
for  stock. 

June  meeting.  Three-year-old  heifer,  J. 
Tully,  Haywood ;  yearling  heifer,  Mr.  Williams, 
Thinghill. 

1802.  March  meeting.     Notice  is  given  that 
the  following  gentlemen  will  show  bulls  in  the 
several  classes  at  the  coming  meeting.     Class 
all  ages,  M.   Crosse,    of    Oole-;    Mr.-  Tanner, 


Hampton  Court;  Mr.  Verce,  Warham;  Mr. 
Goode,  Dunswater;  Mr.  Watkins,  Brinsop;  Mr. 
Powell,  Titley.  Class  three  years  old:  Mr. 
Tully,  Huntington;  T.  G.  Cotterell,  Garmons; 
Mr.  Tully,  Haywood;  W.  Galliers,  King's  Pyon. 
Class  yearling  bulls:  Mr.  Low,  Gattertop;  Mr. 
Tully,  Haywood;  T.  A.  Knight,  Elton;  Mr. 
Apperley,  Withington;  Mr.  Tully,  Huntington. 
The  prizes  were  awarded  as  follows :  Best  bull, 
any  age,  Mr.  Powell,  Titley ;  best  three-year-old, 
Mr.  Tully,  Huntington;  second  prize,  W.  Gal- 
liers, King's  Pyon ;  best  yearling  bull,  J.  Tully, 
Haywood ;  second  prize,  Mr.  Apperley,  Withing- 
ton. June  meeting,  best  heifer,  under  sixteen 
months,  W.  Downes,  Hinton ;  best  heifer,  under 
four  years,  Mr.  Skyrme,  Stretton.  No  stock 
mentioned  at  October  meeting. 

1803.  March  meeting.     Best  bull  all  ages, 
E.  Jones,   Fawley;  best  three-year-old,  T.  A. 
Knight;  second  prize,  Mr.  Williams,  Thinghill; 
best  yearling  bull,  T.  G.  Cotterell ;  second  prize, 
Mr.    Jones,    Breinton.    June    meeting:    Best 
heifer,  T.  A.  Knight;  second  best,  Mr.  Jeffries, 
Lyonshall.     At  this  show  the  committee  who 
awarded  the  premiums  for  cattle  expressed  the 
opinion  to  the  public  that  the  heifers  exhibited 
(but  not   entered   for   premiums)    by   Messrs. 
Tomkins,  E.  Jones,  Andrew  Knight,  and  Jo- 
seph Tully,  were  such  as  would  have  done  credit 
to  the  first  breeders  in  England. 

1804.  March  meeting.    Best  aged  bull,  Mr. 
Barnet,  of  Ledbury;  best  two-year-old  bull,  S. 
Tully,  Huntington;  best  yearling  bull,  T.  A. 
Knight.    Leominster  meeting  (June).  Yearling 
bull,  Mr.  Lowe,  Gattertop;  three-year-old  bull, 
Mr.     Fencott,     The     Broome;     three-year-old 
heifer,  Mr.  Williams,  Brinsop ;   yearling  heifer, 
Mr.  Prichard,  Eaton  Mill.      October  meeting. 
Best   three-year-old   heifer,    Edward   Walwyn; 
best  two-year-old  heifer,  T.  A.  Knight.     Only 
two  «tock  prizes  given. 

1805.  March  meeting.     Best  aged  bull,  Mr. 
Jeffries,   Pembridge;   best   three-year-old   bull, 
Mr.  Galliers,  King's  Pyon;  best  yearling  bull, 
Mr.  Yeomans,  Howton.    -June  meeting.     Mr. 
Tully,  gained  prize    for    working    oxen;    Mr. 


104 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Knight  for  yearling  heifer.  These  are  the  only 
two  prizes  mentioned,  but  there  must  have  been 
more  given.  Leominster  meeting — June.  Best 
yearling  heifer,  Mr.  Williams,  Thinghill;  best 
three-year-old  heifer,  T.  Glee,  Downton.  Oc- 
tober meeting.  Best  two-year-old  heifer,  Mr. 
Stevens,  Cotmore. 

1806.  March  meeting.  Aged  bull,  Mr.  Jef- 
fries, The  Sheriffs;  three-year-old  bull,  Mr. 
Watkins,  Brinsop;  yearling  bull,  Mr.  Weaver, 
Stretton.  The  above  premiums  were  awarded 
by  a  committee  of  the  following  gentlemen: 
Mr.  Apperley,  Mr.  Cheese,  Mr.  Edwards,  Mr. 
Jeffries,  E.  Jones,  Mr.  Redward,  Mr.  Knight, 
Mr.  Tench,  Mr.  Watkins  and  Mr.  Williams.  This 
is  the  first  notice  of  how  the  prizes  were  decided. 
Leominster  meeting,  June  20.  Best  yearling 
heifer,  Mr.  Watkins,  Brinsop;  three-year-old 
heifer,  Mr.  Deykin,  Brierley;  two-year-old 
heifer,  Mr.  Woolaston,  Lynch;  three-year-old 
bull,  Mr.  Salway,  Ashley  Moor;  aged  bull,  Mr. 
Proctor,  Orleton;  yearling  bull,  Mr.  Downes, 
Ashford.  (fl  74  B)  Hereford  meeting,  June  30. 
Best  working  ox,  T.  A.  Knight;  best  yearling 
heifer,  Mr.  Tully,  Huntington.  Only  two  stock 
prizes  given.  October  meeting.  We  failed  to  find 
an  advertisement  of  the  awards  of  this  show,  but 
in  the  general  news  of  the  paper  of  October  29 


we  find  the  following:  "Mr.  Tomkins,  Well- 
ington, gained  the  premium  for  best  two-year- 
old  heifer.  The  stock  shown  was  very  fine  and 
never  surpassed  on  any  former  occasion."  This 
is  the  only  notice  we  find  of  Mr.  B.  Tomkins, 
Jr.,  showing.  We  suppose  he  was  offended  at 
something  that  took  place,  and  never  competed 
again. 

1807.  Spring  meeting.  Best  aged  bull,  W. 
Galliers,  King's  Pyon ;  best  three-year-old  bull, 
Mr.  Hewer,  Abergavenny;  best  two-year-old 
bull,  Mr.  Weaver,  Stretton;  best  yearling  bull, 
Mr.  Yeomans,  Howton.  Leominster  meeting. 
Best  yearling  heifer,  Mr.  Kedward,  Westhide; 
best  three-year-old  heifer,  Mr.  Williams,  Brin- 
sop; best  yearling  bull,  Mr.  Green,  Stoke. 
Hereford,  June  30.  Best  yearling  heifer,  Mr. 
Hughes  of  Marcle ;  best  working  ox,  Mr.  Dawes 
of  Mensell.  October  meeting.  Best  three-year- 
old  heifer,  T.  A.  Knight;  best  two-year-old 
heifer,  T.  A.  Knight.  A  notice  is  inserted  to 
the  effect  that  Mr.  Knight  declines  accepting 
the  premiums  since  he  has  gained  so  many,  so 
William  Galliers,  King's  Pyon,  being  next  best, 
takes  two. 

1812.  Candlemas.  Best  yearling  bull,  B. 
Wain wright,  Hereford;  best  two-year-old  bull, 
Mrs.  Berrow,  The  Green,  Dewchurch;  best 


CHAMPION  HEREFORD  OX,   SMITHFIELD,   1841.      (Bred  by  Mr.  Mason,  of  Tarrington;  fed  by  Mr.  Senior.) 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


105 


three-year-old  bull,  Mr.  Watkins,  Brinsop ;  best 
aged  bull,  W.  Galliers,  King's  Pyon.  Leomin- 
ster  meeting.  Best  aged  bull,  W.  Walker,  Bur- 
ton ;  best  two-year-old  bull,  J.  Walker,  Wesing- 
toa ;  best  yearling  bull,  H.  Moore,  Wellingtons, 
Wooton ;  best  three-year-old  heifer,  Mr.  Tench, 
Bromfield;  best  two-year-old  heifer,  Mr.  Tench, 
Bromfield;  best  yearling  heifer,  Mr.  Watkins, 
Brinsop.  Hereford,  June.  Best  yearling  heifer, 
Colonel  Matthews,  Belmont.  October  meeting. 
Best  two-year-old  heifer,  Mr.  Yarworth. 

1813.  Candlemas.  Best  yearling  bull,  Wat- 
kins,  Brinsop;  best  two-year-old  bull,  not 
awarded ;  best  three-year-old  bull,  Mr.  Galliers, 
King's  Pyon;  best  aged  bull,  Mr.  Pugh,  Thing- 
hill.  Leominster  meeting,  June.  Best  yearling 


bull,  T.  Jeffries,  Pembridge;  best  aged  bull,  J. 
Wainwright.  June  meeting.  Best  yearling 
bull,  J.  Purchas,  Fownhope;  best  two-year-old 
bull,  Mr.  Fluck,  Moreton ;  best  yearling  heifer, 
Col.  Matthews;  best  two-year-old  heifer,  T. 
Jeffries,  Grove.  October  meeting.  No  adver- 
tisement of  meeting,  but  in  general  news  it  is 
stated  that  Mr.  Welles,  Earl's  Croome,  in  Wor- 
cestershire, and  Mr.  Yarworth  of  Brinsop,  took 
prizes  for  cattle. 

1815.  Candlemas.  Best  yearling  bull,  Mr. 
Price,  Norton  Grounds,  Gloucestershire;  best 
two-year-old  bull,  Mr.  Yarworth,  Brinsop ;  best 
three-year-old  bull,  T.  Barnaby,  Brockhamp- 
to-n;  best  aged  bull,  Mr.  Yarworth,  Brinsop. 
Hereford  June  meeting.  Best  yearling  heifer, 


CHAMPION   HEREFORD   OX,   SMITHFIELD,   1846.    (Exhibited  by  John  Hudson,   of  Norfolk.) 


bull,  Mr.  Symonds  of  Tatton;  two-year-old  bull, 
Mr.  Walker,  Burton;  best  yearling  heifer,  Mr. 
Jeffries,  Grove;  best  two-year-old  heifer,  Wat- 
kins,  Knightwick  (late  of  Brinsop).  At  the 
Leominster  meeting  it  was  proposed  to  discon- 
tinue the  shows  there  owing  to  the  low  state  of 
the  society's  funds.  Hereford  June  meeting. 
Nostock  prizes.  October  meeting.  Best  two- 
year-old  heifer,  C.  Walwyn;  best  three-year-old 
heifer,  James  Yarworth. 

1814.  Candlemas  meeting.  Best  yearling 
bull,  Mr.  Grovenor,  the  Parks;  best  two-year- 
old  heifer,  not  awarded;  best  three-year-old 


John  Morris,  Marsh.  October  meeting.  Best 
two-year-old  heifer,  Mr.  Tench,  Bromfield ;  best 
yearling  heifer,  Mr.  Walker,  Burton.  N.  B. — 
All  bulls  to  be  shown  in  future  at  Candlemas, 
and  heifers  at  October  meeting. 

1816.  Candlemas.  The  committee  for  de- 
ciding the  merits  of  cattle  report  that  the  aged 
bull  exhibited  this  day  by  Mr.  Yarworth  of 
Brinsop  is  the  finest  animal  ever  shown  before 
this  society ;  the  dam  of  this  bull  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Price  of  Morton  Grounds, 
Worcestershire.  Best  yearling  bull,  Mr.  Tom- 
kins,  Dippers.  Moor;  best  three-year-old  bull, 


106 


HISTORY     OF     HEKEFOKD     CATTLE 


Mr.  Jeffries,  Grove;  best  aged  bull,  Mr.  Parry 
of  Birley,  near  Stretford.  (Yarworth's  bull 
disqualified,  having  taken  the  prize  last  year.) 
June  meeting.  No  stock  shown.  No  account 
of  other  shows  this  year. 

1817.  Candlemas.  The  meeting  only  noticed 
in  general  news.     Yarworth,  Wainwright,  and 
Wood  of  Burghill,  successful  competitors.  June 
meeting  at  Leominster.     Best  yearling  heifer, 
Mr.  Jeffries,  Grove;  best  two-year-old  heifer, 
Mr.  Tench,  Bromfield;  best  two-year-old  bull, 
Mr.  Smith,  Gattertop;  best  three-year-old  bul- 
lock,  Mr.  Jeffries,    Grove.     October    meeting. 
Short  notice.     Mr.  Walker  of  Burton  and  Mr. 
Eckley  of  Tillington,  got  premiums,  but  it  does 
not  state  for  what. 

1818.  Candlemas.     Best    aged    bull,    Mr. 
Smith,     Gattertop;    best   yearling   bull,     Mr. 
Cooke,  Wintercott.    Leominster  meeting.    Best 
three-year-old  bull,  T.    Jeffries,    Grove ;    best 
yearling  and  two-year-old  heifers,  Mr.  Walker 


of  Burton.  October  meeting.  Best  yearling 
heifers,  Mr.  Smythies,  Lynch ;  best  two-year-old 
heifer,  Mr.  Welles,  Earl's  Croome. 

1819.  Candlemas.  Best  aged  bull,  Mr. 
Dawes,  The  Rodd ;  best  yearling  bull,  Mr.  Yeo- 
mans,  Howton.  Leominster  meeting.  Best  pair 
working  oxen,  Mr.  Walker,  Wesington;  best 
yearling  heifer,  Mr.  Jeffries,  Grove ;  best  year- 
ling bull  (ff  74  C)  Mr.  Preece,  Comberton ;  best 
three-year-old  bull,  Mr.  Cooke,  Wintercott.  Oc- 
tober meeting.  Best  yearling  heifer,  Col.  Mat- 
thews; best  two-year-old  heifer,  Mr.  Smythies, 
Lynch. 

These  records,  uninteresting  in  themselves, 
give  an  insight  into  the  exhibits  and  exhibitors 
of  Herefords  in  a  past  century  and  show  a 
classification  not  equalled  at  the  time  by  any 
other  county  show,  and  proving  again  the  thor- 
ough establishment  of  the  Hereford  breed  at 
that  early  day  (fl  74  D). 


CHAMPION    HEREFORD    OX,    SMITHFIELD,    1846. 
(Bred  by  Mr.  Thomas,  of  Cholstrey,  Herefordshire;  exhibited  by  the  Earl  of  Warwick.) 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


107 


CHAPTER  XI. 


EARLY  HEREFORD  HISTORY  IN  AMERICA 


HEREFORD-SHORTHORN  CONTROVERSY,  FROM  1834  TO  1841. 


In  1834  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois 
and  Michigan  were  organizing  agricultural  so- 
cieties; and  Wisconsin,  then  a  state  one  year, 
was  discussing  the  propriety  of  such  a  move. 
An  agricultural  convention  was  held  at  Albany, 
JST.  Y.,  in  which  the  different  interests  of  farm- 
ing were  discussed,  and  the  necessity  of  state 
aid  urged.  Among  those  prominent  in  this 
movement  were  H.  S.  Randall,  L.  F.  Allen, 
F.  Rotch,  R.  L.  Allen,  J.  J.  Vail,  Jesse  Buel 
and  C.  N.  Rement. 

The  American  Institute  held  its  eleventh  an- 
nual fair  in  October,  1838,  and  among  the  man- 
agers were  Jesse  Buel  and  C.  1ST.  Bement  of 
Albany.  At  this  date  there  were  active  efforts 
for  the  establishing  of  agricultural  societies, 
but  our  investigations  will  be  confined  mainly 
to  New  York. 

It  is  probable  that  at  this  time  the  Short- 
horns had  a  stronger  hold  in  Kentucky  than 
elsewhere.  A  sale  was  advertised  at  Powelton, 
near  Philadelphia,  of  Mr.  Whittaker's  cattle, 
an  eminent  English  breeder.  A  sale  was  held 
at  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.,  at  which  the  highest- 
priced  animals  were  sold  to  Gen.  Dudley  of 
Kentucky.  At  a  sale  held  at  Paris,  Ky.,  eleven 
In  ad  sold  for  $8,157 ;  and  ten  animals  of  mixed 
blood  for  $2,580 ;  the  prices  at  the  Whittaker 
sale  referred  to  above  ranged  from  $360  to 
$540.  H.  Clay,  Jr.,  sold  this  year  his  cow 
Princess  for  $2,000.  At  a  sale  in  Cincinnati 
ninety-one  head  were  sold,  averaging  $305,  one 
four-year-old  bull  selling  for  $1,450.  These 
prices  will  indicate  the  standing  of  Durham 
cattle  at  this  time. 

The  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society 
met  the  first  Tuesday  in  February,  1839.  Buel, 
Allen,  Vail,  Van  Berger  and  Spencer  were  a 
committee  to  report  names  of  offices,  and  among 
the  officers  were  Jesse  Buel,  corresponding  sec- 
retary, and  C.  N.  Bement,  treasurer. 

In  1839  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of 
England  was  organized  and  received  a  charter 


from  the  queen.  A  society  had  existed  previous- 
ly, known  as  the  English  Agricultural  Society, 
and  the  Royal  absorbed  it.  At  this  first  show  a 
premium  was  offered  for  the  best  cow  calcu- 
lated for  the  dairy.  The  first  was  won  by  a 
Hereford,  the  second  by  a  Durham  cow,  and 
this  class,  we  think,  was  dropped  from  that 
time. 

In  1841  the  New  York  State  Society  held 
their  first  fair  at  Syracuse.  These  movements 
for  the  establishment  of  the  Royal  in  England 
and  New  York  Fair  at  Albany,  were  made  by 
those  in  the  interest  of  the  Shorthorns  as  was 
the  movement  of  the  writing  of  the  "History 
of  British  Cattle,"  by  Youatt,  and  each  of  these 
movements,  if  they  had  been  written  and 
planned  for  the  advancement  of  the  Shorthorn 
interest,  and  so  given  out,  would  have  been 
legitimate  and  proper — commendable  even ;  but 
when  the  Shorthorn  men  took  the  machinery 
and  charter  of  the  Society  for  the  Diffusion 
of  Useful  Knowledge,  to  write  up  the  Short- 
horn and  write  down  other  breeds,  it  became 
dishonest,  and  so.  when  they,  under  the  sanc- 
tion of  the  crown  of  England,  established  the 
Royal  for  the  advancement  of  agriculture  and 
the  improvement  of  live  stock,  gave  preference 
to  the  Shorthorn  race  of  cattle  unfairly,  it  was 
dishonest. 

We  have  made  these  points — the  writing  of 
the  "History  of  British  Cattle"  by  Youatt,  the 
establishing  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society 
of  England,  and  the  New  York  State  Agricul- 
tural Society — because  to  these  influences,  more 
than  any  other,  the  Shorthorns  owe  their  stand- 
ing- 
Previous  to  the  writing  of  the  "History  of 
British  Cattle"  the  Duke  of  Bedford  had  made 
very  careful  experiments  in  grazing  and  feed- 
ing of  Herefords  and  Shorthorns,  and  these 
experiments,  widely  published,  resulted  in  the 
adoption  of  the  Herefords  by  the  Duke  of  Bed- 
ford on  the  score  of  economy;  the  details  of 


108 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


those  experiments  were  before  the  writer  of 
that  history,  but  were  not  used  because  not 
satisfactory  to  the  Shorthorn  breeders.  We 
have  shown  that  the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns 
were  in  competition  before  the  Smithfield  for 
thirty-six  years;  and  the  Herefords  had  taken 
ninety-three  premiums  equal  to  $7,060  on  oxen, 
while  the  Shorthorns  had  taken  only  thirty- 
seven  premiums,  amounting  to  $3,275,  and 
these  facts  were  not  noticed  by  the  writer  of 
that,  hi  story. 

We  have  shown  that  in  the  London  market, 
at  the  time  that  history  was  written,  the  Here- 
ford beef  was  selling  at  a  half  penny  (one  cent) 
to  a  penny  (two  cents)  a  pound  more  than 
Shorthorn  beef,  and  that  the  writer  of  this  his- 
tory did  not  note  this  fact.  We  have  shown 
that  he  quoted  the  sales  of  Shorthorns  by  Mr. 
Arrowsmith  between  1801  and  1808,  ranging 
per  head  from  $80  to  $175,  and  that  he  neglect- 
ed to  quote  the  sales  of  Herefords  made  by  Mr. 
Westcar  between  1799  and  1811,  ranging  from 
$500  to  $737  (fl  74  E).  From  these  and  similar 
facts  we  have  charged  that  the  history  was  writ- 
ten in  the  interest  of  Shorthorn  breeders  and  we 
shall  be  supported  in  this  view  by  all  impartial 
men.  We  have  not  the  data  to  enable  us  to 
dissect  the  action  of  the  Royal.  We  have  given 


one  case  in  which  the  Herefords  won  at  their 
first  meeting,  and  that,  when  the  Shorthorns 
claimed  the  greatest  strength;  and  shown  that, 
from  that  time,  they  did  not  bring  their  cattle 
into  competition  with  Herefords  as  milkers. 

In  later  years  there  has  been  no  question  as 
to  the  bias  of  the  Royal  in  favor  of  the  Short- 
horns, and  whatever  breeders  in  this  country 
may  claim,  English  breeders  will  hardly  ques'- 
tion  our  statement.  As  to  the  New  York  So- 
ciety, we  shall  present  conclusive  testimony  to 
show  that  it  was  managed  entirely  in  the  Short- 
horn interest.  We  might  refer  to  other  socie- 
ties, as  the  state  societies  of  Ohio,  Kentucky, 
Indiana,  Michigan,  Iowa  and  Illinois,  and 
many  others,  but  for  the  present  we  propose  to 
leave  them  out. 

In  1835  the  only  reliable  experiment,  that  of 
Smithfield,  showed  the  Herefords  to  be  the  best 
cattle.  Reliable  records  of  trials  of  the  Here- 
fords and  Shorthorns  in  every  instance  showed 
the  former  to  be  far  in  advance  of  the  latter. 
The  London  market  showed  the  value  of  the 
Hereford  to  be  10  per  cent  over  the  Shorthorn, 
and  these  facts  were  ignored  by  the  writers  of 
the  "History  of  British  Cattle."  From  1836  to 
1840  inclusive,  before  the  Smithfield  Society, 
the  Hereford  bullocks-  took  thirty-seven  prem- 


TI69 


FIRST  PRIZE  HEREFORD   OX   AT   SMITHFIELD,   1846. 
(Bred  by  T.  Roberts,  of  Ivingtonbury,  Herefordshire;  exhibited  by  Mr.  Trinder.) 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


109 


iums  equal  to  $1,875,  the  Shorthorns  taking 
eighteen  premiums,  or  $740. 

With  these  basis  facts  established,  we  turn  to 
the  importation  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Sotham,  and  the 
correspondence  and  controversies  growing  out 
of  that  importation,  and  these  we  shall  quote 
freely.  The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter 
of  Mr.  W.  H.  Sotham,  of  date  June  1,  1840,  to 
Messrs.  Gaylord  &  Tucker,  publishers  of  the 
"Cultivator/'  V.  7,  pp.  113,  114: 

"Of  our  cattle  I  shall  not  say  more  than  that 
they  are  of  the  Hereford  breed,  and  from  the 
same  breeder  who  agrees  with  me  that  the 
Herefords  are  decidedly  the  best  and  most  prof- 
itable when  taken  in  the  aggregate.  The  Smith- 


of  15  sovereigns  at  the  Rutland  Agricultural 
Society's  show  at  Oakham.  Also,  at  Smithfield 
Club  show,  the  first  prize  of  20  sovereigns  in 
class  first.  Age  of  this  ox,  four  years  and  two 
months;  weight  122  stone  (1,708  Ibs.),  bred  by 
Mr.  John  Hewer  of  Hereford.  It  is  my  opinion 
that  Herefords  are  better  milkers  than  gener- 
ally represented.  It  is  not  clear  to  me  that 
they  are  inferior  to  the  Shorthorn  or  Durham. 
When  our  cows  come  to  grass  I  will  endeavor 
to  give  the  quantity.  Appearance  on  the  vessel 
are  much  in  their  favor.  I  will  not  say 
more  on  this  subject  until  we  "have  some  for 
sale ;  these  are  intended  for  our  own  use. 

"Should  it  meet  the  views  of  improving,  in- 


CHAMPION   HEREFORD   OX,    SMITHFIELD.   1848.      (Bred   by  H.   R.   H.   Prince  -Albert.) 


field  show  will  acknowledge  this,  as  the  Here- 
fords take  top  price  against  all  others. 

"Other  instances  are  in  their  favor.  The 
oxen  are  excellent  workers,  the  best  feeders,  and 
when  in  market  fetch  one-half  penny  per  pound 
more  than  the  Durham s.  The  fat  and  the  lean 
is  so  well  interlarded.  This  assertion  is  backed 
by  most  of  the  London  butchers,  of  whom  I 
made  inquiry,  and  I  send  you  a  letter  for  inser- 
tion from  Mr.  Guerrier  to  me,  one  of  the  best 
salesmen  in  London,  who  presented  me  with  an 
engraving  (fi  63)  of  the  prize  ox  in  1837,  the 
property  of  Mr.  John  Thomas  Smith,  Portland, 
Lincolnshire,  This  ox  obtained  the  first  prize 


telligent,  enterprising  farmers,  such  as  know 
how  to  lay  out  their  money  judgmatically,  we 
have  no  objection  to  enter  into  a  trade  with 
Mr.  Hewer,  to  take  the  whole  of  his  extra  stock 
yearly,  who  says  no  other  person  shall  have 
them  for  exportation.  Any  other  breed  of  the 
first  order,  or  any  kind  of  animal  England  can 
produce,  I  will  endeavor  to  procure  by  the  pur- 
chaser representing  it  to  me,  and  the  highest 
price  he  will  give  in  New  York,  or  any  kind  of 
field  or  garden  seeds.  But  I  must  admonish 
the  purchasers  to  show  a  little  spirit,  not  to  be 
afraid  of  their  shadow  in  a  good  cause ;  the  best 
things  in  this  world  cannot  be  bought  at  low 


110 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


prices ;  the  expense  and  risk  of  shipping  is  very 
heavy,  and  not  a  very  pleasant  business  for  a 
sea-sick  sailor." 

The  following  is  the  letter  referred  to,  from 
Mr.  Guerrier  to  Mr.  Sotham,  dated. London  and 
West  Smithfield,  17th  April,  1840: 

Dear  Sir :  As  I  could  not  conveniently,  dur- 
ing the  busy  engagements  of  our  market,  reply 
to  your  inquiry  respecting  the  breeds  of  Dur- 
ham and  Hereford  cattle,  I  take  this  oppor- 
tunity to  state  that  never,  during  twenty  years' 
experience  as  a  salesman  of  cattle  of  all  breeds 
in  this  market'  (Smithfield),  although  I  have 
tried  time  without  number,  when  I  have  had 
some  of  the  best  descriptions  of  Durhams  to 
sell,  could  I  succeed  in  persuading  my  best  cus- 
tomers at  the  west  end  of  London  to  purchase 
Durhams  when  I  had  any  well-bred  Herefords 
to  part  with ;  they  one  and  all  stated  in  cutting 
up  the  beef  they  find  in  the  Herefords  so  much 
more  roasting  beef  to  that  of  boiling.  To  satisfy 
your  mind  still  further,  just  cast  your  eye  over 
the  particulars  (which  I  send  for  your  perusal) 
of  our  last  Christmas  show  of  cattle.  There 
you  will  perceive  the  Hereford  takes  the  top 
prize.  Attend  our  Smithfield  show  and  you 
would  be  more  than  ever  assured  of  the  import- 
ance of  the  best  breed  of  Herefords  before  that 


of  Durhams.  Last  year  I  had  Durhams  15 
stone  per  ox  (200  Ibs.  live  weight)  heavier  than 
Herefords,  but  could  not  realize  so  much  by 
4d  per  stone  of  8  Ibs.  (dead  weight)  as  I  could 

for   the   Herefords Wishing  you   success 

in  your  undertaking, 

I  am,  sir,  yours  respectfully, 

WILLIAM  GUERRIER. 
To  W.  H.  Sotham. 

N.  B. — I  need  not  observe  to  you  the  remarks 
I  have  made  regarding  Herefords  are  not  be- 
cause I  am  at  all  prejudiced  against  Durhams, 
Scots,  or  other  breeds,  but  having  with  my 
father  grazed  all  breeds  for  many  years,  and  as 
a  salesman,  having  for  twenty  years  past,  dur- 
ing which  time  I  have  annually  sold  from  5,000 
to  10,000  cattle,  consisting  of  all  breeds,  from 
Ireland,  Scotland,  as  also  in  this  kingdom, 
never  found  any  breed  of  cattle  more  profitable 
than  the  said  Herefords,  if  well  bred. 

From  the  same  volume  of  the  "Cultivator"  wo 
quote  (p.  104)  the  following  editorial  matter: 

"One  of  the  most  important  importations  of 
cattle  and  sheep  that  has  ever  taken  place  in 
this  country  has  just  been  made  by  the  Honor- 
able Erastus  Corning  of -this  city  and  Wm.  H. 
Sotham  of  Jefferson  County.  It  consists,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  list  given  in  another  part  of 


HEREFORD   STEER,  2  YEARS  11   MONTHS  OLD, CHAMPION  AT  BIRMINGHAM  AND  SMITHFIELD,  1853. 
(Bred  by  T.  Carter,  Dodmore,  near  Ludlow,  Herefordshire;  fed  by  Mr.  Heath  of  Norfolk.) 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


111 


this  paper,  of  twelve  cows,  calves  and  heifers 
and  twenty-five  sheep.  The  cattle  are  of  the 
Hereford  breed  from  Herefordshire,  and  the 
very  best  animals  that  could  be  selected.  The 
sheep  are  of  large  size,  being  the  Cotswold,  cross 
with  the  Bakewell,  and  probably  as  fine  animals 
of  the  kind  as  ever  imported.  No  one  can  avoid 
being  struck  with  the  extraordinary  size  of  the 
cows,  their  fine  forms,  their  muscular  develop- 
ment, denoting  strength  and  power,  and  show- 
ing the  basis  of  the  reputation  which  the  Here- 
fords  formerly  had  for  working  cattle,  and  now 
have  for  feeding.  The  expense  of  the  importa- 
tion was  nearlv  $8,000. 


feeders,  and  the  Michaelmas  fair  of  Hereford 
is  one  of  the  finest  shows  of  the  kingdom. 

"We  copy  the  following  from  the  Encyclo- 
pedia published  by  the  Society  for  the  Diffusion 
of  Useful  Knowledge,  Vol.  XII,  article,  "Here- 
fordshire," as  an  accurate  account  of  the  gen- 
eral qualities  of  the  breed  : 

"  'The  prevalent  breed  of  cattle  is  that  for 
which  this  country  is  justly  noted;  their  color 
is  red  with  white  or  mottled  faces,  and  fre- 
quently white  along  the  back  and  about  the 
legs.  Good  milkers  'are  occasionally  found 
among  the  cows,  and  it  is  possible  that  a  race 
might  be  reared  from  this  stock  that  would  be 


HEREFORD  OX,  4  YEARS  OLD,  CHAMPION  AT  SMITHFIELD,  1863. 
(Bred  by  T.  L.  Meire,  Shropshire;  fed  by  Mr.  Heath  of  Norfolk.) 


"The  attention  of  cattle  breeders  has  within 
a  few  years  been  much  directed  in  England  to 
the  improved  Herefords,  and  principally  in 
consequence  of  the  numerous  prizes  which  these 
cattle  have  taken  at  the  great  cattle  shows  of 
Smithfield,  and  lately  at  the  fairs  of  the  En- 
glish Agricultural  Society.  Although  they 
have  not  in  general  reached  the  great  weight  of 
some  of  the  improved  Durhams,  yet  the  rapidity 
with  which  they  take  on  flesh,  the  superior  ex- 
cellence of  the  beef  and  their  early  maturity 
render  them  great  favorites  with  the  English 


useful  for  the  pail.  But  dairy  farming  is  never 
practiced  here,  and  the  milk  of  the  cows  which 
are  kept  only  for  breeding  is  given  to  the  calves. 
"  'It  was  formerly  the  custom  to  work  oxen 
at  three  or  four  years  old,  and  to  feed  and  send 
them  to  market  at  five ;  but  there  is  now  a  com- 
plete change  of  system.  The  oxen  are  no  longer 
worked,  but  are  commonly  fed  when  they  are 
two  years  old  and  sent  to  market  before  they 
are  three.  Their  early  maturity  and  the  readi- 
ness with  which  they  fatten  make  them  suitable 
for  this  system  of  farming.  Graziers  from  the 


112 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


south  and  middle  of  England  drive  a  large 
number  of  this  popular  stock  from  the  Here- 
ford Candlemas  and  October  fairs. 

"  'The  Hereford  ox  fattens  more  rapidly  than 
the  Devon  and  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of 
food  consumed  lays  on  a  greater  weight  of  flesh 
than  a  Durham  ox.  The  result  of  a  trial  of  this 
kind  may  be  seen  at  page  34  of  Youatt's  "Cat- 
tle." That  the  flesh  of  the  Hereford  is  of  finer 
quality  than  the  Durhams  is  proved  by  the  su- 
perior price  per  .stone  which  it  obtains  in  the 
Smithfield  market.' 

"Comparatively  few  of  the  Herefords  have 
as  yet  been  introduced  into  this  country.  Mr. 
Bement  of  this  city  has  a  bull  and  a  cow  of  this 
breed  which  are  fine  animals.  The  Honorable 
W.  C.  Rives  of  Virginia,  and  the  Honorable 
Henry  Clay  of  Kentucky  have  made  importa- 
tions of  these  animals  and  they  have  been  in 
their  possession  so  long  that  either  of  these  gen- 
tlemen could  speak  fully  of  their  value  as  com- 
pared with  the  Shorthorns,  in  the  points  of  feed- 
ing, milk,  and  endurance  of  our  climate,  and 
we  think  at  this  time,  when  attention  is  turned 
to  the  subject,  they  will  confer  a  great  benefit 
on  the  American  public  by  stating  the  result  of 
their  experience  and  their  opinions  with  regard 
to  these  cattle.  We  need  not  say  we  should  be 


happy  to  be  the  medium  of  presenting  such  his- 
tory and  opinions  to  the  public. 

"We  have  presented  these  remarks  in  the 
hope  of  eliciting  from  some  who  are  qualiiied 
for  the  task,  a  discussion  of  the  comparative 
merits  of  the  Herefords  and  the  Shorthorns  and 
their  adaptation  to  our  country  for  the  purposes 
of  feeding  and  the  dairy.  Both  are  valuable 
breeds;  the  question  to  be  decided  is,  which,  in 
all  respects,  is  the  most  proper  for  us  ?" 

It  will  be  noticed  in  the  foregoing  that  the 
"Cultivator"'  quotes  the  encyclopedia  published 
by  the  Society  for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful 
Knowledge,  Vol.  XII,  article,  "Herefordshire." 
It  should  be  compared  with  the  same  society's 
Youatt  book.  We  call  attention  to  that  por- 
tion of  the  "Cultivator's"  quotations  in  italics 
(which  are  our  own).  Will  the  Shorthorn  men 
recognize  them  as  facts?  In  the  same  volume, 
p.  158,  a  correspondent  of  the  "Cultivator"  says 
as  follows: 

"Among  the  recent  importations  for  improve- 
ment that  have  taken  place  in  this  state  is  that 
of  Hereford  cattle  and  Cotswold  sheep,  by 
Messrs.  Corning  &  Sotham  of  Albany.  At- 
tracted by  a  letter  of  Mr.  Sotham  that  appeared 
in  the  July  number  of  the  'Cultivator/  when 
down  last  month,  I  made  an  inspection  of  these 


HEREFORD  OX  AT  4  TEARS;  CHAMPION  AT  SMITHFIELD,  1868. 


HISTO&Y    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


superb  animals  that  gave  me  a  very  different 
opinion  than  I  have  heretofore  entertained  of 
these  breeds.  All  other  Herefords  that  I  had 
previously  examined,  in  comparison  with  these, 
though  noble  in  appearance,  had  large  heads, 
thick  necks,  narrow  hips  and  thin  loins,  com- 
pared with  the  best  Shorthorns,  but  these  nearly 
approach  them  now  in  all  such  particulars,  espe- 
cially in  the  great  width  of  the  hip  bones, 
showing  a  capacity,  when  well  fed,  to  place  their 
meat  in  those  parts  where  it  is  most  valuable, 
and  I  cannot  but  coincide  in  the  remark  of  one 
of  our  most  distinguished  breeders  of  Durhams, 
'that  on  the  right  soil  they  would  give  the 
Shorthorns  enough  to  do  to  maintain  their 


native  dairy  cows,  they  could  be  called  even  fair 
milkers.  It  is  apparent,  therefore,  that  in  the 
general  purposes  of  improving  our  native  stock 
the  Herefords  cannot  be  rivals  to  the  Durhams 
at  least  till  they  are  further  advanced  to  good 
milkers,  which  will  then  make  them  but  in  fact 
another  race  of  improved  Shorthorns.  Yet,  if 
the  Herefords  yield  to  the  Durhams  at  the 
dairy,  in  the  yoke  they  must  be  far  superior  to 
any  other  of  the  ox  kind,  for  they  have  nearly 
the  quick  step,  the  fine  bone,  the  sinew  and 
muscle  of  the  Devon,  with  a  much  greater 
weight  and  size.  I  could  not  but  admire  the 
great  length  and  rotundity  of  the  barrel,  the 
smooth,  powerful  structure  of  their  frames,  and 


HEREFORD    OX,    2    YEARS    OLD:    CHAMPION    AT   SMITHFIELD,    1882. 
(Bred  by  Mr.  F.  Platt.) 


present  high  position.'  But  how  are  they  en- 
abled to  accomplish  this?  Why,  only  by  ap- 
proaching Shorthorn  perfection  in  these  par- 
ticulars. Yet,  at  present  they  are  only  the 
graziers'  and  butchers'  stock;  for,  though  Mr. 
Sotham  talks  of  their  good  milking  qualities, 
I  must  confess  that  though  I  eyed  them  sharp- 
ly, and  handled  them  closely,  I  was  not  favored 
with  any  such  discoveries  in  their  veins,  nor 
did  the  appearance  of  their  udders  make  up  at 
all  for  this  deficiency,  and  I  should  require 
some  proof  of  the  facts  before  I  could  be  con- 
vinced that  even  in  comparison  with  our  good 


clean,  elastic  limbs.  In  fact,  as  workers,  they 
seem  to  me  to  be  that  happy  medium  on  the 
race  of  oxen  that  I  am  so  desirous  of  seeing 
cultivated  more  generally  in  horses ;  neither  the 
light  mettlesome  racer  on  the  one  hand,  nor 
the  slow,  fleshy  cart-horse  on  the  other,  but  the 
superior  and  more  happily  mixed  general  utili- 
tarian. To  those  who  are  breeding  working 
oxen,  or  stock  expressly  for  the  butcher,  I  would 
strongly  recommend  these  Herefords.  I  should 
think  them  particularly  well  adapted  to  the 
rich  interior  of  the  Western  states,  where  cattle 
must  be  driven  a  great  distance  to  market.  In 


114 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


that  case  the  blood  of  the  Devons,  to  which  the 
Herefords  are  so  nearly  allied,  could  not  but 
tell,  like  that  of  the  thoroughbred  racer  on  the 
course." 

In  the  same  volume  of  the  "Cultivator,"  p.  28, 
there  is  an  essay  on  cattle  by  Henry  S.  Randall. 
Of  the  Herefords  he  says  as  follows : 

"The  Hereford  ox  is  supposed  to  be  descend- 
ed from  the  same  stock  with  the  Devon,  but  is 
larger,  heavier  in  the  bone,  usually  of  a  darker 
red  or  brown  color,  with  a  white  face,  throat 
and  belly.  They  are  shorter-legged  than  the 


HEREFORD   CATHEDRAL. 

Devon,  hardier  and  kindlier  feeders,  but  less 
docile  in  temper,  and  even  worse  milkers.  In- 
deed, a  Hereford  cow  is  rarely  seen  in  an  En- 
glish dairy.  Their  hardihood  and  great  muscu- 
lar power  give  them  the  first  rank  among 
working  cattle.  This,  together  with  their  su- 
perior grazing  qualities,  has  led  to  their  intro- 
duction into  the  United  States,  by  the  Hon.  H. 
Clay  of  Kentucky  and  several  other  individuals. 
But  it  is  probable  that  their  deficiency  in  milk- 
ing properties  will  always  prevent  their  very 
general  adoption,  either  as  a  cross  or  in  a  pure 
state." 

This,  as  well  as  what  is  further  stated,  is 
selected  mainly  from  Youatt  (by  Berry),  and 
the  essay  has  the  evidence  in  itself  as  being 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  forward  the  Short- 
horns. Mr.  C.  W.  Bement  notices  Mr.  Ran- 
dall's reference  to  Herefords  in  the  same  vol- 
ume, page  125 : 

"I  was  much  gratified  on  perusing  the  excel- 
lent 'Essay  on  Cattle'  in  the  February  num- 
ber of  the  'Cultivator,'  from  your  talented  cor- 
respondent Henry  S.  Randall,  Esq.  His  short, 
pithy  histoty  of  several  varieties  is  well  calcu- 
lated to  arrest  the  attention  of  farmers,  and 
guide  them  in  the  selection  of  that  breed  best 
adapted  to  the  different  sections  and  purposes, 


for  which  they  may  be  wanted,  whether  for  the 
dairy,  yoke  or  shambles.  For  instance,  where 
the  climate  is  mild,  and  a  full  and  rich  bite  of 
grass  at  hand,  and  the  dairy  and  beef  the  ob- 
ject, I  would  by  all  means  recommend  the  Dur- 
hams;  but  where  the  climate  is  cold,  seasons 
short,  land  rough  and  hilly,  with  a  short  and 
sweet  bite  of  grass,  with  labor  and  beef  the 
object,  I  would  recommend  the  Hereford  or 
Devon ;  and  at  the  Northwest,  in-  Missouri,  Illi- 
nois and  Wisconsin,  where  only  beef  is  wanted, 
and  where  they  have  to  be  driven  any  great 
distance  to  market,  from  what  I  have  seen  and 
can  learn,  the  Hereford  certainly  would  be 
preferable,  being  hardy  in  constitution,  good 
travelers,  of  great  size,  will  fat  at  an  early  age, 
and  will  make  more  pounds  of  beef  with  the 
quantity  of  food  consumed,  and  when  better 
known  in  market  will  command  the  highest 
price/' 

Mr.  R.  L.  Allen  says,  as  follows,  on  p.  112: 
"The  best  specimens  I  have  seen  are  the  Here- 
fords recently  imported  by  Mr.  Sotham,  and 
now  in  the  neighborhood  of  Albany;  but  as  he 
promises  a  description  in  your  journal,  we  may 
all  hope  to  know  more  about  a  breed  that  has 
for  a  long  time  assuredly  been  held  in  high 
estimation  abroad." 

Mr.  J.  H.  Hepburn,  on  page  102,  says: 
"Another  matter  of  surprise,  not  only  to  me 
but  to  many  others  who  derive  their  book  knowl- 
edge of  these  matters  from  your  paper,  is  the 
effort  now  apparently  making  both  in  England 
and  America  to  elevate  a  different  breed  of  cat- 
tle over  the  heads  of  the  Durhams.  I  have  par- 
ticularly examined  the  account  of  the  recently 
imported  Herefords  in  the  few  last  numbers 
of  the  'Cultivator,'  and  read  the  appended  rec- 
ommendations. I  have  never  seen  a  sample  of 
the  Herefords,  but  have  been  familiar  with 
their  history  as  recorded  by  MR.  YOUATT  in  his 
work  on  'British  Cattle;'  and  taking  the  text 
as  laid  down  by  him  minutely,  the  recent  dis- 
coveries of  excellencies  in  these  cattle,  calculated 
to  place  them  before  the  Durhams  or  Short- 
horns, have  been  matters  of  considerable  sur- 
prise. This,  to  some  of  the  advocates  of  the 
Herefords,  may  sound  strange,  but  the  strange- 
ness of  the  observation  will  disappear,  if  they 
examine  fully  the  chapters  devoted  by  MR. 
YOUATT  to  the  different  breeds  of  cattle,  in 
what  may  be  now,  strictly  speaking,  called  their 
native  country.  If  I  understand  the  work  re- 
ferred to,  the  engravings  in  it  are  calculated  for 
correct  representations  of  the  living  animals; 
and,  independent  of  the  writings,,  they  alone 
will  be  sufficient  to  satisfy  any  breeder  that 
some  of  the  allegations  made  of  the  superiori- 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


115 


ties  of  the  recent  importations  of  Herefords, 
if  they  resemble  their  progenitors,  cannot  be 
correct.  If  these  statements  are  correct,  and 
the  appearance  and  test  of  the  animals  will  prove 
it,  then  improvement  has  been  extended  to 
them.  //  they  have  now  properties  that  the 
breed  in  the  time  of  YOUATT'S  writings  had  not 
[but  five  years  previous.  T.  L.  M.],  it  is  a  very 
important  question  to  know  how  they  have  ac- 
quired those  properties.  MR.  YOUATT  says: 
'The  Hereford  cow  is  apparently  a  very  inferior 
animal.  Not  only  is  she  no  milker,  but  her 
form  has  been  sacrificed  by  the  breeder.'  These 
observations  or  these  assertions  of  positive  facts, 
for  such  we  must  take  them  to  be  when  from  a 
standard  work,  do  not  read  well  with  the  recent 
assertions  of  Mr.  Sotham  and  Mr.  Bement — the 
first  of  whom  holds  out  the  idea  that  they  are 
equal  to  the  Shorthorn  or  Durham,  and  the 
latter  that  they  are  very  good  milkers  and  large. 
The  latter  gentleman,  however,  states  that  he 
has  understood  their  qualities  for  milk  have 
been  'recently  improved/  How  have  they  been 
improved  in  their  quality  for  milk?  Not,  cer- 
tainly, by  breeding  among  themselves,  for  the 
trite  and  true  axiom  is  settled,  I  believe,  that 
'like  begets  like.'  If,  then,  the  Herefords  in 
the  time  of  YOUATT,  and  for  years  before  that, 
wore  no  'milkers,'  how  has  the  present  improve- 
ment in  that  quality  been  effected?  It  must 
have  been  by  the  aid  of  some  other  breed,  cele- 
brated for  their  possession  of  that  quality,  and 
by  whose  aid,  also,  the  form  of  the  Hereford 
cow  has  been  so  materially  improved,  for  Mr. 
Sotham  says  his  are  fine  looking  animals,  and 
so  says  Mr.  R.  L.  Allen,  if  I  recollect  right, 
who  states  that  he  saw  them  near  Albany. 

"Now,  Messrs.  Editors,  may  it  not  be  pos- 
sible that  we  are  at  the  commencement  of  an- 
other 'stock  mania,'  by  which  John  Bull  is 
about  to  realize  thousands  from  the  farmers  of 
America  by  selling  them  a  compound  breed  of 
beautiful  cattle,  the  essential  qualities  of  which 
have  been  derived  and  that  very  recently,  from 
the  Shorthorns,  that  we  have  been  making  heavy 
importations  of,  for  years  back  ?  Let  any  candid 
man  answer  the  question  for  his  own  satisfac- 
tion. See  what  the  Herefords  were;  hear  what 
they  are  now,  and  then  say  if  there  is  any  im- 
propriety in  charging  their  admitted  'recent 
improvement'  in  points  in  which  Shorthorns 
excel,  to  an  admixture  with  them.  If  such  is 
the  fact,  and  we  have  a  number  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  the  Shorthorns,  cannot  we,  by 
judicious  crossings  and  attention  to  these  mat- 
ters breed,  for  ourselves,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the 
expression,  a  breed  of  cattle  without  expending 
enormous  sums  to  pay  our  trans- Atlantic  neigh- 


bors for  doing  work  that  we  ought  now  to  do 
for  ourselves?  The  state  of  the  times  is  such 
as  to  call  loudly  upon  every  man  in  every  sta- 
tion of  society  to  do  his  duty  to  himself  and 
to  his  country;  and  I  state  it  boldly,  without 
fear  of  contradiction,  that  there  is  now  abun- 
dant material  in  our  own  country  to  retain,  by 
judicious  breeding,  the  purity  of  the  full-bred 
Durham,  and  to  commingle  their  perfections 
with  the  stock  of  our  own  country,  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  produce  a  race  of  animals  equal 
to  that  of  any  other  country  under  the  sun, 
for  dairy  qualities  as  well  as  for  the  butcher." 

The  reader  of  to-day  will  see  the  Shorthorn 
advocate  quoting  Youatt  (Berry).  At  page 
161  is  the  following  letter  written  by  Mr.  So- 
tham, from  Portsmouth: 

"Messrs.  Gay  lord  &  Tucker:  I  am  so  far 
on  my  journey  with  the  best  lot  of  stock  ever 
seen  together.  They  consist  of  the  following 
[sheep  omitted.  T.  L.  M.]  : 

"One  Hereford  cow  [Spot  1074  —  alias 
Matchless,  T.  L.  M.]  that  won  the  first  prize  at 
Oxford,  1839,  against  all  England,  and  a  young 
bull  [Young  Prize  1070  (2333)  T.  L.  M.] 
from  her  eleven  months  old. 

"Two  five-year-old  Hereford  heifers.  These 
heifers  are  in  calf  by  Dangerous  1619  (419), 


CITY  OF  HEREFORD,  CATHEDRAL  AND  WYE  BRIDGE. 

a  yearling  bull  that  is  to  be  shown  against  all 
England  next  year. 

"One  half-bred  between  the  Hereford  and 
Durham  to  show  the  cross,  which  I  think  is  an 
excellent  one,  probably  better  than  the  pure- 
bred of  either  and  from  what  I  saw  of  Mr. 
Cother's  stock,  of  Middle  Aston,  it  might  be 
extended  much  further  than  is  generally  sup- 
posed, for  his  fourth  cross  was  equal  to  the 
first — not  the  least  sign  of  degeneration.  Of 
this  I  will  say  more  when  I  have  more  time,  for 
it  is  now  precious.  *  *  * 


116 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


"We  shall  show  a  number  of  our  cattle  at  the 
show  at  Niblo's,  in  October,  where  we  invite  the 
owners  of  the  best  cattle  in  America  to  appear 
against  us  (with  the  best  of  feeling),  for  it  is 
opposition  and  competition  that  spurs  us  on 
to  superiority,  but  prejudice  must  be  put  out  of 
the  question.  Let  reality  be  our  helmsman  and 
perseverance  our  motto,  and  then  our  country 
can  be  equal  in  stock  to  any  on  the  globe.  It 
all  depends  on  the  people.  *  *  * 

"Mr.  Hewer  has  numerous  backers,  if  he  will 
allow  it,  to  show  from  one  sheep  to  a  hundred 
against  any  person  in  the  world,  either  ewes  or 
rams.  He  has  been  very  careless  about  showing 
his  sheep  and  cattle,  having  met  with  a  ready 
sale  without  it. 

"I  am,  dear  sirs,  yours  sincerely, 

"WM.  HY.  SOTHAM. 

"Portsmouth,  Aug.  24,  1840." 

We  find  the  following  letter  from  Mr.  Sotham 
at  page  176.  We  quote  from  this: 

"Messrs.  Gaylord  &  Tucker:  *  *  *  In 
perusing  your  valuable  paper  I  noticed  an  ar- 


HEREFORDSH1RE   FARMYARD    SCENE. 
(Taken  at  Mr.  Newton  Moore's,   Sutton.) 

ticle  from  Mr.  Randall  on  cattle,  which  dif- 
fered widely  from  my  opinion  in  many  in- 
stances. I  cannot  say  I  agree  with  him  or  his 
quotations  on  Herefords.  I  am  sorry  to  dis- 
pute a  person  who  has  so  much  zeal  for  his 
country,  but  I  know  his  good  sense  will  hark 
back  to  a  fault  if  caught  on  a  bad  scent.  When 
he  catches  me  running  the  same  course  I  will 
hail  his  correction  with  pleasure  and  profit 
from  his  good  intention. 

"He  says :  'They  are  larger  boned,  usually  of 
a  darker  red,  or  browner  color  than  the  Devon 
and  even  worse  milkers;  indeed,  a  Hereford 
cow  is  rarely  seen  in  an  English  dairy/  Prob- 
ably he  might  have  made  these  assertions 
twenty  or  thirty  years  ago  without  fear  of  con- 


tradiction, but  no  practical  man  of  the  present 
day  will  allow  them  to  pass  with  impunity,  un- 
noticed. The  Herefords,  like  everything  else 
that  is  looking  towards  perfection,  have  met 
many  unjust  accusations,  and  I  must  say  that 
breed,  with  the  Cotswold  sheep,  have  had  to 
contend  against  prejudice  and  abuse  in  Eng- 
land more  than  any  other  breeds  ever  ex- 
hibited; but  they  have  fought  their  up-hill 
course  with  great  credit;  their  good  qualities 
have  triumphed  even  over  the  most  prejudicial, 
and  have  won  a  permanent  standing  in  the  esti- 
mation of  the  first  breeders  that  will  not  be 
easily  forestalled.  The  Hereford  oxen  have 
taken  the  first  prize  in  each  class  at  the  Smith- 
field  shows  for  the  last  two  years.  *  * 

"I  must  say  to  Mr.  Randall  that  the  pure 
Herefords  are  not  larger  and  heavier  in  their 
bone;  there  is  as  much  good  breeding  shown 
in  their  limbs  as  any  breed  in  existence.  The 
working  oxen  are  as  good  and  as  docile  as  any, 
and  I  think  I  can  forward  a  Hereford  cow  that 
will  fill  the  pail  as  high  as  most  Durhams  or 
Devons,  and  if  Mr.  Randall  will  take  an  ocular 
survey  of  English  dairies  he  will  find  in  them 
more  Herefords  and  crosses  from  them  than 
any  other  breed,  though  the  best  breeds  of  cattle 
are  far  between,  even  in  England.  This  con- 
demnation has  arisen  more  from  theory  and 
hearsay  than  practice.  The  best  proof  of  this 
is  to  refer  Mr.  Randall  to  Class  5  of  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  at  Oxford,  1839,  and  he 
will  there  find  that  the  Hereford  cow  won  the 
first  prize  against  all  England,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  judges,  as  the  best  calculated  for  dairy 
purposes ;  the  Durham  obtained  the  second.  This 
is  a  quotation  that  cannot  be  disputed,  and  one 
much  calculated  to  retrieve  the  injured  char- 
acter of  the  Herefords  as  milkers — though  an 
animal  that  can  be  fattened  with  facility  is 
sufficient  recommendation,  as  the  steer,  the  ox 
and  the  cow  must  ultimately  come  to  the  sham- 
bles. A  pure-bred  Hereford  bull  will  cross  well 
with  any  breed,  and  I  shall  be  much  disap- 
pointed if  they  do  not  afford  more  actual  bene- 
fit to  the  United  States  than  any  other  breed 
ever  imported.  It  was  this  impression  that  in- 
duced me  to  give  them  the  decided  preference. 
The  female  Durham  is  thought  to  be  a  better 
cross  with  other  breeds  than  the  bull.  Mr. 
Randall,  in  extolling  the  Durhams,  quotes  from 
the  'Farmer's  Series'  the  following: 

"  'In  early  maturity  they  have  confessedly  no 
rivals,  being  ready  for  the  butcher  for  from  two 
to  four  years  earlier  than  the  other  English 
breeds.'  I  should  imagine  his  author  meant 
Herefords  when  he  advanced  this ;  if  not,  prac- 
tice and  experience  will  admit  them  to  have  at 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


117 


least  one  year  in  advance  of  all  others ;  beyond 
this  would  look  too  much  like  fiction,  for  it 
must  be  deemed  unprofitable  to  keep  steers  over 
three  years,  unless  for  use  of  the  yoke.  Here- 
fords  decidedly  hold  the  first  place  in  England 
for  early  maturity  and  a  tendency  to  the  secre- 
tion of  fat.  They  often  go  to  market  at  two 
years  old. 

"In  my  opinion,  good  hips  and  rumps  with 
expanded  chest  in  cow  or  bull  are  very  promi- 
nent points.  A  kind  chop,  a  straight  chine 
well  lined  with  good  quality  of  flesh,  backed  up 
by  good  round  sides,  straight  with  the  shoulder, 
are  valuable  acquisitions  when  you  cannot  get 
perfection.  There  are  more  cattle  fail  behind 
the  shoulders  than  any  other  point,  and  when 
this  is  the  case  they  are  apt  to  show  much 
paunch,  which,  to  me,  is  a  very  great  objection; 
reason  seems  to  say:  exorbitant  belly,  consumes 
much  food,  very  unprofitable,  and  are  not  so 
apt  to  fatten ;  this  I  have  frequently  noticed 
minutely,  and  invariably  found  it  so.  Flesh 
hides  a  multiplicity  of  faults,  but  will  never 
hide  this,  which  I  consider  a  very  important 
one. 

"There  is  also  much  to  be  learnt  in  feeding 
cattle,  and  it  is  very  essential  to  discover  the 


daily  consumption  of  each  beast  so  as  to  give 
them  just  as  much  as  they  will  eat,  leaving  a 
clear  manger  to  sleep  over;  if  they  have  hay 
before  them  to  blow  on  it  weakens  the  appe- 
tite almost  to  satiety.  If  a  beast  is  cloyed  with 
any  kind  of  food  he  does  not  relish  it  again  for 
many  days.  Cattle,  when  feeding,  require  much 
water,  and  it  is  very  essential.  A  person  who 
has  a  thorough  knowledge  of  feeding,  sees,  im- 
mediately he  enters  the  stable,  whether  his 
cattle  have  been  regularly  and  sufficiently  fed 
and  watered;  if  they  are  at  all  restless,  they 
are  not  satisfied,  and  it  is  a  certain  omen  of 
something  wrong.  They  should  not  be  dis- 
turbed more  than  absolutely  necessary;  the 
more  quiet  they  are  kept,  the  better  they  thrive. 
Much  has  been  said  on  feeding  raw  potatoes 
to  cattle.  I  think  them  valuable,  given  in  a 
limited  degree.  The  generality  of  farmers  give 
too  many,  which  loosens  the  bowels,  without 
aiding  the  body.  They  can  be  well  supplied 
with  meal  once  a  day,  so  as  not  to  affect  the 
quietness  of  the  stomach.  The  Swede  (better 
known  in  America  as  rutabaga)  may  be  fed 
more  extensively.  They  suit  both  the  palate 
and  constitution,  and  are  a  very  profitable  root 
to  the  farmer.  England  would  be  lost  without 


"THE    WOODLEYS,"    WOOTON.    OXFORDSHIRE.  ENG. 
(Estate  of  the  Sotham  family;  birthplace  of  Wm.  H,  Sotham.) 


118 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


it,  as  it  is  fed  to  advantage  to  many  kinds  of 
animals. 

"The  breeders  of  stock  and  tillers  of  soil 
ought  to  he  intimately  united,  or  the  antic- 
ipated improvement  in  husbandry  will  end  in 
disappointment.  Could  we  establish  agricul- 
tural societies  and  combine  in  friendship,  the 
more  AVC  met  together  and  the  oftener  we  dis- 
cussed subjects  connected  with  agricultural 
matters,  the  greater  would  be  the  advantages 
that  would  ensue.  I  hope  this  feeling  will  be 
established  in  Jefferson  County  and  that  we 
shall  be  able  to  meet  together  to  awaken  the 
farming  interest  and  promote  the  public  good. 
"I  am,  dear  sirs,  yours  most  sincerely, 

WM.  H.  SOTHAM. 
"Perch  Lake  Farm,  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y., 

1840. 

"N.  B. — I  have  met  with  the  last  three  num- 
bers of  your  valuable  paper  since  writing  the 
above,  and  will  answer  all  reference  to  my  com- 
munication in  your  next." 

It  is  most  notable  that  Mr.  Sotham  advo- 
cated a  system  in  1840  akin  to  the  all-prevail- 
ing "Agricultural  Institute"  of  to-day.  He  was 
half  a  century  ahead  of  his  time. 

In  same  volume,  pp.  193-4,  we  quote  H.  S. 
Randall  in  full : 


"Messrs.  Gaylord  &  Tucker:  In  the  August 
number  of  the  'Cultivator'  Mr.  Bement  of  Al- 
bany expresses  the  opinion  that  the  statement 
made  by  me  in  a  previous  number,  'that  the 
Durham  would  lose  in  milking  properties  by  a 
cross  with  the  Devon  or  Hereford'  was  incorrect. 
Mr.  Bement's  skill  as  a  breeder  and  his  candor 
as  a  gentleman,  to  both  of  which  I  am  happy 
to  bear  ample  testimony,  entitle  his  opinion  to 
much  respect.  The  subject,  too,  derives  addi- 
tional interest  from  the  recent  importation  of 
Herefords  and  the  introduction  of  several  valu- 
able herds  of  Devons  into  our  state. 

"The  essay  of  mine  from  which  Mr.  Bemrnt 
quotes  was  designed  rather  to  correct  several 
popular  errors  than  to  furnish  a  text-book  for 
the  scientific  breeder.  But  brief  and  imperfect 
as  was  the  account  it  contained  of  the  Here- 
fords,  much  subsequent  examination  of  both 
English  writers  and  living  English  breeders 
has  only  confirmed  me  in  the  correctness  of  the 
positions  therein  assumed,  particularly  of  the 
one  controverted  by  Mr.  B.  His  evidence, 
founded  on  the  results  of  his  own  experience, 
is  good  as  far  as  it  goes,  but  a  few  instances 
does  not  establish  a  rule.  The  entire  prepon- 
derance of  testimony,  both  of  writers  and  breed- 
ers in  England,  is  against  the  milking  proper- 


"THE  WOODLEYS,"  OXFORDSHIRE.     (Birthplace  of  Wm.  H.  Sotham.    Rear  view.) 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


119 


ties  both  of  the  Devon  and  the  Hereford.  The 
work  on  BRITISH  CATTLE,  BY  MR.  YOUATT,  is 
acknowledged  the  standard  work  of  the  day  on 
the  subject  on  which  it  treats.  Mr.  Bement  re- 
lies on  it  as  his  authority  in  favor  of  the  Here- 
fords.  On  the  same  page  from  which  he  quotes,  I 
find  the  following  (one  would  think)  conclusive 
statements :  "The  Herefords  are  far  worse  milk- 
ers than  the  Devons.  This  is  so  generally  ac- 
knowledged that  while  there  are  many  dairies 
of  Devon  cows  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
none  of  which,  however,  are  very  profitable  to 
their  owners,  a  dairy  of  Herefords  is  rarely 
found.'  Again,  'the  Hereford  cow  is  apparently 
a  very  inferior  animal.  Not  only  is  she  no 
milker  but  even  her  form  has  been  sacrificed  by 
the  breeder/  Our  friend  of  the  Three  Hills 
Farm,  is,  I  presume,  too  good  a  lawyer  to  at- 
tempt to  invalidate  his  own  witness.  If  such  are 
facts,  how  are  we  to  suppose  that  the  Shorthorn, 
concededly  the  first  breed  in  England  or  Amer- 
ica as  milkers,  will  suffer  no  deterioration  in 
this  property  by  a  cross  with  a  breed  so  decid- 
edly inferior?  Whatever  results  individual  ex- 
periments have  led  to,  such  a  position  would  be 
at  variance  with  every  established  maxim  of 
breeding. 

"I  desire  to  be  distinctly  understood  in  my 
remarks  as  taking  no  ground  against  either  the 
Devon  or  the  Hereford,  except  in  the  single 
point  involved  in  this  controversy.  The  stylish 
and  highbred  Devon  has  always  been  a  decided 
favorite  with  me.  Of  the  Herefords,  I  know 
little  personally,  but  am  prepared  from  the 
Kiiylish  publications  of  the  day  as  well  as  the 
testimony  of  American  breeders,  to  believe  that 
in  positions  suited  to  them  they  may  be  regard- 
ed as  a  valuable  acquisition  to  our  American 
breeds  of  cattle.  On  the  large  and  little  culti- 
vated prairie  farms  of  the  western  states,  where 
early  maturity  and  milking  qualities  are  of  lit- 
tle consequence  and  where  they  must  be  driven 
great  distances  to  market,  the  Herefords  can 
have  few  equals.  The  Hon.  Henry  Clay,  of 
Kentucky,  was  the  first  importer  of  this  breed 
into  the  United  States,  and  the  folio  wing,  ex- 
tracts from  a  letter  which  I  received  from  him, 
bearing  date  Sept.  21,  will,  I  doubt  not,  be  read 
with  much  interest: 

"  'I  first  imported,  upwards  of  twenty  years 
ago,  two  pairs  of  the  Hereford  reds,  and  bred 
from  crosses  between  them  until  I  was  induced 
to  discontinue  in  consequence  of  an  apprehen- 
sion tbat  I  should  breed  in  too  far,  which  in 
some  instances  I  found  to  be  the  case.  I  could 
not  obtain  conveniently  crosses  from  other 
females  of  the  same  race.' 

"Mr.  Clay  afterwards  remarks :   'My  opinion 


is  that  the  Herefords  make  better  work  cattle, 
are  hardier,  and  will,  upon  being  fattened,  take 
themselves  to  market  better  than  their  rivals. 
They  are  also  fair  milkers.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  Durhams,  I  think,  have  the  advantage  in 
earlier  maturity,  in  beauty,  and  in  the  quality 
of  milk  which  they  will  yield.  They  will  also 
attain  greater  weight  and  size  even. 

"  'The  choice  between  the  two  races  should 
be  regulated  somewhat  by  circumstances.  If 
one  has  rich,  long  and  luxuriant  grasses,  afford- 
ing a  good  bite,  and  has  not  too  far  to  drive  to 
market,  he  had  better  breed  the  Durhams; 
otherwise,  the  Herefords.' 


HEREFORD  COW,   "MATCHLESS,"   ALIAS   "SPOT." 

(V.   5,   P.   113)  1074. 

(Bred  by  J.   Turner,   Noke   Court,   Herefordshire;  imported 

by   Wm.   H.   Sotham.     First  prize   R.   A.    S.   E.   show 

at  Oxford,  1839;  dam  of  the  first  prize  yearling 

bull    at    the    same    show.) 

"After  some  remarks  in  relation  to  the  origin 
of  the  two  races,  he  continues :  'The  Herefords 
resemble  the  Devons — the  race  of  New  England 
cattle,  and  a  fine  race  it  is.  But  the  Herefords 
have  the  advantage  over  them  of  greater  size, 
greater  length,  more  power  consequently  for 
draft,  and  are,  I  think,  quite  as  quick  in  the 
step  and  as  good  at  the  pail.' 

"  'I  have  thus,' he  says, 'expressed  my  opinion ; 
but  I  must  add  that  here  in  Kentucky,  the 
Durhams  are  generally  preferred  to  all  other 
races.  Our  grasses  are  rich  and  abundant,  and 
our  blue  grass  especially  (a  name  improperly 
given,  for  it  is  a  green  sward)  is  an  object  of 
great  admiration.  The  Durhams  are  much  more 
generally  distributed  than  the  Herefords,  there 
being  none  of  the  latter,  within  my  knowledge, 
but  what  have  sprung  from  my  importation.' 

"Mr.  Clay's  opinion  cannot  be  regarded  other- 
wise than  as  strong  testimony  in  favor  of  the 
Herefords,  though  I  presume  his  general  state- 
ments are  to  be  understood  to  apply  as  much 
to  his  mixed  as  to  his  pure-bred  animals.  That 
mixture  was  with  the  Shorthorn,  and  it  is  not 
impossible  that  this  drop  of  alien  blood  has  had 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


a  significant  bearing  on  their  'fair'  milking 
properties.  Nor  is  it  to  be  presumed  that  this 
cross  has  resulted  in  very  serious  deterioration 
to  the  Herefords  in  other  respects. 

"Since  writing  the  above  the  'Cultivator'  of 
November  has  come  to  hand,  containing  a  com- 
munication from  Mr.  Sotham  on  the  subject  of 
the  Herefords,  in  which  he  takes  the  same  posi- 
tion with  Mr.  Bement  in  relation  to  their  milk- 
ing properties,  and  also  denies  the  correctness 
of  other  portions  of  my  description  of  them,  in 
the  essay  already  alluded  to.  Mr.  Sotham  has 
doubtless  imported  some  very  valuable  animals. 
I  have  not  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them  but 
have  conversed  with  several  intelligent  breed- 


MR.  RUST'S  GRADE  HEREFORD  OX,  WEIGHT  3,700  LBS. 
(The  sensation  of  the  first  N.  Y.  S.  F.,  1841.) 

ers  who  have  examined  them  closely,  and  who 
speak  of  them  favorably.  One  gentleman  writes 
me:  'They  have  nearly  the  size  and  breadth 
of  loin  of  the  Durham,  but  are  coarser  in  the 
head  and  are  not  so  handsome.' 

"This  is  certainly  a  very  different  descrip- 
tion from  that  given  by  MR.  YOUATT.  How  are 
we  to  account  for  this  discrepancy  ?  It  is  but 
six  years  since  MR.  YOUATT  wrote,  and  his  re- 
marks, therefore,  cannot  be  supposed  to  apply 
to  the  breed  as  they  existed  'twenty  or  thirty 
years  ago,'  as  suggested  by  Mr.  Sotham.  It  is 
well  known,  too,  that  his  great  work  on  'British 
Cattle'  was  published  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Society  for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful  Knowledge, 
and  that  he  was  aided  in  it  by  the  first  breeders 
in  England,  who  are  equally  responsible  with 
himself  for  the  correctness  of  his  statements. 
Writing  with  little  individual  interest  or  bias 
of  his  own,  it  is  perfectly  apparent  through  his 
whole  work  that  it  is  his  aim  to  present  every 
breed  possessing  any  charms,  in  its  most  favor- 
able coloring.  The  quotations  made  by  me  are 
neither  isolated  nor  garbled  ones.  The  history 
of  the  struggle  between  the  Durhams  and  the 


Herefords,  as  well  as  the  Devons,  Lancashires, ; 
etc.,  is  the  same  throughout  nearly  all  the  most 
fertile  districts  of  England.  In  almost  every 
one  the  star  of  the  Shorthorns  has  risen  to  the 
ascendant.  It  strikes  me  as  idle  to  talk  of  'un- 
just accusations,'  'prejudice  and  abuse,'  as  di- 
rected towards  any  particular  breed.  The  con- 
test has  been  a  warm  one — many  severe  things 
have  been  said  on  both  sides,  but  how  are  we 
to  suppose  that  the  Herefords  have  been  more 
'abused'  or  called  on  to  encounter  more  'preju- 
dice' than  their  rivals?  One  would  naturally 
infer  precisely  the  contrary.  The  Herefords 
are  an  indigenous  breed — or,  at  all  events,  they 
separated  from  the  parent  stock  (the  Devon) 
at  a  period  'whereof  the  memory  of  man  run- 
neth not  to  the  contrary.'  On  the  other  hand, 
it  is  little  less  than  a  century  since  a  little  hand- 
ful of  cattle,  in  the  hands  of  three  or  four 
breeders,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tees,  were  at- 
taining that  superiority  which  has  since  as- 
serted itself  beyond  intervening  oceans,  on  the 
then  scarcely  discovered  Ohio.  'Prejudice'  is 
ordinarily  enlisted  on  the  side  of  antiquity  and 
opposition  to  innovation.  The  Herefords  were 
a  known  and  favorite  breed  long  before  the  im- 
proved family  of  Shorthorns  had  their  origin. 
The  Shorthorns  were  the  innovators — innova- 
tors in  size,  shape,  and  last,  but  not  least,  in 
popular  estimation,  color.  Is  it  not  they  instead 
of  their  opponents  which  have  been  made  the 
particular  victims  of  'abuse'  and  'prejudice  ?'  I 
confess  I  have  always  so  regarded  it.  I  will  cite 
one  specimen  of  unfairness  and  'abuse'  which 
has  been  frequently  resorted  to  against  them. 
It  is  this:  The  advocates  of  other  breeds  in. 
making  their  pretended  experiments  between 
improved  Shorthorns  and  their  own  favorite 
breed,  in  feeding  properties,  etc.,  have  repeat- 
edly selected  the  unimproved  Shorthorn 
(known  as  Lincolns,  Teeswater,  Holderness, 
etc.)  to  make  the  trial  with,  and  then  publish 
the  result  to  the  world  as  a  fair  experiment. 
But  enough  of  this. 

"Mr.  Sotham  differs  as  widely  from  Mr.  Clay 
as  from  MR.  YOUATT.  Mr.  Clay  says:  'The 
Herefords  resemble  the  Devons,  the  race  of  New 
England  cattle.'  Do  the  Devons  or  New  Eng- 
land cattle  approximate  in  size  and  breadth  of 
loin  to  the  Durham  ?  A  single  instance  of  this 
kind  might  well  be  deemed  an  extraordinary 
one. 

"I  will  not  refer  to  Marshall,  Lawrence,  Cul- 
ley,  Loudan,  or  the  other  old  English  writers, 
because  it  may  be  objected  that  the  breed  has 
changed  since  their  day  [discretion  the  better 
part  here.  T.  L.  M.]  It  may  be  remarked, 
however,  that  they  speak  of  the  Herefords  m 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


121 


the  same  general  terms  with  Mr.  Youatt.  [Not 
Marshall.  T.  L.  M.]  I  might  cite  the  opinions 
of  many  eminent  English  [Shorthorn.  T.  L. 
M.]  breeders  residing  in  this  country,  in  cor- 
roboration  of  their  opinions,  but  shall  not  do  it 
on  this  occasion  as  it  would  occupy  much  space 
in  an  otherwise  sufficiently  extended  article. 

"I  will  now  ask  if  the  concurrent  testimony 
of  all  the  standard  English  writers  of  cattle, 
ancient  and  recent,  corroborated,  too,  by  state- 
ments of  many  eminent  breeders,  do  not  prove 
that  the  Herefords  have  been — have  been,  too, 
if  we  may  rely  on  the  authority  of  MR.  YOUATT, 
unchanged  until  within  six  years.  If  it  is  pre- 
tended that  any  so  great  and  radical  a  change 
has  been  effected  during  that  period,  does  it  not 
devolve  on  him  who  asserts  it,  to  show  and  to 
prove  when  and  where,  and  how  that  change  has 
been  effected? 

"If  a  few  specimens  of  animals  called  by 
name  are  relied  on  alone  to  prove  it,  the  ques- 
tion arises,  what  certainty  have  we  that  they 
truly  represent  the  breed,  or  that  they  are  pure 
blooded  and  unadulterated  animals.  The  Short- 
horn cross,  for  instance,  engrafted  on  the  Here- 
ford might  work  wonders  if  the  color  was  at- 
tended to.  It  would  offer  a  very  convenient  so- 
lution to  the  physiological  enigma  of  converting 
a  small,  shapeless  and  milkless  cow  into  a  state- 
ly, broad-hipped,  deep-milking  animal,  all 
within  the  space  of  six  years.  I  do  not  pretend 
to  state  that  such  a  cross  has  been  made,  be- 
cause I  know  nothing  about  it.  Mr.  Sotham 
doubtless  ascertained  the  character  of  the  men 
he  dealt  with.  That  Hereford  oxen,  and  some- 
times Hereford  cows,  have  recently  received 
many  prizes  from  English  Agricultural  Socie- 
ties, I  have  no  disposition  to  deny  or  conceal. 
The  oxen  in  such  cases  are  exhibited  in  refer- 
ence to  their  ripeness  for  the  hands  of  the 
butcher.  The  Herefords  are  conceded  on  all 
hands  to  be  a  breed  that  feed  kindly,  and  that 
they  should  occasionally  receive  prizes  is  much 
.less  surprising  than  would  be  the  fact  that 
they  did  not.  But  if  a  Hereford  cow  has  tri- 
umphed over  the  Durham  as  a  dairy  cow,  it  is 
certainly  a  new  thing  under  the  sun,  provided 
the  Durhams  were  properly  represented.  I  pre- 
sume that  no  breeder  of  Herefords  in  this  coun- 
try will  be  found  willing  to  challenge  the  breed- 
ers of  Shorthorns  to  such  a  contest. 

"But  suppose  we  concede  the  point  that  a 
few  English  breeders  have  approximated  the 
Hereford  to  the  Shorthorn  in  size,  shape,  early 
maturity,  etc.,  the  question  immediately  pre- 
sents itself,  cui  bono  ?  If  the  Durham  already 
possesses  certain  properties  in  the  greatest  at- 
tainable degree,  what  is  the  practical  benefit  of 


forming  a  new,  or  remodeling  an  old  variety, 
only  to  attain  the  same  properties?  Is  it  not 
better  to  avail  ourselves  of  the  skill  and  indus- 
try of  those  who  have  gone  before  us,  commenc- 
ing where  they  left  off,  than  it  is  to  spend  our 
whole  lives  in  trying  to  overtake  them  by  a  road 
of  our  own?  What  should  we  say  of  the  stu- 
dent of  mathematics,  who,  disdaining  to  avail 
himself  of  the  labors  and  discoveries  of  New- 
ton and  La  Place,  should  begin  de  novo  with 
the  nine  digits  and  attempt  to  build  up  a  math- 
ematical system  of  his  own? 

"But  it  is  contended  that  the  Hereford,  if 
made  equal  to  the  Durham  in  its  peculiar 
points  of  value,  will  superadd  to  them  that 
hardihood  and  muscular  power  peculiar  to  the 
old  Herefords.  This  cannot  be.  It  is  contrary 
to  physiological  laws,  which  every  man's  obser- 
vation has  recognized.  The  wild  boar  of  the  des- 
ert, or  the  pencil  immortalized  'Land-pike'  of 
Mr.  Allen,  is  a  better  traveler  and  possesses 
more  muscular  power  than  the  quiet  and  fat- 
secreting  Chinese  hog.  The  untamed  Argall, 
that  subsists  among  the  rocks  and  glaciers  of 
the  Alps,  is  an  animal  of  greater  endurance 
and  muscular  energy  than  its  descendant,  the 


WOODBINE. 

(Calved    1850.    Bred   by    Wm.    H.    Sotham;   property   of   H. 

Bowen,  Jr.,  Summit,  N.  Y.    First  prize  N.  Y.  S.  F., 

1853.) 

Leicester  sheep.  That  course  of  breeding  which 
modeled  the  Chinese  hog,  the  new  Leicester 
sheep  or  the  Durham  ox,  has,  and  inevitably 
must  deprive  the  animal  from  which  they  de- 
scended of  that  fleetness,  strength  and  endur- 
ance of  the  rigors  of  climate,  which  was  neces- 
sary for  their  protection  before  they  were 
subjected  to  the  dominion  of  man. 

"The  Hereford,  if  converted  into  a  Durham, 
will  cease  to  be  a  Hereford.    Marshall,  in  giving 


122 


his  eulogistic  description  of  the  Hereford  ox 
for  labor,  did  not  write  of  a  quiet,  sleep-loving 
animal,  which  would  become  a  lump  of  fat  at 
two  years  old.  Mr.  Clay,  in  referring  to  the 
same  point,  said  nothing  of  animals  possessing 
the  size  and  broad  loin  of  the  Durham,  and  one 
year's  earlier  maturity.  He  spoke  of  a  race 
'resembling  the  New  England  cattle.' 

"But  after  all,  I  am  not  quite  convinced  that 
the  Herefords  have  been  converted  into  Dur- 
hams.  If  Messrs.  Walker,  Hewer,  and  other 
breeders  in  Gloucestershire,  had  possessed  such 
animals  six  years  since,  it  is  astonishing  that 
they  should  have  escaped  the  notice  of  MR.YOU- 


WILLIAM  MILLER  (UNCLE  WILLIE),  STORM   LAKE,  IA. 

(One   of   the   Millers  at   Markham    who  bred   Mr.    Sotham's 

kind   of   Shorthorns.) 

ATT — if  they  have  been  created,  so  to  speak, 
since,  it  is  a  little  short  of  miraculous.  On  the 
bleak  highlands  of  Gloucester  no  breed  has  been 
cultivated  with  any  very  marked  success.  In 
the  vale  of  Berkeley  (a  name  so  cherished  by  all 
lovers  of  good  cheese)  the  prevailing  breed  is  a 
compound  of  nearly  everything,  the  old  Glou- 
cester, Hereford,  Devon,  Durham,  Leicester, 
Suffolk,  Dun,  North  Wilts,  etc.  MR.  YOUATT 
says  expressly:  'There  are  (in  the  vale  of 
Berkeley)  no  Herefords  for  the  pail,  a  few 
Devons,  some  Suffolks,  a  few  North  Wilts,  and 


the  rest  Gloucesters,  with  various  crosses.'  And 
not  a  word  does  he  say  of  a  race  of  Herefords  in 
this  county  equaling  the  Devons  in  size  and 
form,  'filling  the  pail  as  high  as  most  of  them,' 
of  one  year's  earlier  maturity,  etc.,  etc. 

"Now,  who  shall  decide  when  doctors  disa- 
gree ?  MR.  YOUATT  has  certainly  given  as  much 
attention  to  the  comparison  of  the  English 
breeds  as  any  other  individual — is  thought  in 
England  to  be  about  as  well  qualified  to  arrive 
at  a  correct  decision  as  any  other  individual, 
and,  above  all,  had  no  personal  interest  in  the 
result.  This  last  consideration  is  of  no  little 
import.  'It  is  according  to  our  gifts,'  as  the 
Pathfinder  would  say,  that  every  man's  goose 
should  have  a  most  swan-like  appearance  to 
himself.  I  do  not  doubt  the  propriety  of  Mr. 
Sotham's  motives,  or  the  sincerity  of  his  con- 
victions. He  doubtless  believes  as  he  would 
have  us  believe.  He  deserves  high  credit  for 
his  enterprise  for  introducing  so  valuable  a 
stock  of  cattle,  but  when  he  calls  upon  us  to  give 
up  opinions  supported  by  all  the  best  English 
authorities — opinions  until  now  unquestioned, 
we  must  demand  something  besides  the  author- 
ity of  an  interested  witness. 

"Yours  truly, 

"HENRY  S.  RANDALL. 

"Cortland  Village,  Nov.  16,  1840." 

The  reader  will  here  recognize  the  reasons 
for  placing  prominently  heretofore  the  fact  of 
Youatt's  "History  of  British  Cattle"  being 
written  by  Berry,  a  Shorthorn  breeder,  and  why 
we  have  been  so  particular  to  show  the  record  of 
the  Smithfield  Show;  the  experiments  of  the 
Duke  of  Bedford ;  the  sales  of  Mr.  Westcar,  and 
the  value  of  Hereford  beef  on  the  London  mar- 
ket. 

In  replying  to  Mr.  Hepburn,  Mr.  Sotham 
wrote  the  publishers  of  the  "Cultivator,"  as  fol- 
lows: 

"Messrs.  Gaylord  &  Tucker:  Anxious  as  I 
may  appear  to  defend  the  Herefords  against 
all  unjust  attacks,  I  hope  not  to  depreciate  any 
other  breed  by  it.  However  high  I  may  value 
their  good  qualities,  there  are  other  breeds  that 
are  commendable.  I  think  the  right  sort  of 
Durhams  hard  animals  to  be  beaten,  and  will 
never  be  intentionally  depreciated  in  value 
from  my  remarks.  If  I  advance  my  opinion  to 
society,  I  am  subject  to  public  criticism,  and 
am  ready  and  willing  to  meet  it.  I  neither 
aim  at  display  nor  ever  expect  to  derive  any 
pecuniary  benefit  from  it;  whenever  I  am  in 
error,  I  hope  to  be  corrected,  as  what  I  advise 
is  from  my  own  observation  and  practice,  and 
I  trust  founded  on  facts.  When  proved  so,  all 
I  ask  is  to  have  them  confirmed.  Should  thev 


123 


tend  to  promote  the  public  good,  my  hopes  are 
realized,  the  obligation  canceled,  and  I  am  sat- 
isfied. I  will  now  endeavor  to  answer  the  ob- 
jections brought  against  the  Herefords  by  Mr. 
Hepburn. 

"Mr.  H.,  I  see,  has  read  Youatt,  and  quoted 
a  passage  from  him  that  he  would  do  better  to 
reperuse.  How  far  Youatt' s  practical  knowledge 
extends  is  to  me  a  matter  of  doubt,  especially 
when  he  says,  'the  Hereford  cow  is  an  inferior 
animal;  not  only  is  she  no  milker,  but  even  her 
form  has  been  sacrificed  by  the  breeder.'  I 
refer  Mr.  H.  back  to  his  own  quotation,  and  he 
will  perceive  that  Mr.  Y.  acknowledges  the 
breeder  to  have  tended  to  form  his  cow,  to  breed 
a  good  ox.  I  would  ask  Mr.  H.  if  a  good  ox 
can  be  bred  from  an  inferior  animal,  or  if  any 
breed  of  any  kind  can  be  kept  up  with  inferior 
dams?  There  seems  to  me  to  be  something 
wrong  in  the  remark  of  Mr.  Y.  that  does  not 
read  well  to  a  practical  man.  I  will  also  refer 
him  to  a  sale  of  Herefords  twenty  years  since 
that  will  show  that  they  stood  high  at  that  time 
in  the  estimation  of  breeders.  A  sale  of  Here- 
ford cattle  took  place  at  Wellington,  Hereford- 
shire, Oct.  18th,  1820,  the  property  and  extra 
stock  of  the  Misses  Tomkins,  at  which  29  lots, 
consisting  of  16  cows,  5  heifers,  2  two-year-old 
bulls,  six  calves,  were  sold  for  £4,709  7s;  the 
highest  price  was  a  two-year-old  bull,  which  sold 
for  £588,  or  $2,910.  The  average  price  of  the 
29  animals  was  £162  7s,  nearly  $800  each.  This 
sale  can  be  referred  to  by  any  Hereford  or  Dur- 
ham breeder  of  note  in  England  as  a  bona  fide 
sale.  If  Mr.  Youatt  had  been  at  this  sale  prior 
to  writing  his  views  of  Herefords  it  might  have 
been  couched  in  a  different  position,  as  I  can- 
not allow  the  good  judgment  of  English  breed- 
ers to  be  so  disgraced  as  to  give  such  prices  for 
inferior  animals.  I  cannot  think  Mr.  Youatt 
gleaned  his  information  from  practical  men,  or 
where  were  the  advocates  of  all  other  breeds 
when  the  owner  of  Trojan  offered  to  show  him 
against  all  England  for  a  thousand  guineas? 
This  was  more  than  twenty  years  since.  I  can 
refer  to  date  and  all  particulars  if  necessary. 
If  he  had  been  an  inferior  animal  it  certainly 
would  have  been  accepted,  or  could  any  inferior 
animal  breed  a  bull  of  this  description?  Let 
England  produce  a  better  bull  of  any  breed 
than  old  Cotmore,  or  Major,  of  the  present  day  ; 
then  I  will  be  convinced  that  Herefords  can  be 
beaten. 

"I  might  trace  the  origin  of  the  Durhams 
from  the  ancients  without  any  proof  that  it  was 
that  breed  only,  deserved  from  it  the  ascend- 
ancy. I  might  pursue  their  advancement  and 
find  them  supported  by  the  hands  of  wealthy, 


popular  men,  who  nursed  them  with  the  most 
tender  care,  who  spared  no  expense  in  effecting 
their  improvement,  and  gave  them  the  advan- 
tage of  their  art,  skill  and  study.  In  the  mean- 
time, a  better  breed  may  spring  up,  go  through 
a  less  flattering  process,  and  come  out  triumph- 
antly, and  I  think  all  will  allow  that  Durhams 
have  had  the  decided  advantage  over  Herefords 
in  this  respect. 

"I  am  sorry  that  my  remarks  do  not  read 


CARDINAL   WISEMAN,   1202. 

(Calved   1850;   bred   by   Rev.   J.    R.    Smythies,    Lynch   Court, 

Herefordshire;  imported  by  Corning  &  Sotham,  Albany, 

N.  Y.    First  prize  N.  Y.   S.   F,,  1853.) 

well  to  Mr.  H.  after  reading  a  standard  work. 
I  should  like  him  to  explain  to  me  the  true  de- 
rivation of  that  standard,  and  establish  its 
firm  foundation.  My  idea  is  that  the  practical 
man  that  makes  the  improvement  is  the  truest, 
standard.  A  man  may  be  proficient  in  disease,* 
and  effect  many  miraculous  cures,  which  I  have 
no  doubt  Mr.  Youatt  has  done,  and  is  as  highly 
respected  as  any  man  in  England,  but  we  are 
all  liable  to  mistakes,  and  are  all  open  to  cor- 
rection. I  am  sorry  that  my  efforts  are  called 
forth  against  him.  Whatever  the  Herefords 
may  have  been,  they  are  all  they  are  represented 
to  be,  beautiful,  noble  animals.  And  I  think 
other  breeds  will  find  that  they  are  something 
to  contend  against,  to  maintain  the  top  stand- 
ing, and,  as  our  worthy  and  esteemed  friend  A. 
B.  Allen,  Esq.,  says,  that  good  and  gentlemanly 
judgment  is  showing  itself  in  Ohio,  that  is  all  I 
ask  to  judge,  and  will  cheerfully  abide  by  the 
decision.  True  judgment,  and  a  right  spirit  in 
agriculture,  is  all  that  America  requires  to  make 
her  what  she  ought  to  be,  the  head  of  all  na- 
tions. It  was  that  only  that  kept  England  up, 
and  raised  her  to  what  she  is. 

"I  cannot  agree  with  Mr.  H.  when  he  tries 
to  deter  men  from  importing.  My  idea  is  that 
we  should  get  the  best  animals  that  can  be  ob- 
tained and  of  every  breed  that  are  likely  to 


124 


render  service,  leaving  prejudice  out  of  the 
question,  and  as  many  of  them  as  the  purse  will 
allow.  A  good  start  is  half  the  battle,  and  now 
is  the  time  to  make  that  start.  Those  who  wish 
to  obtain  glory  and  honor  in  warfare  must  not 
come  to  the  field  when  the  battle  is  won,  but 
must  share  some  part  of  the  burden.  Money 
cannot  pay  a  man  for  the  care,  anxiety,  and 
risk  he  is  exposed  to  in  importing  stock.  It  is 
a  task  that  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  others  under- 
take, as  I  have  done  my  share  of  the  duty.  I 
must  now  do  justice  to  those  we  have,  which 
is  much  the  pleasantest  part;  there  is  no  art, 
no  science,  no  study  so  pleasing,  so  substan- 
tially gratifying  to  the  mind  of  man,  as  to  fully 
develop  the  good  points  of  animals,  in  his  own 
superior  skill  and  management.  It  may  be 
made  the  theme  of  usefulness.  My  opinion  of 
securing  good  stock,  with  economy  in  view,  is 


SWEETHEART    2ND,    602,    AND    VESTA   4TH,    1232A,    AT 

18  MONTHS  (1867). 
(Bred  by  F.  W.   Stone,  Guelph,   Ont.,  Canada.) 

this :  the  farmer  should  procure  two  heifers  and 
•a  bull  of  the  very  best  order  of  that  breed  his 
taste  directed,  and  let  no  price  stop  him,  if  the 
purse  will  sanction  it;  what  says  Shakespeare 
that  'purse  is  trash;'  so  say  I,  compared  with 
good  animals.  They  were  wealth  of  the  first 
people;  why  not  continue  that  of  the  present? 

"With  any  ordinary  luck  the  progeny  of  two 
females  will  soon  extend  while  the  male  im- 
proves the  inferior,  and  adds  value  to  the  whole ; 
this  consideration  will  sustain  high  prices,  and 
pure  animals  cannot  be  imported  without  pay- 
ing high  for  them. 

"I  am  further  of  opinion  that  pure  breeders 
for  sires  that  can  be  depended  upon,  should  be 
upheld  in  high  prices,  so  as  to  enable  them  to 
keep  their  stock  without  a  stain,  as  I  think  the 
most  important  part  of  breeding  lies  here.  The 
progeny  always  degenerates  if  the  sire  has  the 
lightest  cross;  it  is  not  so  with  the  dam;  the 
stock  will  improve  if  the  sire  is  well  selected. 


"Mr.  H.  talks  of  showing  spirit  in  selecting 
a  breed  of  our  own.  I  should  like  to  hear  his 
suggestions  in  commencing  the  breed,  without 
having  the  best  animals  to  resort  to;  even  their 
crossing  with  a  bad  breed  will  take  a  full  cen- 
tury to  make  anything  out  of  it,  if  founded  on 
the  best  judgment.  I  will  allow  there  are  a 
limited  supply  of  the  best  Durhams,  but  not  a 
tenth  part  there  should  be. 

"No  person  can  go  to  England  and  fetch  the 
best  animals,  unless  he  is  favored  in  freight,  for 
less  than  $500  each. 

"I  see  our  friend,  Mr.  A.  B.  Allen,  says  that 
Ohio  is  the  home  of  the  lordly  Shorthorns.  I 
hail  their  prominent  name,  and  as  ours  are 
principally  of  the  feminine  gender,  will  say 
York  State  is  the  home  of  the  ladylike  Here- 
fords.  As  ladies  are  considered  the  first  race 
of  animals,  I  hope  the  Herefords  will  maintain 
it.  I  am,  dear  sirs,  yours  sincerely, 

"WM.  H.  SOTHAM. 
"Perch    Lake   Farm,   Jefferson    Co.,    Nov.    25, 

1840." 

The  "Cultivator/'  on  page  16,  Vol.  8,  gives  a 
correspondence  that  was  published  in  the 
"Farmer's  Magazine"  of  December,  1840,  grow- 
ing out  of  a  challenge  given  by  John  Price,  a 
Hereford  breeder  of  England,  to  show  a  bull 
and  twenty  breeding  cows  of  the  Hereford  breed 
against  a  similar  number  of  any  other  breed. 
This  challenge  called  out  Mr.  Bates,  the  noted 
Shorthorn  breeder  of  England,  and  in  the  cor- 
respondence Mr.  Bates  says:  "But  I  consider 
now,  and  have  for  about  forty  years  been  con- 
vinced, that  the  very  best  Shorthorns,  of  which 
there  are  only  a  few,  are  capable  of  improving 
all  other  breeds  of  cattle  in  the  United  King- 
dom as  well  as  the  ordinary  Shorthorns,  which 
are  far  from  a  good  breed  and  inferior  to  Here- 
fords,  Devons  and  others." 

On  page  19,  same  volume,  Mr.  Sanford  How- 
ard steps  in  and  gives  his  testimony  as  follows : 

"Messrs.  Editors  'Cultivator' :  I  recollect  no- 
ticing in  your  paper  some  time  since  a  request 
that  those  who  have  any  knowledge  of  the 
Hereford  cattle  would  give  their  opinion  of  its 
relative  merits  compared  with  the  improved 
Shorthorn  and  other  varieties.  In  Mr.  Bement's 
communication,  published  in  the  August  num- 
ber, he  says  he  thinks  there  has  been  no  impor- 
tation of  Herefords  excepting  by  Mr.  Clay, 
Messrs.  Corning  &  Soth'am,  and  himself.  This 
is  a  mistake.  In  the  year  1825,  if  my  memory 
serves  me  right,  the  Massachusetts  Society  for 
Promoting  Agriculture  received  as  a  present 
from  Admiral  Sir  Isaac  Coffin,  of  the  Eoyal 
Navy,  a  bull  and  a  cow  of  the  true  Hereford 
breed,  selected  either  by  himself  or  his  agent  in 


HISTOEY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


125 


England.  There  came  also  with  them,  as  a 
present  from  the  same  beneficent  gentleman,  an 
improved  Shorthorn  cow  (Annabella),  a  bull 
of  that  breed  (Admiral)  had  before  been  sent. 

"The  Hereford  cattle  were  kept  for  one  or 
two  years  in  the  section  of  the  state  where  I 
then  resided,  on  the  farm  of  John  Prince,  Esq., 
of  Roxbury. 

"The  cow  never  had  a  calf  after  coming  to 
this  country,  and,  it  being  supposed  that  she 
would  never  breed,  she  was  slaughtered,  but  I 
have  been  informed  that  on  killing  her  she  was 
found  to  be  with  calf.  As  to  the  quality  of  her 
beef,  I  cannot  speak,  but  presume  Mr.  Prince 
can  give  information  on  this  or  any  other  point 
relating  to  these  cattle.  The  cow  was  certainly 
considered  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  ani- 
mals for  shape  and  size  ever  exhibited  at  the 
Brighton  (Mass.)  Cattle  Shows. 

"I  believe  the  bull  was  not  patronized  to  a 
very  great  extent  while  at  Roxbury,  it  not  being 
a  stock-growing  neighborhood,  and  he  was  sub- 
sequently taken  into  the  interior  of  the  state, 
where,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  he  was  sold.  I  saw 
many  of  this  bull's  progeny  in  the  vicinity  of 
where  he  was  first  kept,  and  have  owned  some 
of  them.  They  were  generally  highly  esteemed. 
They  made  prodigiously  powerful  and  active 
draught  cattle — there  was  a  majesty  in  their 
gait,  and  an  elasticity  and  quickness  of  move- 


ment which  I  never  saw  equaled,  and  which,  to- 
gether with  their  beautiful  mahogany  color, 
and  strong  constitution,  made  them  decided  fa- 
vorites with  the  Yankee  teamsters. 

"For  dairy  qualities,  the  progeny  of  this  bull 
was,  as  far  as  my  observation  extended,  an  im- 
provement on  the  stock  with  which  vhe  was 
crossed.  I  am  aware  that  the  Hereford  has  not 
the  reputation  of  a  milking  race,  and,  though 
this  may  be  generally  correct,  it  is  by  no  means 
certain  that  some  grade  of  that  blood  may  not 
be  superior  milkers.  I  will  mention  an  instance 
in  support  of  that  idea.  Several  years  ago  some 
cattle  of  BakewelPs  celebrated  breed  of  Long- 
horns,  called  Dishleys,  or  improved  Liecesters, 
were  imported  to  different  parts  of  this  country. 
They  were  famous  for  fattening,  but  not  for 
dairy  qualities,  yet  the  half-bloods  were  gener- 
ally good  milkers,  and  some  of  them  were  un- 
commonly superior  in  this  respect.  I  know  not 
how  to  account  for  this  fact,  unless  on  the 
ground  of  the  constitution  of  the  cross  being 
so  much  strengthened  that  they  were  able  to  re- 
sist the  inclemencies  of  the  weather  and  to  di- 
gest their  food  more  perfectly  and  make  the 
most  of  it. 

"I  will  here  remark  that  I  knew  many  and 
owned  several  of  the  progeny  of  the  Improved 
Shorthorn  bull,  Admiral,  before  mentioned  as 
having  been  presented  to  the  Massachusetts  So- 


HEBE    469,    BONNY    LASS   679,    BRED    BY    LORD    BATEMAN,    AND    GRACEFUL    545,    BRED    BY    LORD    BERWICK, 
(Imported  by  F.  W.  Stone  and  foundation  of  Jiifs  Hebe,  Bonny  Lass  and  QraceftU  families.) 


126 


ciety  by  Admiral  Coffin,  and  I  have  no  hesita- 
tion in  saying  that  for  the  ordinary  uses  to 
which  cattle  are  applied  to  the  northern  section 
of  our  country,  I  consider  the  stock  of  the 
Hereford  bull  above  alluded  to,  decidedly  pref- 
erable. 

".From  1830  to  1837.  I  resided  in  the  State 
of  Maine,  and  my  business  was  the  breeding  of 
various  kinds  of  stockv  I  had  never  seen  any 
full  bred  improved  Shorthorns  which  appeared 
to  possess  sufficient  hardiness  of  constitution  to 
adapt  them  to  so  rigorous  a  climate  and  the 


EMPEROR  AT  2  YEARS  (1867). 

(Bred  by  F.  W.   Stone,  Guelph,  Canada.    First  prize 
N.   Y.   S.   F.,   1867.) 

hard  labor  of  the  yoke  to  which  oxen  are  there 
subjected.  Accordingly,  on  commencing  opera- 
tions, I  purchased  of  Hon.  John  Wells,  of  Bos- 
ton, a  bull  of  a  cross  between  the  Hereford  and 
the  Improved  Shorthorn,  with  a  slight  dash  of 
the  Bakewell.  This  bull  was  the  easiest  animal 
to  fatten  that  I  ever  saw — and  was  of  very  per- 
fect symmetry,  vigorous  and  active,  and  very 
heavy  in  proportion  to  the  bone.  His  weight  at 
six  years  old,  after  having  been  wintered  on 
the  coarsest  fodder  that  the  farm  afforded,  was 
2,000  pounds. 

"With  this  bull  I  bred  some  selected  cows  of 
various  grades  of  different  families,  my  object 
being  to  manufacture  and  establish  a  breed  bet- 
ter adapted  than  any  other,  to  the  soil,  climate 
and  purpose  of  the  section  of  country  for  which 
they  were  intended. 

"As  my  stock  arrived  at  an  age  to  have  the 
qualities  tested,  they  gradually  got  into  favor; 
but  as  the  passions  of  too  many  was  for  stock 
of  enormous  size,  and  mine  had  been  bred 
wholly  with  regard  to  useful  properties,  I  had 
to  wait  until  the  superiority  could  be  proved 
before  their  merits  were  generally  admitted.  I, 
however,  took  several  prizes  on  different  descrip- 
tions of  cattle  at  cattle  shows  of  the  Kennebec 
County  Agricultural  Society.  On  leaving 


Maine,  I  sold  some  of  the  best  stock  which  I 
had  bred,  to  Mr.  J.  W.  Haines,  of  Hallowell.  I 
am  informed  that  it  is  now  considered  prefer- 
able to  any  stock  ever  known  in  that  section. 
Mr.  Haines  carries  several  of  the  highest  prizes 
at  the  Kennebec  shows;  he  took  the  first  on 
milch  cows,  with  one  which  was  bred  by  myself 
— the  first  on  bulls,  and  the  first  on  heifers  of 
the  same  stock. 

"The  recent  importations  of  Herefords  by 
Messrs.  Corning  &  Sotham,  of  your  city,  must, 
by  all  accounts,  be  very  valuable.  A  gentleman 
from  Boston,  and  a  good  judge  of  stock,  lately 
passed  through  here  on  his  return  from  a  tour 
of  the  West.  He  had  seen  the  Herefords  above 
spoken  of,  and  also  had  seen  the  fine  herd  of 
Durhams  belonging  to  Mr.  Sullivant,  near 
Columbus,  Ohio,  as  well  as  much  other  fine 
stock.  He  pronounced  the  Herefords  superior 
in  fineness  of  bone  and  symmetry  to  anything 
he  had  ever  met  with. 

"Cannot  some  of  your  distant  readers  be 
gratified  by  a  sight  of  some  of  these  fine  Here- 
fords in  the  'Cultivator'  ?  The  portrait  of  Mr. 
Bement's  bull,  Dallimore,  is  certainly  one  of 
the  best  figures  I  have  ever  seen.  His  death 
must  be  a  great  public  as  well  as  individual 
loss. 

"The  remarks  of  Mr.  A.  B.  Allen  in  the  Oc- 
tober number  of  the  'Cultivator'  on  the  working 
and  fattening  properties  of  the  Herefords,  1 
have  no  doubt  are  correct;  neither  have  I  any 
doubt  that  wherever  strong  constitutions  arc 
required,  and  oxen  are  wanted  for  the  yoke,  the 
Herefords  will  be  preferred  to  the  Improved 
Shorthorns,  and  perhaps  to  all  other  breeds. 

"Mr.  Allen  expresses  some  surprise  that  the 
lately  imported  Herefords  have  wide  loins, 
and  says  the  Herefords  he  had  before  seen  were 
narrow  at  these  points.  I  cannot  think  the 
Herefords  are  generally  deficient  in  this  par- 
ticular. Youatt,  in  his  work  on  cattle,  pub- 
lished under  the  direction  of  the  British  So- 
ciety for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful  Knowledge, 
speaking  of  the  preference  given  by  the  Duke 
of  Bedford  to  the  Herefords,  after  repeated 
trials  with  nearly  all  the  other  breeds  in  Eng- 
land, after  mentioning  some  objections  to  the 
Herefords  generally,  says  of  the  Duke's  cattle : 
'They  retain  all  the  length  of  quarter,  and 
much  of  the  wideness  and  roundness  of  hip  and 
fullness  of  thigh,  which  have  ever  been  es- 
teemed the  peculiar  excellencies  of  the  Here- 
fords. A  few  of  them  might,  in  their  fore-quar- 
ters, be  mistaken  for  Devonshires,  but  with  a 
broadness  of  chine  and  weight  behind,  which 
the  Devons  have  rarely  attained/  (Page  211.) 

"But  in  choosing  the  breed,  the  grand  object 


THOS.  DUCKHAM,  M.  P.,  1816-1902,  BAYSHAM  COURT,  ROSS,  HEREFORDSHIRE. 
To  whose  painstaking  efforts  the  greatest  credit  for  the  maintenance  and  accuracy  of  the  Hereford  Herd  Book  Is  due. 


128 


HIST GEY  OF  HEBEFOKD  CATTLE 


would  bo  to  obtain  the  breed  best  calculated  for 
the  particular  situation  for  which  it  was  de- 
signed. Each  has  its  peculiar  excellencies  and 
defects,  and  the  one  which  may  be  best  for  some 
locations  and  purposes,  may  be  worst  for  others. 
The  great  error  in  public  opinion  of  the  pres- 
ent day  in  regard  to  all  kinds  of  stock  is  the 
passion  for  great  size.  The  only  correct  me- 
dium is,  I  think,  that  of  your  correspondent  R. 
in  the  August  number,  'that  the  only  desirable 
size  is  where  we  find  the  greatest  weight  in  the 
smallest  relative  compass.' 

"SANFORD  HOWARD. 

"Zanesville,  Ohio,  Nov.  7,  1840." 

Wm.  Hy.  Sotham  thus  wrote  the  "Cultiva- 
tor": 

"Messrs.  Gaylord  &  Tucker :  In  looking  over 
the  back  numbers  of  the  'London  Farmers' 
Magazine/  I  find  in  that  of  September,  1837,  a 
portrait  of  Sir  George,  and  as  he  is  the  sire  and 
grandsire  of  a  portion  of  our  Herefords,  I  copy 
the  accompanying  account: 

"  'The  subject  of  the  plate  is  a  Hereford  bull, 
called  "Sir  George"  [*  (405)  9999  T.  L.  M.J, 
the  property  of  John  Hewer,  Esq.,  of  Hampton 
Lodge,  near  Hereford.  In  giving  some  descrip- 
tion of  him  to  our  readers  we  cannot  do  better 
than  to  quote  Mr.  Hewer's  own  account  of  him. 
"Sir  George,"  now  ten  years  old,  was  got  by 
Waxy,  Waxy  by  Wellington,  his  dam  Beauty  by 
Old  Wellington,  the  sire  of  Wellington.  They 
are  of  the  old  original  blood,  and  I  believe  con- 
fined to  myself.  Sir  George  has  won  five  pre- 
miums/ 

"I  send  you  this  account  to  show  you  a  por- 
trait of  the  original  breed ;  and  it  is  my  inten- 
tion to  answer,  as  briefly  as  possible,  the  re- 
marks of  Mr.  Randall  and  Mr.  Hepburn.  The 
latter  says :  'I  have  selected  my  weakest  adver- 
sary, confident  of  an  easy  victory.'  I  know  not 
why,  when  each  derives  his  information  from 
the  same  source,  both  making  many  quotations 
from  theory,  the  language  of  one  may  be  rather 
more  classical  than  the  other,  each  grounding 
their  hope  of  success  on  the  name  of  a  standard 
work,  that  standard  not  written  by  a  breeder. 
Mr.  R.  launches  out  with  similes  from  other 
writers,  and  then  says :  'But,  after  all,  I  am  not 
convinced  that  the  Herefords  have  been  con- 
verted into  Durhams,'  and  I  see  from  the  ex- 
tract of  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay's  letter,  that  his 
cattle  must  have  been  selected  from  such  breed- 
ers as  Mr.  Youatt  describes,  not  from  the  best; 


therefore  I  perceive  nothing  formidable  in  any 
remark  from  either  that  would  cause  me  fearful 
thoughts  of  an  overthrow.  If  I  cannot  gain  the 
victory  justly,  I  shall  not  feel  entitled  to  the 
reward. 

"Now,  gentlemen,  I  am  quite  willing  to  take 
you  individually  or  collectively;  you  may  quote 
theory  back  to  the  fall  of  Adam  if  you  choose, 
and  breed  cattle  from  that  instruction,  and  if 
you  do  not  possess  a  fallen  race  I  shall  be  mis- 
taken in  judgment. 

"If  we  are  to  enter  into  a  detailed  contro- 
versy, we  must  suggest  some  means  of  bringing 
it  before  the  public  for  inspection  and  decision. 
The  'Cultivator'  (according  to  your  account)  is 
pressed  with  too  much  important  matter  to  ad- 
mit of  long  articles;  this  can  be  agreed  upon, 
and  winter  evenings  are  best  for  farmers' 
study. 

"I  do  not  see  anything  more  to  be  noticed  in 
Mr.  R.'s  article,  further  than  this :  He  presses 
me  to  challenge  the  Shorthorn  breeders  for 
milking.  I  am  not  disposed  to  give  challenges, 
but  as  he  has  called  it  forth,  I  will  show  a  milk- 
ing cow  in  May  next  against  him  or  Mr.  Hep- 
burn for  a  silver  cup,  value  $15;  mine  shall  be 
a  pure  Hereford,  my  opponent's  a  pure  Short- 
horn. I  shall  not  extend  it  unless  it  is  urged 
upon  me.  Mr.  H.  says :  'According  to  my  own 
showing,  many  a  good  ox  has  been  bred  from 
an  inferior  animal.'  I  should  like  to  know  when 
this  assertion  was  made  to  me.  Have  I  ac- 
knowledged this  Hereford  cow  to  be  inferior, 


*  Note.  Where,  In  this  volume,  In  early  communications 
the  herd  book  numbers  are  given  for  Herefords,  they 
have  been  inserted  by  the  author  for  proper  identification, 
the  herd  books  not  being  in  existence  at  the  time.  As 
far  as  possible  the  American  as  we}l  a§  the  English  (in 
parenthesis)  numbers  are  given,  T>  k,  Mi 


WALFORD    (871)   47,  CALVED   ABOUT  1844. 

(Bred  by  T.   Longmore.    Walford  won  many  prizes  and  his 

blood  has  a  powerful   influence  in  the  improvement 

of  the  breed.) 

because  Youatt  has?  Never.  This  must  be  a 
wild  thought ;  probably  I  have  seen  as  many  of 
the  best  oxen  in  this  country  as  Mr.  H.,  or  any 
other  person.  In  the  fall  of  1838  I  purchased 
myself,  for  barreling,  nearly  five  thousand  head 
of  cattle,  in  the  western  country  in  the  course 
of  two  months,  and  was  engaged  in  that  busi- 
ness four  years  previous,  when  from  four  to  six  . 


FREDERICK  WILLIAM  STONE,  GUELPH,  ONT.,  CANADA. 
Canada's  greatest  importer  of  pure-bred  live  stock. 


130. 


HISTOKY     OF     H  E  E  E  F  0  K  D     CATTLE 


thousand  were  slaughtered  annually,  selecting 
the  best  for  the  New  York  market,  and  the 
whole  time  I  did  not  see  an  ox  that  was  border- 
ing on  goodness  (for  what  I  call  a  show  beast)  ; 
good  breeding  must  be  looked  to  for  such  an 
animal,  and  requires  as  much  skill  as  it  does  to 
breed  a  bull  or  cow.  I  should  have  been  much 
surprised  at  this  remark  from  a  breeder,  had  I 
not  known  he  was  led  astray  by  the  study  of 
theory  alone.  Mr.  H.  may  have  seen  larger 
oxen,  but  I  doubt  whether  he  ever  saw  the  first 
quality.  I  shall  leave  the  breeders  of  our  cattle 
to  answer  the  unwarrantable  attack  he  has 
made  on  them.  I  shall  only  tell  him  that  were 
they  disposed  to  steal  'crosses/  represent  them 
pure  when  not  so,  they  could  not  show  them  for 


ERASTUS  CORNING,  ALBANY,  N.  Y. 

a  premium;  a  true  certificate  of  their  pedigree 
is  demanded.  If  they  are  entered  as  pure  Here- 
fords,  they  must  prove  so,  or  the  beast  is  dis- 
qualified, the  owner  erased  from  the  list  and 
never  allowed  to  show  an  animal  again.  Match- 
less [Mr.  Sotham's  cow,  entered  in  the  Herd 
Books  as  Spot  1070.  T.  L.  M.]  was  entered  as 
a  pure  Hereford,  won  the  first  prize,  and  I  defy 
any  man  to  prove 'there  is  a  drop  of  Durham 
blood  in  her  veins,  or  any  other  of  our  animals 
that  I  say  are  Herefords.  I  hope  this  is  plain 
enough  for  Mr.  Hepburn.  We  have  a  half- 
bred  Durham  heifer,  as  I  have  before  stated, 
and  a  man  that  can  distinguish  a  mule  from  a 


Spanish  ass,  can  see  this  cross,  though  I  think 
her  a  superior  animal.  I  refer  these  gentlemen 
to  a  late  number  of  the  'Farmers'  Magazine,'  to 
peruse  the  letters  of  Mr.  Price  and  Mr.  Bates; 
there  they  may  profit  from  practical  knowledge, 
and  see  what  the  Herefords  were  forty  years 
ago  in  their  estimation. 

"I  was  honored  by  a  letter  from  the  Earl  of 
Warwick  a  few  days  since,  which  I  send  you, 
and  trust  his  lordship  will  not  feel  displeased 
at  his  name  appearing  in  your  valuable  paper. 
Much  information  may  be  gleaned  from  it. 

"I  think  I  may  say,  with  confidence,  we  have 
just  received  from  E.  Lovel,  Esq.,  Edgecott 
Lodge,  one  of  the  finest  Shorthorn  heifers,  com- 
ing three  years  old,  that  ever  crossed  the  water. 
I  will  send  you  her  likeness  and  pedigree  at 
some  future  period;  she  is  a  pure  herd  book 
animal. 

"I  could  say  much  on  Mr.  E.  and  Mr.  H.'s 
articles,  but  will  leave  it  to  consult  your  space, 
or  some  other  means,  to  do  it.  Their  ideas  of 
arriving  into  notice  as  breeders,  in  six  or  eight 
years,  are  quite  ridiculous  unless  at  an  enor- 
mous expense  to  start  with. 

"Yours  sincerely, 

.      "WM.  HY.  SOTHAM. 
"Perch  Lake  Farm,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb., 

1841." 

The  following  is  the  letter  from  the  Earl  of 
Warwick,  mentioned  by  Mr.  Sotham : 

"7  Carlton  Gardens,  Dec.  28,  1840. 

"Sir:  I  received  your  letter  of  the  13th  of 
November,  and  accompanied  by  a  'Cultivator' 
paper;  your  wishing  an  answer  induces  me  to 
send  one,  but  not  breeding  myself  any  Here- 
fordshire cattle,  I  fear  I  have  little  satisfactory 
to  communicate;  or  any  breeding  stock  on  my 
farm  to  show  you  should  you  visit  this  country. 
I  consider  they  can  breed  better  stock  in  the 
counties  where  the  whole  attention  of  the  farm 
is  devoted  to  that  object.  I  therefore  buy  in 
my  stock,  poor,  between  two  and  three  years 
old ;  fat  them,  and  feed  them  off  for  the  butcher 
as  I  can  get  them  ready  on  grass  for  summer 
keep;  Swede  turnips  (on  which  I  mostly  de- 
pend) and  hay  for  the  winter  keep,  with  some 
finish  only,  of  oil-cake  when  necessary.  To  do 
which  it  would  be  immaterial  to  me  what  breed 
I  bought,  or  where,  depending  on  what  would 
grow  fat  fastest  as  good  butcher's  beasts,  the 
butcher  being  my  customer,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  the  Herefords  are  the  best  breed  for  such 
objects,  and  notwithstanding  well-bred  ones  are 
bought  very  dear  (a  proof  of  their  estimation), 
I  think  they  pay  for  their  keep,  turning  into 
money  fastest  for  the  food  they  eat,  and  less 
liable  to  casualties  from  the  thriving  disposition 


»  <J 
o>  << 

18 

-•  H 
O 

a) 


132 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


of  their  constitutions  to  do  well,  and  lay  on 
flesh  while  growing.  I  send  into  Herefordshire 
and  buy  in  lean,  young  stock  of  the  best  breed- 
ers, not  trusting  to  fairs;  I  know  how  all  are 
bred. 

"The  ox  I  won  the  first  prize  with  at  the 
rtmithfield  Show  last  year  (fl  65)  (and  the  best 
beast  of  the  class  shown,  ninety  competitors)  I 
so  bought  as  a  three-year-old  (with  many  more) 
for  £17  ($85),  lean.  He  ran  with  the  other 
steers,  and  was  put  up  with  them  to  fat,  and  I 
never  thought  of  sending  him  to  the  Smithfield 
till  two  months  before  the  show,  as  I  never  sent 
a  beast  there  before.  After  the  show  I  sold  him 
to  a  London  butcher  to  kill  for  £70  ($350). 
There  is  a  wretched  print  of  him  in  the  London 
shops.  The  painter  who  did  his  picture  for  me 
is  Mr.  Davis,  animal  painter  to  the  Queen,  and 
lives  at  Chelsea.  He  has  made  a  very  good  col- 
ored engraving,  and  one  of  which  I  shall  be 
very  happy  to  procure  for  you,  if  you  will  have 
the  goodness  to  write  to  me  when  you  arrive 
next  summer  in  England. 

"We  breed  some  pretty  good  Leicester  sheep 
in  Warwickshire.  My  bailiff  will  be  happy  to 
show  you  anything  I  may  have,  if  you  are  likely 
to  be  that  way.  I  only  breed  sheep — we  con- 
sider nothing  like  the  Leicester  for  long  wool, 


and  Southdowns  for  short.    A  Leicester  tup  has 
been  known  to  let  for  the  season  for  £1,000. 
My  House  in  London  is  7  Carlton  Gardens. 
"Your  obedient  servant, 

"WARWICK. 

"W.  H.  Sotham,  Esq." 

"Messrs.  Gaylord  &  Tucker:  Since  writing 
you,  I  learn  from  Mr.  Thornton  (the  person 
who  has  charge  of  our  stock)  that  the  heifer 
Spot,  by  'Sir  George/  coming  three  years  old, 
calved  on  the  18th  of  January,  is  now  giving 
from  five  to  six  quarts  of  milk  daily  over  what 
her  calf  sucks;  he  is  a  fine  bull,  thriving  very 
fast,  is  her  first  calf  and  lies  loose  in  the  stable 
with  her;  her  feed  has  been  cut  straw  and  hay 
of  about  equal  quantities,  mixed  with  about  a 
peck  of  bran.  Gay  is  the  dam  of  Spot,  whose 
pedigree  may  be  seen  in  the  July  number  of  the 
'Cultivator/ 

"Yours  sincerely, 

"\\'M.  HY.  SOTHAM. 

"Albany,  Feb.  20,  1841." 

We  submit  that  Mr.  Sotham  conducted  this 
controversy  in  an  able  and  gentlemanly  man- 
ner. We  next  find  Mr.  H.  S.  Randall  coming 
to  the  attack  in  an  article  entitled  "The  Short- 
horns and  Herefords." 

"Messrs.  Editors:     It  is  with  deep  concern 


TOMB  OF  THE  PARENTS  OF  WM,  H,  SOTHAM,  IN  WOOTON  CHURCHYARD,  OXFORDSHIRE. 


HIS TOBY  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


133 


that  I  perceive  by  a  communication  in  your 
March  number  that  Mr.  Sotham  has  lost  some 
of  that  comity  of  feeling  with  which  he  pro- 
fessed to  enter  into  the  discussion  of  the  rela- 
tive merits  of  the  Shorthorns  and  t  the  Here- 
fords,  more  especially  that  he  has,  without 
pausing  to  consider  the  pain  and  injury  it 
would  inflict,  spoken  in  terms  falling  little* 
short  of  utter  disrespect  of  the  breeding  skill, 
and  even  the  knowledge  of  what  constitutes  the 
valuable  points  of  cattle,  possessed  by  Mr.  You- 
ATT,  Hon.  Henry  Clay,  Mr.  Hepburn,  and  late- 
ly, my  humble  self.  No  man,  I  will  venture  to 
say,  intimately  acquainted  with  Mr.  Sotham, 
values  him  more  highly  than  I  do,  and  I  have 
ever  believed  that  he  was  by  no  means  properly 
appreciated  by  a  large  portion  of  our  breeders. 
"I  well  recollect  with  what  profound  pleas- 
ure I  hailed  Mr.  Sotham's  communication  from 
England  (published  in  your  October  number), 
that  he  was  on  his  way  to  this  country,  'with  the 
best  lot  of  stock  ever  seen  together,'  and  his 
modest  challenge  to  the  owners  of  the  best  cat- 
tle in  America,  to  meet  him  at  the  cattle  show 
at  Niblo's  in  October.  It  is  an  affair  of  more 
magnitude  than  every  one  may  suppose  for  one 
man  to  buy  up  'the  best  lot  of  stock  ever  seen/ 
even  in  the  small  Island  of  England,  and  I 


could  not  help  fancying  the  deep  mortification, 
the  unavailing  regrets  of  such  men  as  Earl 
Spencer,  Mr.  Bates,  and  other  English  breed- 
ers, when  they  ascertained  the  fact  and  found 
that  the  broad  Atlantic  rolled  between  the 
aforesaid  'lot'  and  England.  What  deep  and 
lasting  gratitude  then  should  every  American 
have  felt  towards  so  great  a  public  benefactor. 
But  alas !  all  know  that  the  'ingratitude  of  re- 
publics' has  passed  into  an  adage.  The  fair 
day  arrived  at  Niblo's,  and  with  it  arrived  Mr. 
Sotham,  with  the  Hereford  cow  (with  the 
aliases)  that  'won  the  first  prize  at  Oxford, 
1839,  against  all  England;'  the  cart  mare  and 
cart  colt,  'allowed  by  the  best  judges  to  be  as 
good  as  England  could  produce;'  the  twenty- 
four  rams  that  'could  not  be  beaten  even  in 
England;'  and  lastly,  'the  pigs  of  various  de- 
scriptions, the  best  that  could  be  procured  in 
England.'  Mark  the  astounding  sequel.  The 
cow  that  'beat  England'  was  beaten  by  an  Amer- 
ican-bred Durham,  though  rumor  says  that  Mr. 
Sotham  actually  condescended  to  wait  person- 
ally on  the  committee,  after  they  had  retired  to 
their  room  for  consultation,  for  the  generous 
purpose  of  imparting  his  superior  knowledge  of 
what  constituted  the  true  excellencies  of  cattle, 
and  to  inform  them  in  what  low  estimation  the 


WOOTON    CHUJRCH,    OXFORDSHIRE,    ENGLAND.     (The   cross   marks    location    of   the   Sotham   tomb.) 


134 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


cow  that  subsequently  proved  to  be  the  winner 
would  be  held  in  England.  Whether  any  of  the 
four-and-twenty  rams — like  the  fiddlers  of  old, 
'all  in  a  row/  received  premiums,  1  am  unable 
to  say,  though  I  learn  that  some  of  Mr.  Soth- 
am's  sheep  were  beaten  by  Mr.  Cliffs.  And  to 
show  at  what  an  utterly  low  ebb  the  taste  of 
our  country  is  in  such  respects,  I  will  state  that 
I  am  credibly  informed  that  those  splendid 
steeds,  as  well  as  those  pigs,  whose  loss  it  is 
feared  England  will  never  be  able  to  repair, 
were  actually  laughed  at  by  two-thirds  of  the 
ignorant,  impudent  Yankees  present. 

"But  enough,  of  this.  It  only  proves  that  men 
in  advance  of  their  age  are  rarely  appreciated 
by  it.  Galileo  found  it  so;  Copernicus  found 


A  TABLET  IN  WOOTON   CHURCH. 

it  so ;  Capt.  Symes  found  it  so,  and  Mr.  Henry 
Sotham,  if  he  finds  it  so,  should  neither  be 
grieved  nor  disappointed.  It  is  your  empty, 
swaggering,  conceited  fellow,  who  always  pro- 
claim their  own  'best,'  who  are  most  successful 
in  these  degenerate  days;  for  the  modest  and 
unassuming  there  is  but  little  chance.  The 
simple  fact  that  the  Committee  of  the  Ameri- 
can Institute  decided  against  Mr.  Sotham's 
Herefords,  proves  nothing.  That  they  were  'the 
best  of  the  lot'  at  Niblo's,  or  that  'were  ever 
seen,'  we  have  the  most  indisputable  authority 
— the  same  which  the  Marshal  Montmorenci 


had,  that  the  Dauphin  was  a  brave  man,  the 
Dauphin  told  him  so  himself.  Will  any  man 
deny  that  this  was 

"  'Confirmation  strong 
As  proof  of  holy  writ.' 

"But  I  must  say  I  think  it  was  hardly  mag- 
nanimous of  Mr.  Sotham,  after  seducing 
Messrs.  Clay,  Hepburn,  myself  and  others  into 
this  controversy  by  honeyed  assurances  of  deal- 
ing gently  and  lenient  with  us,  to  suddenly, 
without  a  word  of  warning,  convert  a  merely 
friendly  passage  of  arms  into  deadly  strife.  It 
might  have  evinced  considerable  nerve  on  the 
part  of  Fitz  James  to  say  to  a  party  of  wild 
Gael,  'Come  one,  come  all.'  But  Mr.  Sotham, 
when  he  says  he  is  willing  to  stand  a  brush  with 
Messrs.  Youatt,  Clay,  Hepburn,  etc.,  'individ- 
ually or  collectively/  well  knows  that  he  utters 
a  safe  challenge.  True,  Mr.  Youatt  is  conced- 
edly  the  first  writer  in  England  on  cattle,  Mr. 
Clay  is  a  clever  man  in  the  Senate,  and  one  of 
the  first  breeders  of  the  various  kinds  of  im- 
proved cattle  in  the  Western  States.  Mr.  Hep- 
burn certainly  writes  like  an  intelligent  man — 
but  which  of  these  men  ever  'purchased  five 
thousand  cattle  in  two  months/  or  belonged  to 
a  concern  'which  slaughtered  from  four  to  six 
thousand  annually  for  four  years  ?'  If  there  be 
truth  in  the  sage  old  apothegm  that,  'He  who 
kills  fat  cattle  must  himself  be  fat/  does  it  not 
follow  by  a  parity  of  reasoning  that  he  who 
buys  and  slaughters  cattle  must  be  an  adept  in 
the  science  of  breeding  them?  Cannot  your 
butcher,  who  wields  the  knife  and  cleaver,  man- 
ufacture these  implements  better  than  your 
mere  blacksmith  who,  perhaps,  never  cut  up  a 
beef  in  his  life?  We  doubt  whether  this  last 
process  was  ever  performed  by  Mr.  Youatt,  un- 
less in  the  way  of  dissection;  and  as  for  the 
Kentucky  Senator,  confess, 

'An'  thou  lovest  me,  Hal,' 

that  there's  many  a  man  within  half  a  dozen 
miles  of  Ashland,  who  has  bought  more,  killed 
more,  barreled  more  and  ate  more  beef  than 
thyself,  and  argal,  knows  better  how  to  breed  it. 
The  fierce  old  Hepburns,  of  East  Lothian,  were 
drovers  and  butchers  both  in  a  border  foray, 
but  we  doubt  whether  their  peaceable  Pennsyl- 
vania descendant  has  ever  drove  or  slaughtered 
5,000  cattle  in  his  life.  If  not,  what  should  he 
presume  to  know  about  breeding  fine  cattle  ? 

"By  the  way,  we  should  like  to  know  what 
was  the  'head  and  front'  of  this  unfortunate 
man's  'offending'  that  he  should  be  selected  as 
the  especial  victim  of  Sotham's  ire- — used  up — 
as  little  of  him  left  as  the  famous  Kilkenny 


HISTORY   OF  HEREFORD   CATTLE 


135 


cats.  Was  it  for  suggesting  that  the  recently 
imported  Herefords  were  indebted  to  a  Short- 
horn cross  for  their  improved  points  ?  Mr.  Hep- 
burn undoubtedly  considered  this  the  greatest 
compliment  he  could  pay  them.  Mr.  Sotham, 
in  the  October  number  of  the  'Cultivator/  page 
161,  in  enumerating  'the  best  lot  of  stock  ever 
seen  together/  says,  'one-half  blood  between  the 
Hereford  and  Durham,  to  show  the  cross,  which 
I  think  an  excellent  one,  probably  better  than 
the  pure  breed  of  either,  and  from  what  I  saw 
of  Mr.  Cother's,  of  Middle  Aston,  it  may  be 
extended  much  further  than  is  generally  sup- 
posed, for  his  fourth  cross  was  equal  to  the  first 
— not  the  least  sign  of  degeneration.'  Can 
words  be  more  explicit?  And  what  did  Mr. 
Hepburn  do  but  'follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
illustrious  predecessor?'  Why,  Mr.  Sotham  is 
as  difficult  to  please  (the  best  have  their  foi- 
bles) as  the  drunkard,  who,  reeling  home  at 
midnight,  declared  'if  he  found  his  wife  up,  he 
would  whip  her  for  not  going  to  bed  when  she 
ought  to  have  done;  if  he  found  her  abed,  he 
would  whip  her  for  not  sitting  up  and  waiting 
for  him.'  Disagree  with  Mr.  Sotham  and  you 
incur  the  fate  of  Clay  and  Youatt;  agree  with 
him  and  the  shade  of  the  mangled  Pennsyl- 
vanian  arises  warningly  before  you.  Mr.  Hep- 


burn only  surmised  (in  common  with  many 
others)  that  Mr.  Sotham  has  been  a  more  for- 
tunate man  than  he  himself  supposed — that  in- 
stead of  mere  Herefords  he  had  actually  ob- 
tained that  cross  between  the  Herefords  and  the 
Durhams,  which  we  have  Mr.  Sotham's  own 
authority  for  supposing  'better  than  the  pure 
breed  of  either.'  Why  should  Mr.  Sotham  ob- 
ject to  having  it  believed  that  his  cattle  have 
received  that  last  finishing  touch,  which,  by  his 
own  showing,  will  make  perfection  more  per- 
fect. Is  it  modesty — the  fear  of  claiming  for 
his  own  more  than  they  deserve  ?  Yet,  he  may 
be  mistaken  against  himself.  He  says  of  the 
cow  that  was  beaten  at  Niblo's,  'I  defy  any  man 
to  prove  that  there  is  a  drop  of  Durham  blood 
in  her  veins.'  I  presume  there  is  not,  but,  sup- 
posing there  was,  and  a  good  many  of  them, 
who  could  testify  to  it,  except  the  breeder?  I 
assert  that  my  pig  is  pure  land-pike,  and  now 
grant,  for  the  sake  of  argument,  there  are  sev- 
eral drops  of  the  'alligator'  in  him,  how  is  Mr. 
Hewer  or  Mr.  Sotham  to  ascertain  the  fact  if  I 
see  fit  to  conceal  it? 

"Finally,  Mr.  Sotham  challenges  Mr.  Hep- 
burn or  myself  to  exhibit  a  pure  Shorthorn 
against  one  of  his  pure  Herefords,  as  a  milking 
cow  in  May  nex-t,  for  a  silver  cup,  value  ,$15. 


SIR  CHARLES  (3434)  543. 
(Bred  by  F.   W.   Stone,  purchased  by  T.   L.   Miller,  1872,  for  $1,000   gold.     From    drawing    by   E.    H.    Dewey.) 


13G 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Now  did  Mr.  Sotham  ever  hear  of  a  shrewd 
Yankee  by  the  name  of  Ezekiel  Peabody,  who, 
having  tried  in  vain  to  dispose  of  a  horse  for 
$40,  rode  him  one  bright  morning  briskly  into 
•the  town  of  C.  (where  several  sportsmen  re- 
sided), and -offered  to  wager  $15  that  the  afore- 
said horse  could  out-run  anything  in  C.  for  a 
mile;  and  how  that  he  finally  consented  to  sell 
'Connecticut  Eclipse'  to  young  'Squire  W.  for 
$150,  before  the  race  came  off?  But  would  not 
Ezekiel  have  betrayed  a  great  want  of  discre- 
tion had  he  suffered  his  motive  for  making  the 
bet  to  leak  out  in  the  presence  of  a  third  per- 
son who  was  under  no  obligation  to  keep  it  from 
the  other  parties?  I  will  merely  add  that  this 
'silver  cup'  challenge  came  to  my  ears  long  be- 
fore it  was  openly  made  to  me.  Verbum  sap. 


actual  measurement  of  'milk — or,  rather,  the 
pounds  of  butter  made  during  one  week  of  each 
month  from  the  time  of  calving  to  the  time  of 
exhibition — the  matter  to  be  decided  at  the  an- 
nual fair  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society — I 
hereby  distinctly  inform  him  he  shall  be  met. 
Satisfactory  proof  to  be  had,  of  course,  of  the 
milk  and  butter  produced  by  each  cow,  and  the 
bet  to  be  forfeited  in  case  either  party  should 
'sell  out.'  If  Mr.  Sotham  accepts  this  challenge 
he  will  signify  it  in  your  next  number,  to  enable 
the  proper  steps  to  be  taken. 

"HENRY  S.  RANDALL. 
"Cortland  Village,  March,  1841." 
We  find  in  this  controversy  Hepburn  charg- 
ing fraud  in  the  breeding,  and  when  obliged  to 
admit  the  merit  of  Mr.  Sotham's  cattle,  then 


JOHN   R.   PAGE'S   CONCEPTION  OF  SIR  CHARLES      (3434)  543. 


"In  reply  to  that  challenge  I  may  be  per- 
mitted to  say  that  I  never  have  paraded  my  own 
stock  before  the  public.  I  have  discussed  the 
merits  of  the  Shorthorns  and  Herefords  as  fam- 
ilies without  converting  my  communication  into 
advertisements  setting  forth  the  merits  of  my 
own  animals,  as  the  vendors  of  patent  medicines 
recount  the  wonderful  virtues  of  their  nos- 
trums. My  herd,  always  small,  has  been  ren- 
dered still  more  so  by  recent  sales,  and  circum- 
stances have  induced  me  to  turn  much  of  my 
attention  to  crosses  between  the  Shorthorn  and 
other  varieties.  But  if  Mr.  Sotham  is  really  in 
earnest — if  he  wishes  to  risk  $50  or  $100  on  the 
milking  properties  of  a  pure  Shorthorn  and  a 
pure  Hereford,  by  the  proper  tests  (say  the 


claiming  the  credit  clue  to  Shorthorn  crosses. 
Mr.  Randall  there  leaves  the  argument  and  the 
merits  of  the  breeds  and  proceeds  to  personal 
abuse.  .  These  two  men  are  representative  Short- 
horn men  from  the  time  that  Berry  entered 
upon  the  Hereford-Shorthorn  controversy,  from 
1820  to  1830  down  to  the  present  time. 

The  Randalls,  Hepburns,  Aliens,  Pages,  Ste- 
vens, Nichols,  Matthews,  Andersons,  Judys, 
Sanders,  Rusts,  and  the  entire  list  are  of  one 
class,  and  made  use  of  the  same  measures,  and 
substantially  the  same  language.  They  came 
before  the  stockmen  of  the  world  in  1834  with 
the  livery  of  that  august  society  termed  the  "So- 
ciety for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful  Knowledge/' 
officered  by  the  nobility  of  England,  and  used  as 


HISTOEY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


137 


their  scribe  a  learned  and  scholarly  student,  and 
asked  the  world  to  witness  the  impartial  his- 
tory written  by  this  scholar  and  endorsed  by  the 
nobility  of  England. 

And  then  follow  such  men  as  Randall,  Ste- 
vens, Page,  Allen,  Nichols,  Anderson  and  Mat- 
thews, asking  the  stockmen  to  believe  that  his- 
tory, and  accept  their  claims  on  that  title.  If 
a  political  party  had  come  into  power  on  such 
fraudulent  claims  they  would  be  buried  beyond 
a  resurrection  when  their  crime  was  brought  to 
light.  If  a  lawyer,  in  the  interest  of  the  client, 
should  have  committed  such  a  fraud  in  his  prac- 
tice as  Berry  did  in  the  interest  of  himself  and 
his  associate  Shorthorn  breeders,  he  would  have 
been  prohibited  from  practice. 

What  Berry  did  under  the  cloak  of  the  "So- 
ciety for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful  Knowledge," 
Randall,  Allen  and  Stevens  and  their  associates 
did  in  organizing  the  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture of  New  York,  and  they  used  it  as  Berry 
used  the  English  Society,  and  with  this  ma- 
chinery broke  the  Hereford  interest. 

Let  us  look  at  this.  Mr.  Sotham,  in  1840, 
brought  to  Albany  a  herd  of  Hereford  cattle. 
Mr.  Erastus  Corning,  a  wealthy  citizen  of  that 
city,  bought  an  interest  in  them,  and  would 
have  probably  furnished  capital  to  any  extent 
needed  but  Henry  S.  Randall  used  the  fraud 
of  Berry,  and  copying  after  Berry  organized 
the  New  York  State  Fair,  and  used  it  to  defeat 
the  Herefords,  and  the  result  was  that  Mr. 
Sotham  and  his  enterprise  was  financially 
ruined,  and  on  these  ruins  Mr.  Randall  and  his 
associates  were  enabled  to  perpetuate  the  fraud 
that  Berry  inaugurated,  and  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Societies  have  been  brought  under  this 
Shorthorn  influence  and  each  and  all  have  been 
made  tributary  and  obedient  to  the  Shorthorn 
behest,  and  every  man  that  has  dared  to  ques- 
tion their  right  has  been  broken.  Thus,  the 
Shorthorn  breeders  again,  in  my  time,  have  en- 
deavored to  do  with  this  movement.  This  was 
witnessed  by  one  of  the  most  fraudulent  con- 
spiracies ever  conducted,  that  was  pushed  dur- 
ing the  year  1881  with  all  the  venom  and  malice 
that  could  be  devised.  But  it  was  met  and 
hurled  back  upon  the  originators. 

Let  us  see  how  Mr.  Sotham  met  this  abuse. 
We  find  his  answer  in  the  "Cultivator,"  on  page 
83: 

"Messrs.  Gaylord  &  Tucker:  I  have  read 
with  much  amusement  the  highly  facetious  let- 
ter of  Mr.  Henry  S.  Randall,  in  your  last  'Cul- 
tivator/ and  laughed  at  its  contents  almost  as 
much  as  he  says  'the  impudent  Yankees'  did  at 
my  steeds  and  pigs.  My  mirth,  however,  was 
mingled  with  a  feeling  of  regret  that  I  had  in- 


curred his  wrath,  and  that  his  good  sense  (of 
which  I  had  previously  a  high  opinion)  had 
allowed  him  to  stoop  to  ridicule  and  ribaldry 
as  a  'dernier  resort/  certain  signs  of  a  weak 
argument. 

"I  know  nothing  of  his  friend,  'Mr.  Ezekiel 
Peabody/  and  therefore  give  Mr.  Randall  all 
the  credit  he  can  gain  by  his  acquaintance ;  and 


THE  BATES  SHORTHORN  IDEAL,  IMPORTED  DUKE 

OF  AIRDRIE   (12730) 
(From  a  drawing  by  J.   R.   Page.) 

I  leave  all  such  passages,  dictated  as  they  are, 
by  anything  but  good  breeding  and  gentlemanly 
discretion,  to  pass  for  what  they  are  worth, 
which  I  think  will  be  very  little,  less  even  than 
the  shadow  of  one  of  the  Kilkenny  cats,  so  wit- 
tily served  up  in  the  'Olla  Podrida'  with  which 
we  are  regaled.  Such  insinuations  are  unwor- 
thy of  Mr.  R.,  and  are  beneath  my  notice.  I 
will  merely  answer  those  parts  of  his  letter 
which  appear  businesslike. 

"In  the  first  place,  I  am  aware  I  spoke  highly 
and  confidently  regarding  my  purchases ;  but  it 
was  not  bravado.  I  knew  the  prejudices  I  had 
to  contend  against,  the  true  worth  of  my  ani- 
mals, and  was  willing  to  back  my  own  opinion. 
I  see  by  your  last  paper  that  I  have  raised  up 
opponents  who  will  throw  out  every  obstacle 
against  me,  but  'Truth  is  mighty  and  will  pre- 
vail/ and  they  shall  not  drive  me  from  my  pur- 
pose. I  did  not  intend  to  say  anything  regard- 
ing the  judges  at  Niblo's  fair,  but  only  wished 
for  an  opportunity  to  test  their  judgment.  Mr. 
R.'s  article  has  given  it  to  me.  I  will  show 
'Matchless'  against  any  cow  in  the  United 
States,  of  any  breed,  as  the  most  valuable  ani- 
mal, for  a  cup  of  the  same  value  as  was  there 
given,  adding  the  expenses  of  the  judges,  who 
shall  be  selected  in  the  following  manner:  I 
will  name  mine,  my  opponent  his,  these  two  se- 
lecting a  third;  and  to  prove  that  I  am  not 
actuated  by  any  exclusive  feeling  I  will  show  .a 


138 


H1STOEY     OF     HEKEFOKD     CATTLE 


three-year-old  Durham  heifer  lately  imported 
against  the  one  produced  by  my  opponent, 
whether  winner  or  loser,  on  the  same  terms.  I 
will  also  show  a  Berkshire  boar  and  sow  now  in 
the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Thomas,  of  Albany, 
nine  months  old,  which  were  a  part  of  the  iden- 
tical stock  so  cruelly  'laughed  at,'  against  any- 
thing in  this  state  of  the  same  breed,  excepting 
Mr.  Allen's  herd,  of  Buffalo  (as  I  think  him  the 
best  judge  to  decide),  for  a  prize  similar  to  the 
one  given  by  the  Institute.  I  will  go  still  fur- 
ther; Mr.  Clift  has  the  two  ewes  shown  at  the 
fair  now  in  his  possession,  and  I  presume  both 
have  lived  together  and  fared  alike  since  then; 
if  so,  they  shall  be  exhibited  at  Mr.  C.'s  farm; 
I  will  accompany  Mr.  K.  there,  who  shall  be 
the  judge,  without  knowing  to  whom  either 
originally  belonged,  and  I  will  venture  a  similar 
cup  to  the  one  Mr.  C.  gained  on  his  decision. 

"As  regards  the  milking  dispute  I  shall  not 
go  beyond  the  proposition  I  have  made,  but  am 
ready  to  fulfill  that  'in  earnest.'  My  cow  shall 
be  pure  Hereford,  but  I  could  not  agree  to  for- 
feit if  not  in  my  possession.  She  shall  be  one 
of  the  'twenty-four'  I  imported  last  summer. 
It  is  not  my  wish  to  make  any  sort  of  gambling 
contest  of  this  business,  but  to  give  an  excellent 
breed  of  cattle  a  chance  of  being  appreciated  as 
they  ought  to  be,  and  to  silence  their  traducers, 


A   TYPICAL   HEREFORD    OF   1840,    COTMORB,    WEIGHT 

3,920  LBS.,  AT  9  YEARS  OLD. 

(From  an  old  painting.) 

and  I  refer  the  public  to  Mr.  E.'s  various  epis- 
tles to  say  whether  or  not  they  have  made  it 
incumbent  on  me  so  to  do,  or  whether  I  had 
any  alternative  but  to  reply,  or  to  submit  in 
silence  to  his  injurious  misrepresentations. 
Should  my  offers  be  taken  and  the  triumph  be 
mine,  I  shall  value  the  prizes  as  mementoes 
worth  preserving;  should  I  fail,  a  second  trial 
may  be  more  successful,  as  I  am  resolved  on 
perseverance. 


"Mr.  Randall  says  I  have  'seduced'  himself 
and  others  into  this  controversy.  Let  him  refer 
back  to  the  'Cultivator'  if  his  memory  fails. 
He  will  soon  see  who  commenced  it,  and  I  will 
leave  it  to  your  readers  to  say  which  of  us  has 
most  violated  that  amenity  of  feeling  which 
ought  always  to  accompany  us,  however  eager 
we  may  be  to  impress  our  own  opinions  on  the 
minds  of  others,  or  controvert  those  of  our  op- 
ponents. I  ask  Mr.  R.  what  accusation  can  be 
more  opprobrious  than  that  of  'stealing  ?'  And 
has  not  Mr.  Hepburn  endeavored  to  fix  this 
charge  on  the  breeders  of  our  cattle?  I  also 
again  ask  him  to  cross  his  pure  Berkshire  with 
the  'land-pike'  he  speaks  of,  exhibit  the  produce 
to  proper  judges,  with  his  certificate  of  pedi- 
gree and  purity,  and  if  he  is  not  detected  by 
them,  the  said  produce  and  his  own  conscience, 
he  may  then  venture  on  the  'alligator,'  and  I 
will  believe  that  'stolen'  crosses  may  be  con- 
cealed. I  say  now  what  I  have  said  before, 
that  a  cross  with  a  Hereford  and  Durham  is  an 
excellent  one,  probably  better  than  the  pure 
breed  of  either,  but  cannot  be  brought  under 
the  observation  of  a  judge  without  immediate 
detection. 

"I  must  now  call  your  attention  to  Mr.  You- 
att's  text  book,  to  which  Mr.  Randall  and  Mr. 
Hepburn  seem  to  have  pinned  their  faith  with 
an  obstinacy  which  regards  anything  that  may 
differ  in  the  smallest  degree  with  its  dogmas, 
as  an  innovation  and  a  heresy  not  to  be  toler- 
ated. Mr.  Youatt  is  unquestionably  a  man  of 
great  talent  and  judgment;  he,  however,  is  but 
a  man  and  is  liable  to  errors  like  others ;  while, 
therefore,  his  opinions  have  all  the  weight 
which  they  so  justly  deserve,  with  practical  men 
in  his  own  country,  these  men  do  not,  like 
Messrs.  Randall  and  Hepburn,  make  an  agri- 
cultural Pope  of  him,  or  consider  his  book  (ex- 
cellent though  it  be)  as  the  agricultural  gos- 
pel. Science  and  improvement  are  too  much  on 
the  advance  to  rest  long  on  any  particular 
point.  But  to  return  to  the  text  book :  On  the 
llth  page  he  says,  speaking , of  Devons:  'They 
have  long  been  celebrated  for  a  breed  of  cattle 
beautiful  in  the  highest  degree ;  and  in  activity 
at  work  and  aptness  to  fatten  unrivaled.' 
In  speaking  of  the  Here  fords,  page  32,  he  says : 
'They  are  even  more  kindly  feeders  than  the 
Devons,  and  will  live  and  grow  fat  where  a 
Devon  will  scarcely  live.'  And,  further,  in  the 
same  page :  'The  Devons  will  acquire  bulk  and 
hardihood,  and  the  Herefords  a  finer  form  and 
activity/  These  are  his  exact  words.  Gentle- 
men, reflect  on  these  conflicting  statements,  and 
reconcile  these  contradictions  if  you  can.  When 
Mr?  R.'s  classical  knowledge,  backed  by  Mr.  H/s 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


139 


'intelligence/  have  shed  their  light  on  them 
and  converted  such  language  into  reason  and 
proof,  I  shall  then  believe  there  is  real  and 
sound  advantage  in  studying  the  classics;  but 
till  then  I  shall  be  content  to  make  my  quota- 
tions in  humble  dog  Latin;  to  'gallus  meusego 
et  nunquam  animus,'  notwithstanding  Mr.  R.'s 
terrific  range  of  literary  acquirements  from 
the  'Kilkenny  cats'  and  his  'friend  Peabody,'  to 
'Galileo'  and  'Copernicus,'  his  high  sportive  and 
illuminating  prose,  his  poetic  taste,  and 
'slaughtering'  satire.  But  enough  of  this.  I 
will  turn  to  another  attack. 

"When  I  sent  you  the  'Earl's  letter'  for  pub- 
lication I  did  not  expect  my  motives  to  be  im- 
pugned, or  my  character  calumniated  by  an 
illiberal  suspicion;  my  object  was  to  show  that 
the  men  of  the  highest  rank  in  England  know 
the  value  of  good  stock  equally  well  as  the  prac- 
tical breeder;  and  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  a  careful  selection.  The  latter  was  a 
'genuine,'  off-hand,  businesslike  communication, 
in  which  forms  and  phrases  were  evidently  less 
thought  of  than  the  sound  information  con- 
veyed in  it ;  and  I  very  much  regret  that  it  did 
not  please  the  fastidious  taste  of  your  several 
correspondents.  Doubtless  some  of  them 
thought  that  an  'Earl'  should  convey  his  in- 
formation on  the  science  of  breeding  cattle  in 
a  most  labored  and  elegant  pastoral  compo- 
sition. For  the  criticisms  on  myself,-  I  care 
not;  I  write  with  a  view  only  of  promoting 
the  farmer's  welfare  and  the  cause  of  truth. 
I  am  not  *o  easily  pulled  down,  therefore, 
by  any  error  in  etymology  and  syntax.  I 
have  taken  my  stand  and  propose  to  main- 
tain it.  Now,  Mr.  Editors,  I  will  be  very 
much  obliged  if  you  would  tell  me  the  names  of 
your  private  correspondents,  or  publish  their 
communications,  so  that  I  may  distinguish  my 
friends  from  my  enemies. 

"I  send  you  a  letter  from  Mr.  Turner,  Court 
of  Noke,  Herefordshire,  a  gentleman  well 
known  in  the  agricultural  world,  so  that  you 
may  again  state  that  you  have  seen  the  'origi- 
nal' from  which  my  extracts  below  are  taken. 

"  'It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  there  is  no 
other  breed  that  can  compete  with  the  Here- 
fords  as  regards  a  profitable  stock.  For  instance, 
the  memorable  old  Mr.  Westcar,  the  Bucking- 
hamshire grazier,  at  the  dinner  of  the  Christ- 
mas Cattle  Show,  some  years  ago,  when  the  first 
prize  in  the  first  class  was  awarded  to  a  Durham 
ox,  the  owner  in  the  heat  of  the  moment  rose 
and  offered  to  bet  a  wager  that  he  won  the  same 
prize  on  the  following  year  with  an  ox  of  the 
same  breed.  Mr.  W.  silenced  him  with  this 
public  challenge.  He  would  go  to  the  next  Oc- 


tober fair  at  Hereford  and  purchase  one  hun- 
dred oxen  of  the  Hereford  breed,  which  he 
would  feed  and  show  against  the  same  number 
of  all  the  breeds  in  England,  for  one  hundred 
guineas  per  head,  or  two  thousand  guineas, 
which  offer  no  one  dare  accept.'  This  was  done 
to  show  the  rich  men  who  then  possessed  the 
Durhams,  that  he  was  ready  to  support  the 
Herefords  with  his  purse.  'He  then  told  the 
company  that  during  his  experience  as  a  grazier 
he  had  fed  and  sold  twenty  Herefordshire  oxen 
to  the  butcher  at 
an  average  of  one 
hundred  guineas 
each,  and  he 
would  defy  all  the 
breeders  of  Short- 
horns together  to 
say  they  had  done 
the  like.  As  re- 
g  a  r  d  s  my  own 
breed  of  Here- 
fords,  I  can  boast 
of  having  bred  the 
last  ox  sold  to  the 
slaughterer  for 
one  hundred 
pounds,  which  was 
in  1827,  since  that 
several  steers  un- 
der four  years  old,  from  sixty  to  seventy  pounds. 
I  have  much  pleasure  in  saying  my  herd  has 
not  degenerated,  as  will  appear  by  the  show  at 
Hereford  last  week.  All  the  prize  cattle  were 
either  bred  by,  or  descended  from,  bulls  of  my 
own  breed.  Mr.  Perry  purchased  the  "Gold- 
finder"  of  me  when  a  yearling.' 

"  'As  regards  the  Hereford  breed  for  dairy 
purposes  I  can  speak  from  experience  that  when 
well  kept  few  will  answer  better.  I  can  give  an 
instance  of  a  prime  cow  of  my  father's  produc- 
ing thirteen  pounds  of  butter  per  week  when  al- 
lowed hay  and  cabbages  the  whole  of  the  winter ; 
but  the  principle  of  the  Herefords  being  the 
stock,  little  attention  is  paid  to  the  dairy.  We 
all  know  to  keep  up  cows  to  their  milk  requires 
the  most  nutritious  food,  which  is  seldom  al- 
lowed to  cows  in  this  country.  We  have  expe- 
rienced a  very  severe  winter,  and  the  epidemic 
so  prevalent,  I  fear  good  stock  will  not  be  very 
plentiful  this  spring.  The  present  prices  are 
very  satisfactory  to  the  breeder.  The  fair  at 
Hereford  was  very  pleasing  to  do  business  at, 
a  complete  clearance  of  all  good  stock,  particu- 
larly bulls,  of  which  there  was  a  most  splendid 
exhibition.' 

"I  now  conclude  with  one  remark  for  the 
satisfaction  of  Mr.  R.,  that  'Matchless'  was 


THOMAS  BOOTH, 

The   Great  English   Shorthorn 

Breeder. 


140 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


bred  by  Mr.  Turner,  purchased  by  Mr.  Hewer 
for  Mr.  James  Walker,  and  the  only  reason  I 
altered  her  name  was  I  had  one  named  'Spot' 
in  my  first  importation. 

"I  will  give  my  views  on  sheep  breeding  at 
some  future  period.  I  think  nothing  is  a  better 
test  for  profitable  animals  than  those  that  get 
the  greatest  weight  of  animal  food  with  the 
least  vegetables. 

"WM.  HY.  SOTHAM. 

"Perch  Lake  Farm,  April,  1841." 

We  now  give  a  letter  from  Mr.  Wm.  King- 
ham,  which  may  be  found  in  the  "Cultivator," 
on  page  116: 

"Messrs.  Editors  of  the  'Cultivator' :  I  have 
been  induced  to  take  up  my  pen  by  the  perusal 
of  a  controversy  between  Messrs.  Randall,  Hep- 
burn and  Sotham.  I  have  been  acquainted  with 
the  Hereford  cattle  for  the  last  thirty  years,  as 
a  grazier,  a  dairyman  and  butcher.  My  father 
used  to  graze  about  fifty  and  dairy  about  seventy 
cows,  of  different  breeds,  Longhorns,  Short- 
horns and  Herefords,  in  Oxfordshire,  England. 
For  feeding,  the  Herefords  are  not  surpassed  by 
any  breed  I  have  ever  seen ;  for  the  dairy,  I  do 
not  say  they  are  invariably  good  milkers, 
though  they  are,  many  of  them,  very  good.  I 
never  kept  an  account  of  the  produce  of  a  single 
cow,  but  one  of  my  neighbors  says  he  knew  a 
Hereford  cow  that  made  sixteen  pounds  of  but- 
ter per  week.  As  a  butcher,  which  business  I 
worked  at  in  London,  and  afterwards  followed 
in  Berkshire  for  eight  years,  I  say  the  Here- 


MARCHIONESS,   BRED   BY   E'.   CORNING,   JR.,   ALBANY, 

N.   Y. 
(First  prize,  N.   Y.  S.  F.,   1867.     From  a  drawing  by  Page.) 

fords  cut  the  best  stall  of  beef  I  ever  put  a  knife 
in.  Mr.  Hepburn  takes  Youatt  for  his  author, 
and  by  his  description  is  led  to  believe  the 
Herefords  to  have  been  a  trifling  breed  as  lately 
as  six  years  ago.  I  know  them  to  have  been  as 


good  thirty  years  since  as  now,  and  whenever 
they  have  been  shown  against  the  Shorthorns 
have  oftener  gained  the  prize  than  their  antago- 
nists. Mr.  Youatt  must  have  been  prejudiced 
in  favor  of  the  Shorthorns,  was  ignorant  of  the 
qualities  of  the  Herefords,  or  got  his  informa- 
tion from  some  one  no  better  informed  than 
himself.  Mr.  Hepburn  very  ingeniously  en- 
deavors to  impose  on  his  understanding  by  sup- 
posing the  Herefords  of  Mr.  Sotham  to  be  the 
produce  of  a  stolen  cross  with  the  Durhams.  I 
have  no  doubt  but  Mr.  H.'s  experience,  if  he 
lives  long,  will  convince  him  that  his  supposi- 
tion was  erroneous,  and  that  he_  was  misleading 
the  judgment  of  the  community  and  doing  in- 
justice to  the  breeder  and  importer  by  suppos- 
ing them  guilty  of  imposition.  I  should  say, 
as  a  breeder,  the  Herefords  need  no  such  cross ; 
but  I  should  say  as  a  breeder,  that  many  of  the 
Durhams,  some  of  even  Herd  Book  pedigrees, 
would  be  materially  improved  by  a  cross  with 
the  Herefords,  as  having  a  tendency  to  lengthen 
the  rump .  and  widen  the  -hip  of  those  whose 
edge  or  round  bones  are  wider  than  their  hips, 
the  rump  short  and  low,  the  tail  high,  and  their 
skin  as  tight  over  their  rump  as  if  stretched 
over  it  with  a  pair  of  pincers.  Such  animals 
have  a  thick,  heavy  thigh,  the  thick,  coarse  but- 
tock, supported  by  a  large  bone,  coarse  leg,  the 
sides,  as  Culley*  describes,  being  one  layer  of 
black  flesh  across  another,  the  shoulder  bones 
large,  the  points  projecting.  Such  beasts  arc 
sure  to  be  bad  handlers,  never  get  very  thin,  and 
never  get  fat,  will  get  fleshy,  but  when  it  is  on 
is  no  better  than  bull  beef.  With  such  animals  a 
cross  from  the  Herefords  would  be  a  great  im- 
provement. I  have  handled  many  Durhams 
with  high  pedigree,  with  all  the  above  objec- 
tions. I  never  yet  put  my  hand  on  a  Hereford 
that  was  not  a  good  handler.  My  opinion  of 
the  Herefords  is  that  they  are  the  nicest  breed 
of  cattle,  taken  for  all  purposes,  that  walk  the 
earth,  and  would  have  had  some  in  Ohio  long 
ago  if  my  means  had  been  equal  to  my  wishes. 

"I  remain,  gentlemen,  yours  respectfully, 
"WILLIAM  KINGHAM. 

"Springfield,  Clark  Co.,  0.,  March  11,  1841." 

We  now  give  a  letter  from  Mr.  Wm.  Cother, 
of  Oxfordshire,  England,  to  Mr.  Sotham,  under 
date  of  Middle.  Aston,  Oxfordshire,  Feb.  1, 
1841,  which  may  be  found  on  page  132  of  the 
"Cultivator"  for  1841 : 

"Mr.  Wm.  H.  Sotham:  I  am  happy  to  in- 
form you  that  our  ram  season  closed  very  satis- 
factory for  the  breeders  of  Cotswolds.  Their 
superiority  is  acknowledged  by  the  extraordi- 
nary demand  and  the  high  prices  given  for 
them,  which  is  very  easily  accounted  for  by 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


141 


their  being  much  better  sucklers,  maturing 
earlier,  producing  more  lean,  and  heavier  fleeces 
than  the  Leicester^.  Their  fame  is  now  spread 
far  and  wide,  and  I  expect  in  a  very  few  years 
that  nearly  every  long-wooled  flock  in  England 
will  be  'alloyed1  by  Cotswold  blood. 

"The  heifer  you  call  Eliza  is  not  by  Young 
Sovereign,  but  by  Favorite,  Jr.,  a  son  of  Fitz 
Favorite.  Fitz  Favorite  was  by  Favorite,  the 
sire  of  Old  Sovereign,  and  the  latter  was  the 
sire  of  more  prize  beasts  than  any  other  bull  of 
his  day,  and  was  a  remarkable  instance  of  suc- 
cessful in-and-in  breeding,  being  the  produce 
of  a  mother  and  son,  the  pedigrees  of  which 
can  be  given,  if  required,  for  a  period  of  more 
than  forty  years.  And  I  would  add  that  the 
dams  of  each  of  the  bulls  I  have  named  were 
pure  Herefords,  the  pedigrees  of  which  can  be 
given  with  equal  accuracy.  The  dam  of  Favor- 
ite, Jr.,  I  knew  well,  and  it  is  my  firm  opinion 
that  I  never  saw  ten  so  good. 

"This,  I  should  hope,  would  be  sufficient  to 
satisfy  the  most  skeptical  as  to  the  purity  of 
her  pedigree  on  the  male  side.  Her  dam  was 
bought  of  Messrs.  Brown  and  Lion,  the  great 
North-country  cattle  dealers,  and  was  pur- 
chased by  them  at  Darlington,  in  the  County  of 
Durham.  It  was  fortunate  that  you  did  not 
have  her  sister,  as  she  has  cast  her  calf. 

"The  whole  of  my  three  years  and  nine 
months  old  steers  by  Favorite,  Jr.,  grazed  on  my 
inferior  land  and  finished  with  £3  worth  of  oil 
cake  each,  have  made  this  Christmas  £41  apiece, 
a  price  which  1  am  of  opinion  where  very  few 
Shorthorns  or  Herefords  have  arrived  at,  in 
the  same  time,  and  under  similar  treatment. 
These  were  the  second  cross  from  Shorthorns, 
with  a  pure  Hereford  bull  each  time,  a  cross  I 
do  not  by  any  means  recommend  you  to  adopt. 
You  are  in  possession  of  some  of  the  very  best 
Hereford  blood  this  country  can  produce  (a-few 
of  the  heifers  are  perhaps  a  little  too  much  in- 
and-in  bred),  and  all  you  now  require  is  a 
couple  of  first-rate  bulls,  with  the  addition  of  a 
few  heifers  of  different  blood  to  make  proper 
crosses  with,  to  start  you  a  first-class  Hereford 
bull  breeder,  and  depend  upon  it  that  your 
neighbors  will  ultimately  discern  that  they  can 
live  harder,  work  better,  feed  equally  quick  if 
not  more  so,  and  produce  a  stall  of  meat  su- 
perior in  quality,  with  a  less  quantity  of  coarse, 
than  the  Shorthorns,  and  milk  as  well  as  the 
highest-bred  animals  of  other  kinds.  In  short, 
I  believe  they  will  pay  more  money  for  the  food 
they  consume  than  any  other  breed,  in  which 
opinion  many  of  the  most  eminent  graziers 
agree,  some  of  whom  reside  in  Shorthorn  dis- 
tricts and  travel  nearly  a  hundred  miles  to 


Hereford  fairs  to  buy  oxen — a  distance  unparal- 
leled by  graziers  in  search  of  cattle  of  any  other 
kind  in  this  country. 

"1  advise  you  to  breed  pure  bulls,  and  let 
others  cross  for  the  shambles,  and  in  so  doing  I 
think  each  will  benefit  his  country  as  well  as 
himself. 

"Hard  things,  indeed,  may  justly  be  said  of 
some  cattle  wearing  white  faces,  and  with  equal 
truth  it  may  be  observed  that  there  are  many 
very  bad  ones  of  beautiful  roan  and  spotted 
color,  with  Shorthorns;  such  are  frequently 
good  milkers,  and  so  are  the  Herefords  which 
are  of  low  breed  and  bad  form.  I  imagine  that 
Mr.  Youatt  and  others  who  have  designated 
the  Hereford  cow  'an  inferior  animal,'  could 
not  have  done  so  from  actual  observation,  for  it 
so  happens  that  in  symmetry  of  form,  with  sub- 
stance and  quality  combined,  a  more  beautiful 
animal  (of  her  species)  cannot  be  found  in 
Britain.  Nor  can  it  be  very  pleasing  to  owners 


TROMP,    BRED   BY   W.    H.    SOTHAM. 

(Property    of    A.     Ayrault,    Geneseo,     N.    Y.      First    prize, 
N.   Y.  S.  P.,  1851.     From  a  drawing  by  Forbes.) 


of  such  superb  animals  as  are  very  many  of 
the  Hereford  cows,  to  have  them  so  dominated 
in  what  is  called  'A  Standard  Work  on  British 
Cattle.'  Nor  do  I  think  such  an  opinion  (libel) 
ought  to  be  so  uncontradicted,  given  as  it  must 
have  been  (one  would  suppose)  from  informa- 
tion and  not  from  ocular  demonstration. 

"However  'astonishing'  it  may  appear  to  Mr. 
Randall  that  the  Herefords  in  the  Gloucester 
Hills  'should  have  escaped  the  notice  of  Mr. 
Youatt  six  years  since,'  they  have  located  there 
long  before  that  period,  and  in  many  instances 
cows  and  heifers  have  been  known  to  weigh  from 
fifteen  to  nineteen  scores  [300  to  380  Ibs.  T. 
L.  M.]  per  quarter  [or  1,200  to  1,520  pounds 
to  the  carcass.  T.  L.  M.],  when  dead,  exclusive 
of  hide  and  tallow,  and  the  oxen  from  twenty 
to  twenty-eight  scores  [400  to  560  Ibs.  per 
quarter,  equal  to  from  1,600  to  2,240  Ibs.  per 


WILLIAM   H.  SOTHAM,  IN  HIS  80TH  YEAK   (1801-1884.) 
Fifty  years  the  Champion  of  Herefords  in  America. 


HISTOEY     OF     HEEEFOED     CATTLE 


143 


carcass.  These  carcass-weights  would  make 
the  live-weights,  according  to  the  fixed  English 
system,  2,100  to  2,660  Ibs.  for  cows  and  2,200 
to  3,920  Ibs.  for  oxen.  T.  L.  M.] 

"A  Hereford  steer  and  heifer,  both  bred  in 
the  parish  of  Northleach,  Gloucestershire,  fed 
in  the  County  of  Wilts  and  slaughtered  at  Ox- 
ford this  Christmas,  the  former  under  four 
years  old,  weighed  nearly  eighteen  scores  per 
quarter  [1,440  Ibs.  dressed,  equal  to  2,520  Ibs. 
live  weight.  T.  L.  M.]  and  the  latter  three  years 
and  six  months  old,  more  than  seventeen  scores 
per  quarter  [1,360  Ibs.  carcass,  equal  to  2,380 
Ibs.  live  weight.  T.  L.  M.] 

"I  now  take  my  leave  of  the  'lady-like'  fe- 
males, for  the  purpose  of  pursuing  their  'lordly' 
sons  of  the  Smithfield  Club  Show,  where  the  tug 
of  war  is  annually  kept  up  between  the  two  con- 
tending breeds.  Of  their  extraordinary  fame 
there,  let  the  annals  of  the  t?lub  testify ;  but  I 
would  observe,  by  the  way,  that  they  are  by  no 
means  well  represented  there,  in  proof  of  which 
a  great  number  of  graziers  of  high  reputation, 
viz.,  Messrs.  Eowland,  Lidbrook,  Terry,  Hewett, 
Manning,  the  three  Pains,  Bull,  and  many  oth- 
ers equally  well  noted,  who  are  purchasers  of  a 
large  quantity  of  the  very  best  steers  Hereford- 
shire produces,  seldom,  if  ever,  exhibit  an  ani- 
mal ;  the  reason  of  which,  as  some  of  them  have 
stated  to  me,  is  'that  winning  a  prize  entails  a 
certain  loss,'  while  the  breeding  and  feeding  of 
•them  is  almost  neglected  by  wealthy  owners  of 
the  soil. 

"Not  so  with  Shorthorns.  They  are  reared, 
fed  and  shown  under  the  fostering  care  of  the 
Marquis  of  Exeter,  Lord  Spencer  and  Brown- 
low,  Sir  Charles  Knightly,  and  other  opulent 
men  to  whom  expense  is  not  an  object.  In  mak- 
ing these  observations,  do  not  suppose  that  I 
wish  to  detract  anything  from  their  merits.  On 
the  contrary,  I  consider  them  a  credit  to  their 
noble  owners.  But  I  cannot  pursue  this  subject 
further  without  transcribing  the  opinion  of  an 
eminent  breeder,  Mr.  Bates  of  Kirkleavington, 
Yarm,  Yorkshire,  whose  cattle  bore  away  nearly 
all  the  Shorthorn  prizes  from  Oxford.  He  says, 
at  page  426,  'Farmer's  Magazine'  for  Decem- 
ber, 1840 :  'I  visited  Hereford  about  fifty  years 
ago,  and  was  then  and  continue  still  an  admirer 
of  the  best  variety  of  cattle  (Here fords).  But  I 
consider  now  and  have  for  above  forty  years 
been  convinced  that  the  very  best  Shorthorns, 
which  are  only  a  few,  are  capable  of  improving 
all  other  breeds  of  cattle  in  the  United  King- 
dom, as  well  as  the  ordinary  Shorthorns,  which 
are  far  from  a  good  breed,  and  inferior  to  the 
Herefords,  Devons,  and  others.'  And  so  would 
any  moderate  judge  of  stock  conclude  from  tak- 


ing a  survey  of  Smithfield  market  at  Christmas, 
where  and  when  some  of  the  meat  of  nearly 
every  kind  are  pitched,  the  Herefords  reigning 
paramount  to  any  other  breed,  in  numbers  and 
quality  combined,  making  more  money  per  head 
than  a  like  number  of  any  other  variety. 

"Should  the  position  I  have  taken  be  doubted 
by  any  of  your  American  opponents  I  would 
say  to  such,  come  and  see,  and  do  not  be  satis- 
fied with  a  view  of  a  few  inferior  of  their  kind, 
but  go  home  to  the  best  breeders'  houses,  where 
they  will  be  met  with  a  hospitable  reception 
and  a  hearty  welcome,  and  will  find  such  ani- 
mals as  are  worthy  of  a  place  in  a  herd  book; 
but  in  the  absence  of  their  names  and  pedigrees 
in  print  their  own  good  qualities  will  be  found 
sufficient  passport. 

"It  may  be  asked  what  reason  can  a  man  find 
for  resorting  to  a  cross  breed  who  so  extols  the 


LUTHER    TUCKER,    SR. 
(America's   first   great   Agricultural   Editor.) 

Herefords?  The  question  is  solved  in  a  few 
words.  I  was  resolved  to  breed  rather  a  large 
size,  and  it  being  difficult  to  procure  large,  well- 
bred  Hereford  cows,  except  at  very  high  prices, 
and,  not  having  a  long  purse,  I  preferred  as 
good  Shorthorns  without  pedigrees  as  I  could 
procure,  rather  than  Herefords  under  the  like 
disadvantage,  considering,  with  the  'alloy'  in  my 
mind's  eye,  that  by  so  doing  I  should  procure 
a  rent-paying,  though  not  a  bull-breeding  stock, 
and  I  have  much  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the 
steps  I  took  at  that  time,  since  which  I  have 
added  some  well-bred  Herefords  to  it,  and  am 
now  in  possession  of  one  bull  by  Cotmore,  the 
Oxford  pet,  and  two  others,  embracing  the  blood 
of  old  Trojan  and  Old  Sovereign  in  a  high  de- 
gree, which,  I  think,  would  be  likely  to  do  good 
in  America,  as  a  very  near  relative  of  the  two 
latter  has  done  in  Scotland,  a  son  of  which  won 
a  prize  in  London  this  Christmas. 

"I  should  deem  it  impossible    to   get   up  a 


14-1 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Hereford  herd  book  here.  The  breeders  are  so 
satisfied  of  the  superiority  of  their  own  breed 
that  they  are  at  perfect  ease  on  the  subject.  But 
I  advise  you  to  have  a  well  authenticated  pedi- 
gree with  every  beast  you  import,  and  com- 
mence a  herd  book  of  your  own. 

"Mr.  Wm.  Hewer's  Major,  the  sire  of  most 
of  your  heifers,  won  a  prize  at  Farringdon,  beat- 
ing a  nurnber  of  Shorthorns,  and  at  Cirencester 
he  did  the  same.  Major  and  a  daughter  of  Sir 
George  and  his  (Major's)  son  won  the  prize  for 
bull,  cow,  and  offspring,  a  daughter  of  Old 
Sovereign  winning  another  prize  as  the  best 
breeding  cow.  And  a  bull  calf,  ten  months  old, 
by  Major,  won  another  prize  as  the  best  under 
two  years  old,  and  here  also  they  came  in  com- 
petition with  Shorthorns.  Will  it  be  asserted 
again  that  'on  the  bleak  highlands  of  Glouces- 
ter no  breed  has  been  cultivated  with  any  very 
marked  success'? 

"I  say  it  has  been  for  twenty  years,  and  can 
prove  it,  and  I  say  more :  no  man  has  a  right  to 


CASSIUS  M.  CLAY,  WHITE  HALL,  LEXINGTON,  KY. 

injure  another  by  an  assertion  he  cannot  prove. 
These  may  be  considered  hard  words,  but  they 
are  just  ones,  used  only  for  the  purpose  of  cor- 
rection, and  not  intended  to  give  offense. 

"My  three  fat  ewes,  which  you  saw,  were 
killed  at  Oxford  last  month  by  Messrs.  Green- 
ing, Alden,  and  Barr,  and  weighed  respectively 
228,  185,  and  184  pounds. 

"Your  friends  and  acquaintances  are  well, 


many  of  whom  speak  anxiously  of  your  success, 
which  I  sincerely  hope  may  exceed  your  most 
sanguine  expectations,  nor  do  I  doubt  it,  for  I 
consider  you  have  fixed  on  the  breeds  of  cattle 
and  sheep  well  suited  to  the  rigor  of  your  cli- 
mate; recollect  Devons  are  natives  of  a  much 
warmer  country  than  the  Herefords. 

"Yours  truly,  WM.  COTHER." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Sotham,  in 
support  of  his  claim  for  the  Herefords  as  milk- 
ers, gave  in  proof  that  the  year  before  (1839) 
at  the  first  show  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Eng- 
land the  Hereford  cow  of  Mr.  Smythies  took 
the  first  prize  for  the  best  cow  in  milk.  On 
page  57  of  the  "Cultivator,"  Vol.  8,  may  be 
found  the  following  testimony,  under  the  cap- 
tion of  "The  Hereford  Prize  Cow :" 

"We  have  a  letter  from  our  friend,  Joseph 
Cope,  of  East  Bradford,  Pa.,  in  relation  to  the 
statement  made  by  Mr.  Sotham  that  'a  Here- 
ford cow  won  the  first  prize,  as  the  best  cow 
for  dairy  purposes  of  any  breed  at  the  great 
show  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  at  Ox- 
ford in  1839.'  Mr.  Cope  doubts  this  fact,  and 
to  show  that  such  was  not  the  case  he  gives  a 
detailed  list  of  all  the  awards  of  prizes  to  cattle 
at  that  show,  quoting  from  a  newspaper  and 
pamphlet  account  in  his  possession.  We  have 
compared  Mr.  C.'s  account  with  that  published 
in  the  'Farmer's  Magazine,'  the  organ  of  the 
society,  and  find  it  all  correct  with  the  excep- 
tion of  so  much  as  relates  to  the  fifth  class,  in 
which  there  is  no  notice  of  the  animal-  which 
took  first  prize.  The  first  prize  of  fifteen  sov- 
ereigns, 'for  the  best  cow  in  milk,  which  shall, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  judges,  be  best  calculated 
for  dairy  purposes/  was  awarded  'to  the  Rev.  J. 
R.  Smythies,  of  Lynch  Court,  Hereford,  for  his 
Hereford  cow,  aged  nine  years,  six  months.' 
The  second  prize  was  awarded  'to  Joseph  Bad- 
cock,  of  Pyrton,  for  his  Durham  cow,  aged  four- 
teen years  and  two  months.' '; 

With  this  array  of  testimony  in  favor  of  the 
Herefords  as  brought  before  the  public  by  Mr. 
Sotham  in  1840-41,  the  breeders  .of  to-day  will 
be  surprised  that  they  did  not  succeed  in  1840, 
and  then  become  the  dominant  breed  for  this 
country  as  they  are  now  in  the  West  and  are 
bound  to  become  in  the  East  as  well. 

We  find  on  page  125  of  the  "Albany  Cultiva- 
tor," for  1840,  a  letter  from  C.  N.  Bement,  and 
take  the  following  extracts  from  the  same: 

"In  Missouri,  Illinois,  and  Wisconsin,  where 
only  beef  is  wanted,  and  where  they  have  to  be 
driven  great  distances  to  a  market,  from  what 
I  have  seen  and  can  learn,  the  Hereford  cer- 
tainly would  be  preferable,  being  hardy  in  con- 


HISTOEY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


145 


stitution,  good  travelers  of  great  size,  will  fat 
at  an  early  age  and  will  make  more  pounds  of 
beef  with  the  quantity  of  food  consumed,  and 
when  better  known  in  market  will  command  the 
highest  price. 

"Three  Hereford  and  three  Durham  cattle 
were  put  in  the  stalls  to  be  fattened  on  the  3d 
of  November.  The  weight  of  the  Herefords  was 
then  33  cwt.  and  that  of  the  Durhams  38  cwt. 
and  14  Ibs.  Between  that  period  and  the  30th 
of  March,  when  all  were  sold  at  Smithfield,  the 
Durhams  had  consumed  12,755  pounds  weight 
more  of  turnips  and  1,714  pounds  more  of  hay 
than  the  Herefords,  but  the  Durhams,  notwith- 
standing the  large  size  when  put  to  fatten,  and 
the  greatly  larger  quantity  of  food  consumed, 
sold  for  only  twenty  shillings  more  per  head 
than  the  Herefords,  and  such,.  I  believe,  will 
ever  be  the  results  of  similar  trials,  when  one 
class  of  animals  has  been  properly  fed  and  the 
other  overfed,  the  merits  of  the  breed  equal. 

"At  the  meeting  of  the  Smithfield  Club  in 
December,  1839,  the  Herefords  took  the  first 


four  premiums  in  Classes  1  and  2 ;  in  Class  3 
the  second  prize  and  second  prize  in  Class  7.  In 
the  prizes  for  extra  stock,  the  Herefords  took 
the  only  prize.  In  the  list  of  commendation, 
the  Hereford  stands  13,  Durham  8,  Sussex  1, 
North  Devon  1. 

"I  have  examined  the  Hereford  cattle  lately 
imported  by  our  spirited  and  enterprising  citi- 
zens, Erastus  Corning,  Esq.,  and  Wm.  H.  So- 
tham,  as  noticed  in  the  last  'Cultivator/  I 
must  confess  I  was  greatly  disappointed  in  the 
size  and  general  form  of  the  cows,  for  they  were 
apparently  as  large  as  the  Durhams  and  possess- 
ing the  broad  loin,  large,  capacious  bodies,  deep, 
broad  and  projecting  brisket,  but  with  a  coarser 
head  and  neck,  which,  to  those  familiar  with  the 
Durham,  would  appear  oxy,  if  I  may  be  allowed 
the  expression.  The  shape  and  size  of  their 
udders  would  indicate  fair  milkers.  Mr.  Thorn- 
ton, the  person  who  has  charge  of  them,  in- 
formed me  they  gave  on  an  average  full  a  mid- 
dling quantity  of  milk." 


R.    A.    ALEXANDER,    LEXINGTON,    KY. 


146 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XII. 


MORE  EARLY  AMERICAN  HEREFORD  HISTORY 


It  is  reported  that  W.  C.  Rives  of  Virginia 
imported  Herefords,  the  date  and  number  of 
which  I  have  no  account. 

The  Hon.  Henry  Clay  of  Kentucky  imported 
two  pair  of  Herefords  in  1817. 

Admiral  Coffin,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  imported 
and  presented  to  the  Massachusetts  Society  for 
Promoting  Agriculture  a  pair  of  Herefords. 
The  cow,  not  breeding,  was  slaughtered,  and 
the  bull  sent  to  North  Hampton,  Mass.,  where 
he  was  kept  for  several  years,  and  his  produce 
highly  esteemed  as  work  cattle,  as  butcher's 
beasts  and  in  the  dairy. 

In  1839  Mr.  W.  H.  Sotham  made  his  first 
importation  of  Hereford  cattle.  On  his  arrival 
in  New  York  he  sold  an  interest  in  them  to 
Hon.  Erastus  Corning  of  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Sotham  was  born  on  the  25th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1801,  in  the  village  of  Wooton  (ff  73a), 
Whitechurch,  Oxfordshire,  England.  His  father 
owned  his  own  estate  of  200  acres,  which  de- 
scended to  the  oldest  son.  William  Henry  was 
kept  at  school  until  fourteen  years  old,  when 
he  took  a  working  place  on  the  farm  for  two 
years  as  under  teamster,  having  a  team  of  four 
horses,  and  a  boy  to  drive.  From  that  time  he 
was  in  charge  of  the  sheep,  the  farm  carrying 
150  Cotswold  ewes.  He  then  had  charge  of 
the  colts,  breaking  and  training  them;  thus 
for  several  years  having  charge  of  the  sev- 
eral departments  upon  the  farm,  in  the  hand- 
ling of  the  stock  and  marketing  of  the  same 
until.  1832,  when  he  came  to  America  with  large 
expectations,  obtained  from  descriptions  re- 
ceived. 

Stopping  a  short  time  in  New  York  he  thence 
went  to  Buffalo  by  the  New  York  Canal,  from 
there  to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  here  met  Mr. 
Henry  Coit,  of  Euclid,  near  Cleveland,  who 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land  at  Liverpool,  Me- 
dina County,  about  twenty-five  miles  from 
Cleveland.  He  went  with  Mr.  Coit  to  look  at 
the  land,  finding  a  comfortable  brick  house  with 
a  small  farm  cleared.  Mr.  Sotham  made  an 
engagement  to  take  charge  of  the  farm  and  sales 
of  land.  He  remained  here  for  two  years,  hav- 


ing accumulated  a  considerable  stock  of  cattle 
and  horses.  He  took  the  cattle  to  Cleveland 
and  sold  them,  and  the  horses  he  took  to  New 
York. 

After  selling  the  horses  and  paying  the  pro- 
ceeds over  to  a  brother  of  Mr.  Coit's,  Mr.  So- 
tham returned  to  England.  Before  making  the 
importation  of  Herefords  in  1840  he  had  been 
to  England  four  times,  having  brought  over  in 
that  time  a  few  sheep. 

In  1840  he  imported  twenty-one  Hereford 
cows  and  heifers,  a  two-year-old  Hereford  bull 
and  two  Shorthorn  cows.  One  of  the  Shorthorn 
cows,  bred  by  Sir  Charles  Knightly,  died  on  the 
passage.  The  other  Shorthorn  cow,  "Venus," 
bred  by  R.  Lovell  of  Edgecott,  was  sold  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Hillhouse  for  $1,000. 

He  again  returned  to  England  and  brought 
out  ten  Hereford  heifers  and  a  bull,  six  first- 
prize  Cotswold  ewes,  shown  at  the  Royal  fair 
in  1839,  and  seventeen  Cotswold  rams. 

A  third  importation  was  made  in  1843,  when 
he  took  the  whole  steerage  of  the  ship  Hendrick 
Hudson,  which  he  filled  with  Hereford  heifers, 
one  bull  and  several  calves.  He  met  a 
heavy  and  severe  storm  off  the  bank  of  New- 
foundland. The  severity  of  the  storm  made  it 
necessary  to  close  the  hatches  for  several  days, 
and  the  result  was  the  suffocation  and  conse- 
quent loss  of  the  entire  shipment. 

During  this  time' the  Hon.  Erastus  Corning 
was  interested  with  Mr.  Sotham  in  his  im- 
portations. Mr.  Corning  had  large  business  in- 
terests and  was  influential  in  the  political  world. 
Recognizing  these  facts,  the  Shorthorn  breeders 
made  special  efforts  to  detach  Mr.  C.  from  the 
Hereford  interest,  and  were  finally  successful. 
They  went  still  further  and  endeavored  to  pre- 
vent the  stock  from  going  to  Mr.  Sotham  at  all, 
but  on  this  point  they  failed  to  carry  out  their 
plans.  Mr.  Corning  met  their  endeavors  in 
this  particular  way  by  saying  that  Mr.  Sotham 
should  have  such  as  he  wished  and  sold  to 
him  at  favorable  prices  and  terms. 

We  wish  here  to  call  particular  attention  to 
the  chapter  which  precedes  this,  and  gives  the 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


147 


details  of  the  Hereford-Shorthorn  controversy 
as  waged  in  the  agricultural  papers  and  at  the 
different  shows  and  fairs  from  1834  to  1841; 
the  New  York  Agricultural  Society  being 
founded  for  the  special  purpose  of  promoting 
the  Shorthorn  interest. 

We  give  in  the  chapter  on  Fairs  and  Shows 
a  full  account  of  the  formation  of  the  New 
York  State  Fair,  as  a  matter  of  reference. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Shorthorn  breeders^ 
used  every  means  in  their  power  to  defeat  Mr. 
Sotham.  We  will  follow  that  controversy  from 
1841,  in  which  year  the  New  York  State  Society 
organized  their  first  show.  It  will  be  shown  that 
that  society  was  under  the  control  of  the  same 
parties  that  met  Mr.  S.  and  his  Herefords  in 
1840,  with  the  correspondence  we  have  given. 

The  writers  of  Tthat  day  speak  of  the  Sotham 
importation  of  Herefords  in  the  highest  terms. 
A.  B.  Allen  says  of  them :  "that  they  gave  him 
a  different  opinion  of  the  breed  from  what  he 
had  before." 

The  committee  of  judges  at  the  first  fair  held 
by  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society 
recommended  a  special  premium  to  the  Here- 
ford cow  "Matchless"  (ff  74F)  and  further 
spoke  of  the  Herefords  belonging  to  Messrs. 
Corning  and  Sotham  as  entitled  to  .a  class,  and 
recommended  that  a  class  should  be  made  and 
special  premiums  should  be  awarded  them, 
which,  so  far  as  we  are  enabled  to  find,  was  not 
done. 

Mr.  T.  C.  Peters,  writing  from  London  Jan- 
uary 6th,  1842,  says:  "One  of  the  best  Here- 
ford bulls  I  have  seen,  indeed  one  of  the  best 
I  ever  saw  of  any  breed,  is  going  out  to  Albany 
by  the  packet  ship  Hendrick  Hudson."  Major 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  Sotham  in  person. 

We  have  in  our  review  of  the  Hereford-Short- 
horn interest  from  1834  to  1841,  brought  Mr. 
Sotham's  connection  with  that  controversy  fully 
before  our  readers.  We  have  shown  that  he 
brought  in  support  of  the  Hereford  claims  an 
array  of  testimony  that  was  a  complete  estab- 
lishment of  his  claims;  that  it  was  done  in  a 
manner  creditable  to  him  as  a  man  and  a 
breeder.  We  have  shown  that  his  opponents 
admitted  that  his  stock  was  excellent,  of  the 
best  quality;  that  it  was  better  than  the  history 
of  Youatt  would  warrant  them  in  expecting  to 
see,  and  they  claimed  it  must  have  a  cross  of 
Shorthorn  to  give  character.  Other  and  disin- 
terested parties  came  to  Mr.  Sotham's  aid  to 
bear  testimony  to  the  merits  of  the  Herefords, 
and  their  testimony  was  not  only  for  the  time 
then  under  controversy,  but  covered  from  a 
quarter  to  a  half  century  previous,  and  the  only 
testimony  that  the  Shorthorn  men  who  opposed 


Mr.  Sotham  brought  forward  in  favor  of  the 
Shorthorns  and  in  opposition  to  Herefords  was 
Youatt's  History  of  British  Cattle.  This  his- 
tory, we  have  shown  by  Youatt  himself,  so  far 
as  the  Shorthorn  breed  was  concerned,  was  writ- 
ten by  Rev.  Henry  Berry,  a  Shorthorn  breeder. 
We  have  shown  from  Youatt's  history  of  the 
Herefordshire  cattle  that  extensive  experiments 
had  been  made  by  the  Duke  of  Bedford  in  the 
feeding  and  gracing  of  Shorthorns  and  Here- 
fords that  had  resulted  in  displacing  the  Short- 


"  WHITE     HALL,"     NEAR    LEXINGTON,     KY. 
(Residence  of  Cassius  M.  Clay.) 

horns  and  establishing  the  Herefords  on  that 
estate,  and  we  quote  Youatt  as  saying  that  the 
reason  why  the  date  for  these  experiments  was 
not  given  was  because  they  were  not  satisfactory 
to  the  patrons  of  the  Shorthorns.  We  have 
shown  that  Youatt,  in  the  history  of  several  of 
the  local  breeds,  credits  the  Herefords  as  giving 
character  to  those  breeds  in  improving  the  feed- 
ing, grazing  and  dairy  qualities,  that,  had  they 
been  given  in  the  history,  would  have  placed  the 
Herefords  in  the  first  position  at  the  time  he 
wrote. 

We  state  distinctly  and  confidently  that  Mr. 
Sotham  produced  a  class  of  cattle  in  1840  that 
finally  established  the  claims  he  made  for  su- 
periority, that  he  brought  forward  testimony, 
clear  and  convincing,  that  these  qualities  had 
been  in  the  breed  for  half  a  century,  and  that 
the  success  of  the  Herefords  at  that  time  was 
defeated  by  a  combination  of  Bates'  Shorthorn 
breeders,  and  we  have  shown  that  the  New  York 
State  Fair  was  organized  by  these  men  in  1841 
at  Syracuse.  At  this  fair  Mr.  Rust  showed  a 
fat  ox  with  a  mottled  face  (fl  75),  which  took 
the  first  premium,  for  which  the  Shorthorn  men 
claimed  the  credit.  Mr.  Sanford,  one  of  the 
leading  writers  of  that  day,  and  a  breeder  of 
large  experience,  met  this  claim  by  showing  that 


148 


HISTORY    OP    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


the  Hereford  blood  was  the  controlling  element 
in  his  breeding,  and  that  he  owed  his  excellence 
to  the  Hereford  blood.  He  says: 

"While  on  my  late  trip  to  the  East  I  saw 
this  ox  of  Mr.  Rust's.  He  is  truly  a  most 
superb  animal.  His  portrait  in  the  'Transac- 
tions' does  not  do  him  full  justice.  He  is  finer 
in  the  neck  and  every  way  more  finished  than 
the  picture  represents.  He  has,  both  in  shape 
and  color,  all  the  leading  characteristics  of  a 
Hereford;  his  shoulders  are  well  set,  his  chine 
full,  back  short,  loin  and  hips  very  wide,  rump 
long,  legs  clean  and  sinewy,  and  he  is  consid- 
erably heavier  than  any  other  animal  I  ever  saw 
of  so  little  bone  and  offal.  At  the  time  I  saw 
him  Mr.  Eust  thought  his  weight  could  not  be 
less  than  3,700  pounds,  and  it  has  been  ascer- 
tained by  repeated  weighings  that  his  gain  was 
at  least  three  pounds  per  day.  Notwithstanding 


following  report :  "Your  committee  further  re- 
port that  a  new  and  beautiful  race  of  cattle  was 
presented  for  their  examination,  the  Herefords 
imported  by  a  distinguished  breeder  of  cattle, 
residing  in  Albany  County,  which  they  take 
pleasure  in  recommending  to  the  attention  of 
those  who  desire  to  improve  their  stock.  Your 
committee  recommend  a  special  premium  of 
twenty  dollars  for  the  Hereford  cow  'Match- 
less,' as  we  consider  her  a  very  superior  animal, 
and  they  would  also  suggest  the  propriety  of 
offering  and  awarding  premiums  for  the  best 
blooded  animals  of  each  individual  breed,  Im- 
proved Shorthorn  Durhams,  Herefords  and 
Devons,  at  their  next  agricultural  meeting,  in 
addition  to  premiums  offered  for  the  best  ani- 
mals of  any  breed."  (Report  of  Com.,  page  49, 
Transactions  N.  Y.  Agl.  S.,  1841.) 

In  1842  this  fair  was  held  at  Albany,  and  we 


MEDAL  OF  THE  N.  Y.   S.  A.  S.,  AWARDED  TO  WM.  H.    SOTHAM,   1856. 


his  immense  weight,  he  was  from  the  justness  of 
his  proportions  very  active.  When  lying  down, 
he  would  get  up  as  quick  as  a  suckling  calf. 

"I  saw  the  man  who  said  he  raised  this  ox 
and  the  history  which  he  gave  of  him  was  that 
the  bull  which  sired  him  was  'part  Hereford.' 
In  this  both  he  and  Mr.  Rust  agreed.  I  cannot 
see  why  this  statement  need  be  doubted,  for, 
according  to  an  account  which  Mr.  Bement  has 
published,  some  Herefords  were  introduced  into 
this  part  of  the  country  several  years  ago.  But 
history  and  tradition  out  of  the  question,  it  ap- 
pears to  me  there  would  be  as  much  propriety 
in  taking  an  animal  which  would  show  all  the 
principal  points  in  shape  and  color  of  an  im- 
proved Shorthorn  as  a  specimen  of  the  'native 
stock'  as  there  is  in  taking  this  ox  as  such.  An 
example  of  this  kind  would  probably  be  re- 
garded by  the  advocates  of  the  Shorthorns  as 
not  altogether  fair." 

At  the  close  of  this  fair  the  judges  made  the 


quote  from  the  judges'  report,  published  in 
March  following,  six  months  after  the  fair.  Re- 
port of  cows,  heifers,  etc. : 

"In  publishing  the  account  of  the  State  Fair 
in  the  November  number  of  the  'Cultivator/ 
the  following  report  was  omitted:  'The  com- 
mittee of  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  So- 
ciety on  Cows,  Heifers  and  Heifer  Calves,  com- 
prising Classes  V,  VI,  VII  and  VIII,  respect- 
fully report : 

"  'That  they  have  attended  to  the  duties  of 
their  appointment,  in  which  they  experienced 
the  embarrassment  usual  on  such  occasions, 
from  finding  the  animals  numerous  while  the 
premiums  were  few,  but  adopted  the  rule  that 
a  majority  in  number  of  the  committee  should 
of  course  in  all  cases  be  decisive. 

"  'Your  committee  found  it  no  easy  matter  to 
decide  among  so  many  fat  calves  as  were  shown 
in  Class  VIII,  their  respective  merits  and 
faults  being  alike  covered  and  hidden  by  flesh, 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


119 


so  much  so  that  they  were  really  better  adapted 
for  the  inspection  of  a  committee  of  butchers 
than  of  breeders. 

"  'The  practice,  now  too  common,  of  fatten- 
ing breeding  animals  for  exhibition  is  not  only 
wholly  without  utility,  but  is  so  bad  and  in- 
jurious in  every  point  of  view  that  it  ought  to  be 
discountenanced. 

"  'It  will  not  fail  to  be  noticed  that  all  the 
foregoing  premiums  are  given  to  animals  of 
the  valuable  breed  known  as  "Durham  Short- 
horns," against  which  kind  there  were  on  this 
occasion  no  other  breed  shown  in  competition, 
except  Herefords,  of  which  there  was  a  beautiful 
and  very  creditable  exhibition,  consisting  of  a 
portion  of  the  herd  of  Messrs.  Corning  and  So- 
tham,  some  individuals  of  which  this  committee 
would  highly  recommend,  especially  as  being 
good  specimens  of  that  important  quality,  good 
handling,  always  essential  to  excellence. 

'"Your  committee  (of  which  a  portion  if 
not  a  majority  is  composed  of  what  might  be 
called  "Shorthorn  men,"  either  by  preference 
or  interest,  as  Shorthorn  breeders),  from  mo- 
tives of  delicacy,  not  to  say  generosity,  did  not 
deem  themselves  called  on  to  decide  between 
these  two  rival  breeds  and  against  the  Here- 
fords,  which  would  have  been,  for  the  most  part, 
and  in  effect,  their  decision,  if  made  on  this  oc- 
casion. 

"  'In  England,  the  home  of  both  breeds,  where 
beef  is  the  first  and  almost  governing  considera- 
tion, the  Herefords  as  a  breed,  it  is  well  known, 
have  long  maintained  a  sharp  and  often  success- 
ful competition  with  the  Shorthorns  for  feed- 
ing purposes,  especially  as  a  grazing  stock,  while 
it  is  claimed  and  now  generally  conceded  by 
well-informed,  dispassionate  persons  in  Eng- 
land, that  the  well-bred  Shorthorns  have  the 
merit  of  earlier  maturity  and  are  also  entitled 
to  the  preference  for  stall  feeding  and  more 
especially  and  decidedly  so  for  dairy  purposes, 
in  which  the  Shorthorns  and  their  crosses  are 
believed  to  excel  all  other  breeds  and  that  the 
pure-bred  males  of  this  breed  are  capable  of 
improving  all  other  breeds  of  cattle,  certainly 
a  most  important  consideration,  and  especially 
so  in  this  and  all  the  northern  portions  of  the 
United  States. 

"  'It  is  understood  that  the  Herefords  have 
not  yet  been  sufficiently  tried  in  this  country  as 
milkers,  in  the  absence  of  which  there  seems  to 
prevail  at  present  an  unfavorable  impression 
of  them  as  dairy  stock,  which  impression,  it  is 
hoped,  may  be  soon  done  away,  if,  as  their 
friends  claim,  the  Herefords  are  really  a  su- 
perior milking  breed.  Some  of  their  crosses 
with  native  live  stock,  now  existing  in  Massa- 


chusetts, descended  from  an  importation  of 
Herefords  made  many  years  since,  by  Admiral 
Coffin,  are  understood  to  have  proved  excellent 
milkers. 

"  'It  is,  besides,  claimed  for  the  Herefords 
that  they  will  make  good  working  cattle,  being 
strong  and  active,  which  is  not  doubted.  It  is 
also  conceded  that  the  quality  of  the  Hereford 
beef  is  excellent.  Therefore,  taking  no  more 
than  a  fair  view  of  their  case,  the  Herefords 
must  in  all  probability  prove  a  highly  valuable 
stock  in  those  portions  of  this  country  where 
the  grazing  cattle  for  beef  is  a  primary  object. 

"  'Under  these  circumstances  your  committee 
would  ask  in  behalf  of  the  newly-imported 
Herefords  a  fair  chance — and  that  they  be  al- 
lowed after  coming  from  on  shipboard  to  get 
well  upon  their  feet  before  they  "enter  the 
lists"  against  the  now  well-established  Short- 
horns. If  the  Herefords  are  cherished  and  en- 
couraged for  a  time  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
now  favorite  Durhams  may  by-and-by,  in  future 
competition,  find  in  them  "foemen  worthy  of 
their  steel." 


JOHN    MERRYMAN,     OP     "THE    HAYFIELDS,"     COCK- 
EYSVILLE,   MD. 

"  'If  the  Herefords  were  distributed  in  more 
hands  so  as  to  give  room  for  competition  among 
themselves,  your  committee  would  suggest  the 
expediency  of  hereafter  offering  premiums  for 
them  in  a  class  distinct  from  other  breeds. 
Also  for  North  Devons,  a  highly  useful  and 


150 


HISTOKY     0  F     H  E  E  E  F  0  E  D     CATTLE 


most  valuable  breed,  especially  on  light  soils 
and  in  hilly  districts  of  country. 

"  'Your  committee  cannot,  in  justice,  close 
their  report  without  remarking  that  the  want  of 
information  as  to  how  the  animals  had  been  fed, 
also  as  to  the  milking  qualities  of  the  cows,  and 
occasionally  as  to  pedigrees,  was  much  felt  by 
the  committee,  who  in  the  absence  of  this  needed 
information,  were  in  many  instances  left  to 
grope  their  way  in  the  dark  to  a  decision,  of 
course  in  some  cases  by  no  means  satisfactory 
even  to  themselves.  Nor  did  we  find  persons 
in  attendance  to  lead  out  the  animals  for  a  more 
full  and  careful  examination,  especially  as  to 
their  style  of  carriage  or  movement,  which,  it  is 
needless  to  remark,  is,  as  well  as  form  and  hand- 
ling, an  essential  element  of  any  intelligent 
opinion  or  critical  decision  on  their  merits.  All 
of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

"  'DAVID  C.  COLLINS,  Ch'n. 
Hartford,  Conn. 
I.  S.  HITCHCOCK, 
W.  K.  TOWNSEND, 
CHAS.   BROOM, 
E.  L.  ALLEN, 

Committee. 

"'Albany,  Sept.  29,  1842.'" 

We  give  this  quotation  in  full.     The  com- 


mittee state  that  they  are  Shorthorn  men.  We 
have  clearly  shown  that  Mr.  Sotham  had  a  con- 
test single-handed  against  the  State  of  New 
York.  These  Bates  men  had  taken  that  society 
and  organized  it  and  ran  it  in  their  interest. 
The  report,  it  will  be  noticed,  states  that  all  of 
the  premiums  were  given  to  Shorthorns,  and 
that  there  was  no  competition  except  the  Here- 
fords.  With  Shorthorn  judges  it  would  not  be 
expected  to  be  otherwise. 

Mr.  Sotham  exhibited  his  Herefords  at  the 
New  York  State  Fair  for  a  number  of  years,  as 
he  did  at  other  fairs  in  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Mis- 
souri and  Pennsylvania.  He  sold  stock  to  go  to 
Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire,  Maine,  Ver- 
mont, Connecticut,  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee. 

We  have  found  descendants  of  his  stock  in 
all  parts  of  the  country  from  Maine  to  the 
Eocky  Mountains.  Whatever  proportion  of 
blood  remained  they  made  friends  of  their  own- 
ers, and  the  influence  of  his  work  we  have  met 
everywhere  and  have  been  benefited  thereby. 

We  met  a  Mr.  Kelly,  formerly  of  Eutland, 
Vt.,  who  said  he  had  owned  Herefords  forty 
years  ago,  and  they  were  the  best  dairy  cows 
he  ever  owned,  and  the  young  cattle  were  always 
ready  for  the  butcher. 

We  met  Judge  Downing  of  Denver,  who  has 


HEREFORDS.  PROPERTY  OF  T.  F.  B.  SOTHAM, 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFOED     CATTLE 


151 


Herefords  from  Mr.  Corning,  and  they  were 
used  as  mountain  teams  at  three  years  old,  from 
grass,  made  1,600  pound  bullocks. 

A  Mr.  Gird  took  a  half-blood  Hereford  to 
Colorado  and  he  gave  character  and  reputation 
to  the  cattle  of  his  neighborhood,  and  Judge 
Wilcox,  whose  herd  run  with  the  descendants 
of  this  bull,  said  the  calves  from  the  quarter- 
blood  were  as  good  at  two  years  old  as  the  others 
were  at  three.  We  might  repeat  these  influences 
almost  without  limit. 

About  1852  Mr.  Sotham  sold  a  number  to 
Mr.  H.  Bowen,  Jr.,  Summit,  N.  Y.  (fl  76),  and 
four  to  Mr.  Remington  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.  They 
bred  for  several  years  and  were  exhibitors  at 
the  New  York  State  Fair  as  late  as  1860.  We 
met  Mr.  Bowen  at  the  Centennial  Exhibition  at. 
Philadelphia,  where  he  introduced  himself.  We 
recognized  him  at  once  from  what  we  had 


publication  of  his  "Hereford  Journal,"  a  copy 
of  the  first  number  of  which  we  herewith  pre- 
sent in  full,  as  again  illustrating  his  aims  and 
the  opposition  met  with: 

HEREFORD    JOURNAL. 

By  W.  H.  Sotham.  Vol.  1,  No.  1. 

Owego,  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  April,  1857. 

AMERICAN    JUDGES    OF    CATTLE. 

Owego,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  21,  1857. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "Mark  Lane  Express" 

(London) : 

Dear  Sir :  As  it  is  a  very  stormy,  snowy  day, 
and  a  vefy  severe  "cold  blow,"  I  will  show  what 
kind  of  a  "judge"  Mr.  Chapman  proves  to  be, 
and  I  am  exceedingly  sorry  to  say  there  have 
been  numerous  judges  of  this  kind  at  our  state 
shows,  by  which  more  second  and  third-class 


MEDAL   OF  THE   N.    Y.    A.    S.,    AWARDED   TO   WM.    H.   SOTHAM,   1859. 


known  of  his  connection  with  the  Herefords. 
Me  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  Herefords 
as  the  best  cattle  he  has  ever  had  or  known, 
and  to  the  question  why  he  did  not  continue  to 
keep  them,  his  reply  was,  the  Shorthorn  inter- 
est was  too  strong  for  him ;  he  could  not  make 
sales  at  paying  prices. 

Mr.  Sotham  sold  to  Mr.  Ayrault  of  Geneseo, 
N.  Y.,  and  to  Mr.  Murray  of  Mount  Morris,  and 
about  the  same  time  he  sold  to  the  Hon.  John 
Merryman  of  Cockeysville,  Md.,  and  Mr.  Mer- 
ryman  continued  an  active  and  successful  breed- 
er from  that  time  and  the  family  are  still  breed- 
ing Herefords. 

That  those  he  desired  to  reach  should  the 
better  hear  both  sides,  Mr.  Sotham  began  the 


Shorthorn  bulls  have  gloried  in  their  triumph 
with  first  and  second  prizes  over  those  of  first 
class.  The  following  is  my  letter  to  Mr.  Chap- 
man: 

Sir:  As  you  say  you  treat  every  person 
"gentlemanly,"  allow  me  to  ask  you  as  a  gentle- 
man whether  you  put  your  hand  on  all  or  any 
of  my  cattle  during  the  time  they  were  in  the 
ring?  You  were  closely  observed  by  many, 
who  feel  confident  in  saying  your  eye  was  your 
judge,  and  that  you  did  not  put  your  hand  upon 
either  of  them  properly.  I  have  a  right  as  an 
exhibitor  to  ask  this  question,  and  you  as  a  gen- 
tleman have  a  right  to  answer  it. 

I  am,  sir,  yours,  etc., 
W.  H. 


152 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


The  following  is  Mr.  Chapman's  reply : 
Mt.  Pleasant  Farm,  Clockville, 
Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  22,  '56. 

Sir:  In  yours  of  the  15th  inst.,  just  re- 
ceived, you  ask  if  I  put  my  hand  on  either  of 
your  animals  while  in  the  ring?  I  answer,  No, 
sir — but  for  you  to  suppose  that  "my  eye  alone 
was  my  judge"  is  simply  ridiculous.  I  think 
that  the  animals  "in  the  ring"  would  not  handle 
materially  different  from  animals  in  their  stalls. 
And  I  endeavored  to  give  all  animals  (cattle) 
of  any  merit  a  good  examination  during  the 
three  or  four  days  previous  to  their  appearance 
in  the  ring.  For  you  to  feel  so  sore  about  the 
decision  of  four  such  men  as  composed  that 
committee,  setting  aside  myself,  the  fifth,  I 
think,  will  lead  you  to  injure  rather  than  bene- 
fit your  herd.  Respectfully  yours, 

S.  P.  CHAPMAN. 

Wm.  H.  Sotham,  Esq. 

My  reply  to  the  above: 

Owego,  Dec.  26,  '56. 

I  received  yours  thjs  morning,  and  in  reply 
must  ask  you  one  more  question,  which  you  are 
bound  as  a  gentleman  and  chairman  of  that 
committee  to  answer.  Did  you  put  your  hand 
on-  either  of  my  animals  while  in  their  stalls  at 
Philadelphia?  Both  my  young  men  (students 


of  mine),  my  herdsman  and  myself  all  know 
you ;  either  one  or  the  other,  and  more  frequent- 
ly two  of  us,  were  with  the  cattle ;  all  four  will 
say  you  never  entered  "either  stall"  in  our  pres- 
ence. When  I  ask  your  advice  you  are  at  liberty 
to  give  it ;  I  will  risk  my  herd  myself,  and  I  fear 
no  man.  My  object  is  to  know  whether  you 
did  your  duty  as  chairman,  and  you  ought  to 
know,  as  a  breeder,  that  is  my  right.  If  Mr. 
Tainter  is  as  rich  as  Golconda  he  is  "no  judge 
of  cattle."  What  you  can  say  or  do  will  not 
injure  my  herd;  it  will  stand  the  test  under 
sound  judgment. 

I  am,  sir,  yours,  etc., 

WTM.  H.  SOTIIA.M. 

S.  P.  Chapman,  Esq. 

I  was  perfectly  satisfied  Mr.  Chapman  did 
not  put  his  hand  upon  my  cattle,  and  I  waited 
three  weeks  for  his  reply  to  this,  in  hopes  of 
getting  something  more  in  Mr.  Chapman's  own 
"hand"-writing ;  but  I  suppose  he  found  out  his 
true  predicament  and  declined  to  expose  him- 
self further.  Therefore  I  wrote  him  the  follow- 
ing letter: 

Owego,  Jan.  16,  1857. 

Sir:  As  you  did  not  answer  my  last  letter, 
I  suppose  you  silently  confess  all  I  said  were 
facts  you  could  not  contradict;  but  as  you  pro- 


CITY  OF  HEREFORD  AND  THE  RIVER  WYE. 


153 


fess  to  treat  all  men  "gentlemanly,"  why  refuse 
to  answer  the  questions  therein  contained  more 
than  the  other? 

All  seem  to  correspond.  I  have  written  an- 
other letter  to  the  "Mark  Lane  Express,"  in 
which  I  shall  copy  both  yours  and  my  letters.  I 
also  send  you  a  copy  of  my  letter  from  the 
"Mark  Lane  Express,"  so  that  you  may  answer 
for  yourself  as  you  deem  proper.  I  have  also 
sent  a  copy  to  each  of  your  associates  (one  of 
whom  now  owns  the  four  cows  I  there  ex- 
hibited), so  that  you  may  bring  them  to  your 
aid.  I  know  the  person  who  purchased  them 
handled  them  thoroughly,  both  in  and  out  of 


I  am  prepared  to  meet  you  on  either  horn  of  the 
dilemma,  or  both,  or  any  of  your  associates  who 
choose  to  take  up  this  all-important  subject.    I 
consider  it  "gentlemanly"  to  send  you  a  copy  of 
everything  I  write,  therefore  I  shall  do  so,  also 
your  associates  on  the  sweepstakes  committee. 
I  am,  sir,  your  humble  servant, 
W.  H.  SOTHAM. 

S.  P.  Chapman,  Esq. 

Now,  Mr.  Editor,  I  send  you  the  "Ohio  Farm- 
er" containing  Mr.  Cassius  M.  Clay's  answer  to 
my  former  letter,  published  September  15  in 
your  paper,  in  which  he  says,  "I  made  a  mistake 
in  calling  his  brother's,  Brutus  J.  Clay's,  herd 


LEONORA,   "THE   INCOMPARABLE,"   BRED   BY   MRS.    S.   EDWARDS,    WINTERCOTT,    LEOMINSTER,   HEREFORD. 

(From  a  painting.) 


the  ring,  and  I  also  know  his  opinion  of  them. 
On  the  other  hand,  I  must  confess  I  never  saw 
or  heard  a  plainer  case  of  prejudice  or  ignorance 
on  cattle  than  yours.  Or,  if  you  mean  to  infer 
by  saying  "I  endeavored  to  give  all  the  animals 
(cattle)  of  any  merit  a  good  examination  dur- 
ing the  three  or  four  days  previous  to  their  ap- 
pearance in  the  ring"  that  mine  were  of  no 
merit,  which  evidently  shows  your  object,  to  es- 
cape the  accusation,  proves  wilful  in  the  super- 
lative degree;  therefore  you  can  place  yourself 
on  which  horn  of  the  dilemma  you  think  best. 


his.  I  therefore  transfer  the  remarks  I  made  on 
that  herd  to  where  it  belongs,  and  will  truthful- 
ly maintain  all  I  did  say." 

Mr.  Cassius  M.  Clay  says,  "the  best  judges  I 
have  heard  speak  on  the  subject  regard  the 
Herefords  as  not  a  pure  breed;  and  if  they 
were  I  have  all  the  more  no  fancy  for  them."  Is 
this  not  hearsay  and  prejudice  of  the  worst 
kind  and  carrying  his  fancy  to  schoolboy  ex- 
treme without  investigation?  Can  any  man 
say  more  against  any  breed  unfoundedly  ?  Still, 
he  says,  "Shorthorn  breeders  do  not  attempt  to 


154 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


pull  other  breeds  down  to  build  up  their  own." 
I  would  ask  Mr.  Clay,  as  he  professes  to  be 
an  old  breeder  and  dealer,  and  also  your  more 
experienced  breeders,  whether  Shorthorns  with 
long,  silky  coats  are  thoroughbred  animals;  or 
whether  the  origin  of  that  coat  does  not  belong 
to  the  Scots?  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  in  my 
own  mind  that  that  coat  came  from  Scotland, 
clandestinely  bred  into  Durhams,  for  it  was 
never  seen  in  their  originals;  so  say  all  the 
original  breeders. 

Again  he  says,  "I  do  not  know  what  Mr.  S. 
means  by  proof.  The  cow  of  mine  which 
weighed  2,020  pounds"  (I  suppose  Mr.  Clay 


WINTER     DE     COTE     (4253)     3204. 

(Bred  by  T.  Edwards.     Champion  of  England,  1871  to  1875, 

inclusive.    Sire  of  Leonora,   Beatrice,  etc.     From 

a  painting.) 


here  means  live  weight,  much  the  best  way  of 
selling  Shorthorns),  "was  only  stuffed  six 
months,  and  as  good  judges  as  Mr.  S.  offered 
me  $140  for  her."  He  (Mr.  C.)  challenges  any 
cow  in  America  to  beat  this.  I  could  have  fed 
twenty  cows  of  my  own  breeding  that  would 
have  beaten  it  fairly ;  all  raised  on  a  light  soil ; 
much  more,  had  they  been  raised  on  the  rich 
grazing  land  in  Kentucky,  with  a  close  ad- 
herence to  the  breeders'  abundant  corn  cribs  in 
winter.  My  cattle  never  could  enjoy  such  lux- 
uries of  "stuffing"  as  Mr.  Clay  says  his  "can 
bear."  My  purse  was  always  too  light  and  too 
much  embarrassed  to  afford  this  extravagance. 
So,  Mr.  Clay  may  boast  of  stuffing,  but  I  wish 
he  would  produce  his  balance-sheet  with  that 
"stuffing." 

In  1844  and  1845  I  took  a  Hereford  cow 
and  a  half-bred  Hereford  and  Shorthorn  cow  to 
Boston.  I  sold  to  Mr.  Bennett  (the  noted  sales- 
man of  Brighton)  both  cows.  The  former  for 
$150 — she  weighed  2,313  Ibs.,  when  put  on  the 
railroad  scales  at  Albany,  and  when  weighed 
again  at  Brighton  she  weighed  2,247  Ibs.  The 


half-bred  Shorthorn  weighed  somewhat  lighter 
and  fetched  a  little  less  money,  but  was  an  ex- 
cellent cow.  I  did  not  keep  the  dead  weight  of 
either.  The  Hereford  was  milked  once  a  day 
until  August  1st;  afterwards  grazed  as  long  as 
there  was  a  good  bite  of  grass  and  then  put  up 
to  feed.  She  was  in  good  store  condition  while 
milking  and  came  to  her  stall  good  average 
American  beef.  In  the  last  of  March  I  started 
to  Boston  with  her.  The  butcher  who  killed 
her  took  the  meat  round  Boston  for  public  in- 
spection on  a  sunny  day  and  spoilt  the  whole 
of  it;  it  had  been  hanging  in  his  stall  long 
enough  for  this  purpose  previous  to  this,  and 
for  good  keeping,  and  this  was  the  reason  I 
could  not  get  her  dead  weight.  I  never  saw  a 
cow  that  would  sink  less  offal.  She  was  perfect 
in  her  symmetry  and  her  quality  of  meat  proved 
it  could  not  be  excelled. 

Mr.  Clay  further  says :  "As  to  the  Heref ords 
I  have  nothing  to  say  for  or  against  them,  ex- 
cept they  have  never  in  public  opinion  risen  to 
the  rank  of  contending  for  the  supremacy." 

Can  Mr.  Clay,  professing  to  be  an  old  breeder 
and  dealer,  plead  ignorance  for  this  assertion? 
Does  he  know  nothing  of  Smithfield  and  Birm- 
ingham shows?  "I  guess  not."  I  shall  leave 
this  to  you,  Mr.  Editor,  as  you  are  well  and 
impartially  "posted"  in  this  matter;  and  you 
know  how  frequently  the  Herefords  have  beaten 
the  Shorthorns  while  each  breed  were  contend- 
ing for  the  "supremacy"  and  the  former  always 
met  the  latter  under  adverse  circumstances.  I 
see  by  one  of  your  papers  "that  a  snug  little 
family  party  of  Shorthorn  breeders  had  pre- 
viously controlled  the  Smithfield  Club,"  but  lat- 
terly the  "march  of  progress"  had  taken  its  seat 
amongst  them ;  the  pressure  without  called  loud- 
ly for  justice,  to  break  up  this  combined  clique, 
and  has  now  succeeded.  We  shall  now  be  able 
to  see  which  breed  deserves  the  "supremacy." 

The  home  of  the  Shorthorns  in  England  is  as 
rich  land  as  Kentucky,  which  gives  them  every 
advantage — forces  them  on  in  early  life.  Still 
the  Herefords  have  always  beaten  them  in  early 
maturity,  when  brought  under  a  fair  trial.  No 
better  proof  of  this  could  be  shown  than  in  the 
decision  of  Mr.  White  of  Upleaden  and  the  Rev. 
H.  Berry,  producing  the  yearling  Herefords 
and  Shorthorn  heifers  at  Sir  Charles  Morgan's 
shows  at  Tradegar — Mr,  Berry  giving  the  "chal- 
lenge" and  Mr.  White  beating  him  as  a  year- 
ling. Mr.  Berry,  not  being  satisfied,  challenged 
to  show  Mr.  White  the  second  year,  the  heifer 
gaining  the  greatest  weight  to  be  the  winner ; 
Mr.  White  again  accepted  the  challenge  and 
beat  him  in  weight  112  pounds.  I  refer  you  to 
this  statement  in  one  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  R. 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


155 


Smythies'  letters  in  your  paper  a  short  time 
previous  to  his  death,  and  who  was  present  at 
both  decisions. 

The  home  of  the  Herefords  in  England  is 
light  sterile  soil,  and  they  are  generally  bred 
on  light  soil  here.  Still,  we  beat  the  Short- 
horns, both  here  and  there,  under  impartial  and 
proper  judges,  and  with  this  just  treatment  will 
ultimately  rank  first  of  all  breeds. 

You  see  plainly  by  the  prejudice  advanced 
by  Mr.  Clay  and  Mr.  Chapman  what  Hereford 
breeders  have  to  contend  with  here;  and  there 
are  many  such  writers  as  "C.  M.  C." — fresh 
ones  springing  up  every  day  like  mushrooms — 
assuming  that  a  breeder  can  be  made  in  a  day 
by  purchasing  "herd-book  cattle"  and  the  next 
week  copy  from  some  one  else  an  article  to 
teach  old  breeders.  This  you  will  see  by  the 
"Ohio  Farmer,"  which  I  send  you  with  this. 

Such  "judges"  as  Mr.  Chapman  have  been 
frequently  put  on  the  committee  at  our  State 
fairs.  When  "Halton"  took  the  first  prize  at 
Rochester  in  the  foreign  class,  one  of  the 
"judges"  was  a  schoolmaster.  This  I  know  to 
be  true,  for  I  was  manager  of  the  whole  cattle 
department  that  year  and  laughed  heartilv  while 
they  were  "judging"  of  "Belted  Will/'  and 


"Halton"  (both  Shorthorns),  the  former  being 
by  far  the  best  bull.  They  call  "Halton"  an 
enormous  size,  therefore  "Halton"  was  the  best. 
Whether  this  was  the  "schoolmaster  abroad"  I 
know  not.  From  such  causes  as  these,  Mr.  Edi- 
tor, springs  my  spirit  of  controversy;  and  in 
such  defense  you  cannot  blame  me.  Whatever 
you  see  amiss  in  my  letter  tell  it  to  the  people ; 
such  conduct  will  never  offend  me.  I  write  my 
views  on  a  subject  as  plainly  as  lam  capable, not 
being  a  "classical  man,"  and  solicit  information 
from  the  soundest  source.  If  I  deviate  from  the 
truth  intentionally,  trim  me  with  a  severe  pen 
and  I  will  retire  from  the  field  disgusted  with 
my  own  actions.  I  am  the  only  breeder  who 
will  write  in  defense  of  Herefords  against  Short- 
horn boasting,  and  I  am  determined  to  stand 
my  ground  against  unlimited  numbers  of  those 
who  call  themselves  "breeders"  and  who  are 
constantly  puffing  their  cattle  in  this  country 
either  by  tongue  or  pen. 

Since  my  last  letter  to  you  I  have  traveled 
through  much  of  Canada,  and  from  casual  ob- 
servation in  the  townships  of  Markham  and 
Pickering,  near  Toronto,  was  impressed  most 
favorably  with  the  quality  of  the  soil,  more  es- 
pecially for  turnips.  It  is  mostly  inhabited  by 


GRATEFUL  (4622)  2572. 
(Bred  by  A.   Rogers.    Champion  of  England,  1876-1880.    From  a  painting.) 


156 


Scotch.  The  crop  of  swedes,  carrots,  etc.,  etc., 
grown  by  George,  William  (fl  97)  and  John 
Miller  in  these  two  townships  proved  to  me  that 
they  had  not  forgotten  their  old  Scotch  cus- 
toms. Their  crops  of  swedes  were  equal  to  any- 
thing I  ever  saw  in  England  under  a  similar 
season,  and  cultivated  in  a  very  workmanlike 
manner,  perfectly  free  from  weeds  and  perfect, 
straight  drills. 

Messrs.  George  and  William  Miller  have 
twelve  head  of  Shorthorns,  which  they  imported 
from  Scotland.  Ten  of  these  heifers  and  a  bull 
were  the  best  lot  I  ever  saw  come  from  one 
man's  herd;  they  were  uniform  in  symmetry, 
first  quality,  size  and  compactness,  "straight 
bottoms  and  large,  straight  tops,"  on  short  legs, 


NORTH  HEREFORDSHIRE  HOUNDS. 
(From  a  photograph.) 

free  from  hollow  crops  and  large  paunches,  most 
of  them  long,  beautiful  "silky  coats."  My 
"hand"  was  upon  the  whole  of  them ;  and  after 
"a  good  examination"  I  pronounced  the  breeder 
of  those  Shorthorns  worthy  of  the  name,  al- 
though I  never  before  heard  it,  or  ever  saw  it  in 
print.  He  would  not  sacrifice  his  herd  for  the 
purpose  of  ruining  them  for  "high  shows."  I 
consider  this  a  wise  man  and  should  very  much 
like  to  know  how  he  bred  them.  I  feel  very 
much  inclined  to  say  Scotland  and  Scotch  coats 
was  the  making  of  that  herd.  After  examining 
another  bull  that  came  out  at  the  same  time  I 
found  him  second-class.  I  then  began  to  think 
Shorthorns  could  not  be  bred  uniformly  in  first- 
class  quality,  imagining  this  a  descent  from  it, . 
but  ultimately  discovered  that  this  bull  was  not 
bred  by  the  same  person.  He  has  searched  far 
and  wide  for  similar  quality  to  his  own;  not 
succeeding,  he  sent  the  best  he  could.  Here 
lies  the  principal  evil  in  breeding.  Had  the 
Messrs.  Miller  used  this  second-class  bull,  in 
what  class  would  the  offspring  of  these  first- 
class  heifers  have  ranked  ?  Would  they  not  have 


gone  back  to  their  sire  generally?  But  the 
Messrs.  Miller  concluded  not  to  use  him.  I  ad- 
vised them  to  search  the  country  through  for  a 
first  class,  as  their  means  were  ample;  recom- 
mended them  very  strongly  to  get  "Balco,"  im- 
ported by  L.  G.  Morris,  or  "New  Year's  Day," 
imported  by  the  Ohio  Company — the  two  best 
bulls  of  that  breed  I  ever  put  my  hand  upon. 
Such  Shorthorns  as  these,  in  a  breeder's  hands, 
are  very  hard  to  be  beaten  by  any  breed,  and 
when  I  see  them  compare  generally  with  this 
herd,  or  a  similar  one,  my  pen  shall  cease  to 
complain  of  want  of  true  uniformity  in  that 
breed. 

On  the  other  hand,  suppose  Messrs.  Miller 
used  the  one  they  had,  or  "Halton,"  "Meteor," 
"Marquis  of  Carabus,"  "Locomotive"  (which 
Mr.  Cassius  M.  Clay  says  "beat  the  world"), 
and  many  others  that  I  could  name,  most  of 
which  have  gained  first  prizes  at  our  State 
shows,  how  quickly  this  herd  would  go  back  into 
second  and  third  class,  or  mingling  all  these 
qualities  with  it.  Here  the  very  secret  lies: 
"Judges"  have  not  sufficiently  studied  all  three 
classes — given  prizes  more  to  large  size  than 
any  other  object;  and  purchasers  have  been  in- 
fluenced by  the  endorsement  of  these  Societies. 
So  long  as  this  principle  is  allowed  to  govern, 
thus  long  shall  we  possess  all  qualities  in  Short- 
horns, and  more  frequently  third  class.  I  will 
call  on  all  proper  breeders  to  deny  this  if  they 
can.  Mr.  George  Miller  lived  in  a  mud  house 
built  by  his  own  hands.  I  was  much  amused  by 
the  description  he  gave  me  of  the  operation 
while  building  it.  A  man  chopped  straw  with 
an  ax,  mixed  it  with  the  mud  and  served  him 
with  this  material  while  he  laid  up  the  walls 
with  a  dung-fork,  hewed  them  straight  with  a 
broad-axe  when  sufficiently  dry.  It  was  after- 
wards covered  with  lime  mortar  and  small  stone, 
having  the  appearance  of  a  stone  house,  costing 
him  113  days  for  one  man  building. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  yours  sincerely, 
WM.  HY.  SOTHAM. 

A  CHALLENGE  ! — W.  H.  SOTHAM. 
HERD  BOOKS. 

Written  for  the  "Ohio  Farmer,"  by  Cassius  M. 
Clay. 

Whitehall,  Madison  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  18,  '56. 

My  Dear  Brown :  I  was  not  a  little  aston- 
ished at  the  article  of  a  Mr.  Sotham,  which  you 
copied  from  an  English  paper.  I  make  a  few 
remarks  in  response  to  his  assertions  about  my 
stock,  not  so  much  to  repel  his  untruths  as  to 
"vindicate  history"  for  its  own  sake. 

Mr.  Sotham  seems  to  think  that  I  ventured 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


157 


upon  asserting  that  the  "Shorthorn"  was  the 
"best  breed  of  cattle"  without  "proof."  Now, 
every  intelligent  agricultural  writer  and  reader 
ought  to  know  that  the  word  of  a  man  is  not 
more  worthy  of  credit  because  they  may  go 
before  a  magistrate  and  make  oath  to  the  same. 
Each  one  gives  his  opinion,  no  doubt  biased  in 
some  extent,  by  habit  and  the  amiable  weakness 
of  self-interest.  But,  after  all,  a  man's  ability 
and  honesty  will  be  very  properly  estimated  by 
the  public/  as  Mr.  S.  will  no  doubt  find  out 
after  awhile. 

The  imputation  against  me  as  one  of  those 
who  are  getting  up  an  "excitement"  about  Short- 
horns need  not  be  proven  to  you  to  be  untrue, 
when  you  remember  that  I  only  write  the  few 
articles  in  the  "Ohio  Farmer"  by  your  request. 
I  am  the  first  breeder  of  Shorthorns  in  Madison 
County,  and  a  breeder  and  dealer  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  yet  I  never  before  wrote  a  line 
on  the  subject.  For  Mr.  Sotham's  consolation 
I  will  say  that  my  herd  is  very  small,  and  I  have 
a  desire  to  increase  it,  rather  than  sell,  even  for 
"exorbitant"  prices!  His  remarks  about  my 
cattle  at  the  National  fair  at  Springfield  are 
rather  singular,  as  I  had  only  one-half  of  the 
bull  Locomotive  (who  took  the  first  premium  in 
his  ring  against  the  world)  and  no  other  cattle 
at  all.  If  through  mistake  he  applied  his  re- 
marks to  me  instead  of  my  brother,  B.  J.  Clay, 
I  need  only  say  that  he  took  more  premiums 
than  any  other  man  upon  the  same  number, 
and  many  thought  he  was  entitled  to  the  pre- 
mium for  the  "best  herd,"  which  was  not  given, 
I  learn,  because  some  other  parties  were  not 
willing  for  additional  judges  to  be  called  in. 

The  breeders  of  Shorthorns  do  not  deem  it 
necessary  to  attack  other  breeds  in  order  to 
elevate  their  own.  In  giving  my  views  upon 
the  "best  breeds"  I  was  willing  to  admit  that 
the  Devons  and  Ayrshires  were  the  best  breeds 
in  some  localities  and  under  certain  circum- 
stances of  climate  and  food. 

Mr.  S.  complains  of  our  "stuffing"  our  "cat- 
tle." Ours  are  the  cattle  that  will  bear  "stuf- 
fing" and  "pay"  well  for  the  stuffing.  We  al- 
ways avowed  that  they  were  heavy  feeders  and 
would  not  recommend  them  where  "heavy  feed- 
ing" was"  not  desirable,  and  yet  as  I  suggested, 
the  Boston  "Cultivator"  asserts  that  those  fine 
ones  in  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  are  crosses 
of  the  Shorthorn,  Devon  and  Longhorn.  As  to 
the  Herefords,  I  have  nothing  to  say  for  or 
against  them,  except  that  they  have  never,  in 
public  opinion,  risen  to  the  rank  of  contending 
for  the  supremacy,  and  with  Mr.  S.  for  an  ad- 
vocate I  think  the  day  is  far  distant  when  an 
"excitement"  in  their  behalf  will  be  gotten  up ! 


The  best  judges  I  have  heard  speak  on  the  sub- 
ject regard  the  Herefords  as  not  a  pure  breed; 
and  if  they  were  I  must  say  that  I  have  all  the 
more  no  fancy  for  them.  I  know  not  what  Mr. 
S.  means  by  "proofs."  The  cow  of  mine  which 
weighed  2,020  pounds  was  only  "stuffed"  six 
months;  and  the  butchers  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
who  are,  I  presume,  as  good  judges  of  fine  beef 
as  Mr.  S.,  offered  $140  for  her,  which  was  re- 
fused by  her  owners.  Now,  this  cow  was  by  no 
means  the  largest  or  finest  of  the  breed,  and 
never  was  much  "stuffed,"  and  yet  I  venture 
to  assert  there  is  no  "Hereford"  in  America 
which  will  weigh  as  much  or  bring  as  much 
money  at  the  block !  The  above  facts,  if  not 
"proofs"  can  be  proved  by  certificates,  if  we 
have,  to  go  outside  of  the  rules  of  gentlemen  in 
this  discussion ! 

What  though  I  admitted  that  some  families 
or  strains  of  Durhams  or  Shorthorns  were  "deli- 
cate," do  not  fa'cts  aver  the  same  of  all  breeds  of 
all  animals  ?  I  desire  to  elicit  truth  and  promote 
the  general  good.  If  I  was  merely  a  defender 
of  Shorthorns,  I  should  say  buy  any  of  long- 
pedigree,  without  regard  to  quality,  beauty, 
form  or  constitution;  but  as  I  profess  to  en- 
lighten others,  as  far  as  my  knowledge  and  ex- 
perience go,  I  wish  them  to  use  their  own  judg- 
ment ;  and  I  give  them  hints  upon  which  I  have 
founded  my  own. 

I  don't  know  how  Mr.  S.  could  dare  to  ven- 
ture upon  the  assertion  that  the  many  engraved 
likenesses  of  Shorthorns  in  the  United  States 
were  simply  copies  of  the  same  animal;  when 


YOKE   OF  HALF-BRED  HEREFORD   STEERS,   2   YEARS 
OLD,    OUT    OF    DEVON    DAMS. 
(Favorites  of  Wm.  H.  Sotham.) 


there  are  so  many  thousand  living  witnesses  in 
disproof  of  his  allegation !  and  yet  his  admis- 
sion of  a  common  type  and  common  peculiari- 
ties, when  so  proved,  are  in  direct  establishment 
of  the  purity  of  the  breed,  and  their  great  ex- 
cellence in  reproducing  their  like  with  so  much 


158 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


certainty.  So  far  as  you  and  my  friend  Allen 
are  concerned,  you  can  answer  for  yourselves. 
In  conclusion,  I'll  give  you  one  "proof"  of 
my  belief  in  facts.  1  will,  at  the  next  National 
fair,  to  be  adjudged  by  the  Society's  judges  of 
sweepstake  cattle,  show  two  heifers,  bred  and 
now  owned  by  me,  of  the  "short-horned"  breed, 
one  year  old  last  November,  against  any  two 
heifers,  bred  and  owned  by  any  one  breeder  of 
"Herefords"  in  America,  the  loser  to  pay  the 
expenses  of  going  and  returning  from  the  fair. 
Or,  in  case  there  are  no  heifers  of  the  same  age 
or  near  the  same,  I  will  show  two  'shorthorn 
females'  of  any  named  age  of  my  own  and  my 


YOUNG    HEREFORDS,     BRED    BY    T.    F.    B.    SOTHAM, 
CHILLICOTHE,    MO. 


brother  B.  J.    Clay's-  herd  against    any    two 
'Herefords'  of  any  two  breeders  in  America, 
owned  and  bred  by  the  same  parties. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

C.  M.  CLAY. 


Herd  Books.  P.  S.— Any  attempt  to  create 
jealousy  between  American  and  English  breed- 
ers, or  controversy  about  which  is  the  best  herd 
book,  the  American  or  the  English,  is  ridicu- 
lous. Herd  books  are  simply  general  and  con- 
venient registers  of  pedigrees,  and  their  merit 
depends  upon  the  fidelity  and  ability  with  which 
they  are  edited.  Both  the  English  and  Ameri- 
can are  good  authority,  and  both  needed  for 
convenience;  and  any  refusal  to  put  pedigrees 
in  either  is  based  upon  narrow  views  of  the 
thing  to  be  answered  by  "herd  books;"  for  they 
neither  give  nor  take  away  credit  due  to  the 
authenticity  of  pedigrees,  further  than  that  the 
editors  are  presumed  to  be  well  versed  in  such 
things;  and  that  errors  are  more  liable  there 
to  be  corrected,  and  frauds  to  be  exposed. 

C.  M.  C. 


THOMAS   BROWN  S    EDITORIAL. 
WILLIAM    H.    SOTHAM. 

Mr.  Sotham  has  sent  us  the  copy  of  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express"  in  which  his  notice  and  critique 
of  the  National  Agricultural  Exhibition,  of 
Philadelphia,  is  contained.  With  the  above 
came  also  a  letter,  over  his  name,  concerning 
"Shorthorns,"  containing  a  vast  amount  of 
spleen  and  emphatic,  under-lined  words  and 
sentences.  We  are  requested  to  publish  it  or 
send  it  back.  Now,  we  don't  think  it  is  worth 
the  attention  of  the  public,  and  not'  worth 
preservation  by  Mr.  Sotham;  we  shall  there- 
fore gently  drop  it  beyond  that  "bourne"  whence 
no  letter  returns. 

Since  writing  the  foregoing,  we  have  received 
from  the  same  source  two  other  long  letters  for 
publication,  made  frightful  by  italics  and 
threats;  but  they  have  gone  the  way  of  the 
other! — Ohio  Farmer. 

MR.  KEARY'S  ESSAY. 

Mr.  Keary,  in  1849,  wrote  an  essay  on  breeds 
of  cattle,  favorable  to  Shorthorns,  for  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society;  the  Council  of  which 
then  comprised  Shorthorn  breeders,  who  had 
much  influence  over  that  society ;  much  in  the 
same  way  as  they  have  had  over  the  New  York 
State  Agricultural  Society.  I  can  vouch  for  the 
truth,  that  Mr.  Lewis  F.  Allen  and  Mr.  Fran- 
cis Rotch,  Sen.,  and  a  few  other  such  Short- 
horn breeders,  have  nominated  more  "judges," 
more  presidents  and  more  vice-presidents,  more 
members  of  ex-committee,  than  all  the  rest  of 
New  York  State  people  put  together.  The  two 
former  have  always  been  very  officious  in  these 
matters.  This  every  one  will  admit  who  knows 
anything  of  the  society;  and  I  think  much  to 
its  injury.  Mr.  Allen,  being  author  of  the 
Herd  Book,  cannot  back  out  of  what  he  has  said 
so  exultingly  favorable  to  Shorthorns,  although 
turned  to  a  Devon  breeder. 

Mr.  Rotch  was  not  satisfied  in  helping  nomi- 
nate "judges"  but  assumed  the  responsibility 
of  teaching  them  the  "true  points  of  excellence" 
in  the  different  breeds;  which  I  consider  the 
most  absurd  stuff  ever  penned  by  a  breeder,  al- 
though the  quality  he  advocated,  if  cellular  sub- 
stance could  be  called  quality,  exactly  suited 
to  his  own  herd,  giving  the  preference  to  soft, 
flabby  flesh,  characteristic  of  the  very  herd  he 
then  possessed.  This  was  endorsed  and  adopted 
by  the  New  York  State  Society,  and  would  have 
been  permanently  posted  on  the  books,  had  not 
a  few  of  us  strongly  opposed.  These  "points 
of  excellence"  died  a  natural  death,  very  com- 
posedly, for  I  have  not  heard  o,f  them  since 


HISTORY     OF     HEEEFORD     CATTLE 


159 


their  first  appearance  at  the  show  at  Saratoga, 
which  I  believe  was  the  end  of  them. 

I  may  be  called  "pugnacious,"  "fire  and  tow," 
and  many  hard  names  for  saying  what  I  do,  but 
who  can  speak  and  write  patiently  in  defence 
of  Herefords  with  such  men  to  encounter?  I 
can  be  as  courteous  as  any  man  with  reason- 
able men  to  deal  with;  but  every  impartial 
man  must  admit  that  I  have  had  a  certain  clique 
of  Shorthorn  men  to  oppose,  who  were  deter- 
mined to  drive  me  out  of  market  with  the  Here- 
fords. 

There  are  some  kinds  of  men  in  the  world 
whom  the  truth  cannot  reach,  and  such  men  are 
most  apt  to  accuse  others  of  untruth  unfounded- 
ly— notwithstanding  this,  I  shall  speak  the 
truth  boldly,  and  fear  no  man.  The  time  will 
come  when  we  shall  have  just  and  proper  judges 
of  men,  as  well  as  of  cattle. 

When  Mr.  Keary  wrote  his  "essay"  for  the 
R.  A.  S.,  he  found  his  opponent,  Mr.  Smythies, 
a  straightforward,  just  man,  who  wrote  the 
truth,  and  Mr.  Keary  found  it  went  home  to 
him.  I  did  not  keep  Mr.  Keary's  letters  in  M. 
L.  E.,  but  publish  the  following  challenges  Mr. 
Smythies  gave  to  Mr.  Keary,  and  his  last  let- 
ter in  reply  to  him,  which  will  show  about  the 
whole  of  the  discussion. 

EDITORIAL  FROM  "MARK  LANE  EXPRESS" 
(LONDON). 

Day  by  day  we  are  coming  to  a  more  distinct 
classification  as  to  a  more  becoming  recognition 
of  our  several  breeds  of  stock.  Without  exactly 
undertaking  to  assert  which  is  really  the  best, 
we  now  give  to  almost  every  variety  a  fair  op- 
portunity of  displaying  its  merits  and  attrac- 
tions. We  have  for  some  time  been  gradually 
approaching  this,  but  never  so  directly  nor  so 
decisively  as  during  the  last  Smithfield  Show 
week.  The  admiring  public  is  to  be  puzzled 
no  longer,  but  to  go  methodically  through  every 
class  or  kind  of  animal  it  ever  heard  of.  It 
is  no  longer  Shorthorn,  Hereford,  and  Devon 
only;  but  as  equally  defined,  Sussex,  Welsh, 
Scotch,  and  any  other  high-bred  cattle  that  can 
prove  to  a  local  habitation  and  a  name.  All 
this  is  very  good.  We  not  only  encourage  our 
breeders  and  enlighten  our  visitors,  but  we  even 
ease  the  duties  and  lessen  the  respdnsibilities 
of  our  judges.  Years  back,  the  upright  judge 
went  into  the  yard  instructed  to  say  at  once 
which  was  the  best  beast  there — to  pick  him  out 
valiantly  from  all  sorts  and  sizes,  thoroughbred 
or  mongrel,  no  matter  which !  He  owned,  per- 
haps, to  some  little  sympathy  with  the  Dur- 
ham, or  to  some  slight  antipathy  to  the  Devon, 
and  he  decreed  and  got  abused  accordingly. 


Now,  however,  he  can  pronounce  on  a  Short- 
horn simply  as  a  Shorthorn,  without  any  of 
those  invidious  comparisons  which  so  often 
ere  this  have  brought  him  to  grief.  To  be  sure 
there  is  the  gold  medal  still,  but  then  a  man 
who  takes  the  first  honors  of  his  school  will 
always  look  with  some  little  philosophy  on  any 
little  "mistake"  his  friends  may  fall  into. 

The  labours,  then,  of  our  judges  are  consid- 
erably facilitated,  while  their  decisions  are  like 
to  be  freed  from  much  of  that  angry  discussion 
which  has  too  often  attended,  the  publication 
of  the  awards.  And  yet,  strange  to  say,  there 
never  was  more  difficulty  in  making  out  an 
efficient  corps  for  such  duties  than  there  is 
just  at  present.  Crabbe,  who,  whatever  his  mer- 
its as  a  poet,  always  wrote  with  wondrous  truth 
and  fidelity,  thus  describes  the  man  we  are 
looking  out  for: 

"He  was  of  those   whose  skill   assigns  the  prize 
For  creatures  fed  in  pens,  and  stalls  and  sties; 
And  who  in  places  where  improvers  meet 
To  fill  the  land  with  fatness  had  a  seat; 
Who  plans  encourage,  and  who  journals  keep, 
And  talk  with  lords,  about  a  breed  of  sheep." 

We  will  not  venture  to  say  how  many  years 
it  is  since  this  was  penned;  but  this  we  may 
say,  that  the  lines  are  far  more  applicable  now 
than  they  possibly  could  have  been  when  orig- 
inally composed.  Where  the  poet  had  one  or 


STII3 


LONGHORN  BULL,  REPRODUCED  FROM  YOUATT'S 
BOOK  ON  CATTLE. 

two  such  models  in  his  eye,  we  have  them  in 
scores  and  hundreds.  He  might  perhaps  have 
pointed  to  a  Bakewell  or  an  Ellman.  We  turn 
at  once  to  the  list  of  the  Royal  Agricultural 
Society — some  six  or  seven  thousand  strong — 
and  "tick  off"  name  after  name  of  men  who 
sit  in  places  where  improvers  meet,  who  plan, 
encourage,  journals  keep,  and  talk  with  lords 


160 


HISTORY     OP    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


about  a  breed  of  sheep,  or  of  horses,  or  of  cattle, 
of  of  pigs.  The  Society  would  indeed  seem  to 
have  been  born  to  "make"  such  men;  and  as, 
no  doubt,  to  a  great  extent  it  has  done.  Yet 
now  it  has  made  them  it  cannot  use  them.  At 
this  moment  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  has 
nothing  more  trying  to  contend  with  than  the 
appointment  of  its  judges.  Exhibitors  must 
not  be  judges;  members  of  the  council  have 
something  else  to  do  during  this  busy  week, 
and  so  we  return  to  Mr,  A  and  Mr.  B.,  who  have 
very  often  obliged  us  before,  and  will  prob- 
ably be  kind  enough  to  oblige  us  again. 

That  a  certain  sort  of  exclusiveness  has  had 
something  to  do  in  creating  this  difficulty  there 


"SEVENTEEN    STEER,"    SOLD    AT    CINCINNATI,    1841. 
(From  an   old  print.) 

can  be  but  little  question.  As  with  the  Smith- 
field  Club,  gentlemen  have  duly  gone  the  round 
of  their  duties,  and  then  like  Bloomfield  on 
his  visit  to  Vauxhall, 

"Why,  then,  they  go  round  them  again!" 

It  has  been  Mr.  A  out  and  Mr.  B  in,  and  Mr. 
C.  re-elected,  until  at  last,  should  we  ever  get 
through  our  A,  B,  C  we  are  fairly  at  our  wit's 
end.  We  don't  know  what  to  do.  We  have 
been  preparing  no  one  else  for  the  place,  and 
now  that  it  is  vacant,  we  have  nobody  ready  to 
take  it.  The  only  thing,  of  course,  is  an  ad- 
vertisement in  the  papers,  which  we  insert  here, 
duly  free:  "Wanted,  a  few  good  judges  of 
stock,  etc.,  etc.,  for  the  ensuing  meeting  of 
the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England. 
Apply  by  letter  or  in  person,  at  12,  Hanover- 
square." 

Once  more  do  we  ask,  do  the  members  gen- 
erally of  the  Society  know  their  own  rights 
and  privileges  ?  Are  they  aware,  that  according 
to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  their  own  body, 
they  are  directly  requested  to  send  in  the  names 
of  any  of  their  acquaintances  whom  they  feel 


are  competent  to  assist  in  any  way  in  the  pro- 
ceedings? Could  they  tell  us  the  names  of  a 
few  gentlemen  qualified  to  act  as  judges  at  the 
great  national  meetings,  but  who  never  yet  have 
acted  in  such  a  capacity  ?  If  so,  as  no  doubt  very 
many  of  them  can,  let  them  oblige,  not  us  so 
much  as  the  Members  of  Council,  and  send  such 
names  in  on  their  nomination.  Never  mind  if 
they  are  yet  untried  in  so  large  a  field.  We 
have  been  working  a  little  too  much  by  iine 
and  rule  as  it  is,  and  if  we  want  a  precedent 
of  any  kind  here,  it  is  that  every  man  must 
have  a  beginning.  So  far  we  appear  to  have 
been  selecting  men  as  judges  and  stewards  be- 
fore. Let  us  now  extend  the  classes  a  little, 
as  we  do  with  the  stock.  Let  it  no  longer  be 
all  Shorthorn,  Hereford,  and  Devon,  but  let 
us  have  grace  enough  to  name  a  good  man  for 
the  office,  on  the  very  excellent  showing,  as 
we  take  it,  that  he  never  held  it  before.  There 
is  precedent  even  here,  if  we  must  have  it.  One 
or  two  of  the  very  best  judges  ever  enlisted — 
for  stock  or  implements,  we  will  not  care  which 
— never  acted  at  all  until  within  the  last  two 
or  three  years. 

The  selection,  of  course,  must  rest  with  the 
Council,  and  it  is  only  right  they  should  have 
something  good  to  select  from.  However  much 
or  little  encouraged,  so  far,  it  is  a  duty  the 
members  of  the  Society  generally  owe  to  them- 
selves to  assist  in  making  this  list.  out.  We 
will  not  go  quite  so  far  as  to  say  that  every 
member  reads  the  "Mark  Lane  Express."  If  he 
does  not,  however,  there  is  the  more  necessity 
for  his  being  directly  invited  to  appreciate  a 
little  more  demonstratively  the  privileges  he 
enjoys.  Why,  there  is  not  a  man  amongst  us 
who  does  not  meet,  every  day  of  his  life,  some 
capital  judge  of  a  horse,  or  Down,  or  an  ox. 
The  Council  of  the  Society  requires  the  services 
of  this  gentleman.  It  may  be  a  gratifying  and 
well-merited  distinction  to  him,  and  it  will  be 
an  essential  advantage  to  them.  Send  up  his 
name,  then,  by  all  means — and  if  you  know  of 
another  as  good,  don't  hesitate  to  send  his,  too. 
It  is  impossible  to  have  too  many  to  pick  from. 

We  have  said  that  this  selection  is  made  by 
the  Council;  that  is,  by  as  many  Members  of 
Council  as  choose  to  attend  any  meeting  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose.  It  is  sometimes  as- 
serted that  a  large  meeting  cannot  get  through 
its  business  anything  like  so  efficiently  as  some 
two  or  three  members  of  it  would.  But  this,  on 
the  contrary,  is  especially  the  business,  if  not 
of  a  large,  of  a  full  meeting  of  Council.  Depute 
it  to  two  or  three,  and  you  will  have  the  old 
prejudices  and  precedents  stronger  than  ever. 
Go  carefully  through  the  list  in  open  Council, 


161 


and  if  you  want  a  name  here  or  there,  you  will 
be  far  more  likely  to  get  it  from  the  experience 
of  two  or  three  and  twenty  than  from  two  or 
three  only.  Let  us  never  forget  the  united 
strength  of  a  bundle  of  sticks. 

MR.  SMYTHIES'  CHALLENGE. 

In  1849  Mr.  Smythies  gave  the  following 
challenge :  "I  will  show  100  Hereford  beasts, 
which  were  the  property  of  Sir  Francis  Law- 
ley,  Bart.,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1849,  and 
the  same  number  which  were  the  property  of 
Mr.  Aston,  of  Lynch  Court,  on  the  same  day, 
against  an  equal  number,  the  breeders  of  Short- 
horns or  Devons  in  any  part  of  Great  Britain, 
on  the  same  day,  for  one  hundred  sovereigns. 
I  am  willing  to  leave  the  decision  to  the  three 
judges  at  the  last  Smithfield  Show,  two  of 
whom  are  unknown  to  me,  even  by  sight." 

At  the  same  time  Mr.  S.  made  the  following 
offer:  "I  am  ready  to  place  four  Hereford 
calves,  on  the  1st  of  May  next,  in  the  hands  of 
any  respectable  grazier  in  the  midland  counties, 
against  four  Shorthorns,  and  four  Devons;  no 
calf  to  be  more  than  four  months  old  on  that 
day;  the  twelve  calves  to  be  turned  to  grass 
together,  to  have  nothing  but  grass  till  the  20th 
of  October  following,  then  to  be  put  in  stalls 


and  to  be  fed  as  the  grazier  thinks  proper,  but 
the  food  to  be  weighed  in  each  lot,  till  the  fol- 
lowing May,  when  they  shall  be  again  turned 
to  grass  till  the  following  1st  of  October ;  then 
to  be  again  taken  into  the  stalls,  and  the  food 
weighed  as  before;  the  whole  to  be  shown  as 
extra  stock  at  the  Smithfield  Show,  at  the  Ba- 
zaar, and  after  the  show  to  be  slaughtered,  the 
four  beasts  that  pay  the  best  to  be  the  winners." 

HEREFORDS  VS.  SHORTHORNS  AND  DEVON'S. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "Mark  Lane  Express" : 

Sir:  It  was  not  my  intention  to  have 
troubled  you  with  any  more  letters  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Mr.  Keary's  essay,  but  his  misinterpre- 
tation of  my  last  letter  is  too  gross  to  allow 
it  to  pass  unnoticed.  As  to  what  he  means  by 
his  assertion  that  my  letter  can  have  no  weight 
with  practical  men,  I  do  not  understand.  Hav- 
ing occupied  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  land  for 
forty  years,  and  having  purchased  every  beast 
on  the  estate  myself,  and  every  animal  upon 
it  having  been  bred  under  my  own  immediate 
direction,  and  the  whole  management  of  the  es- 
tate having  been  conducted  by  me,  I  think  I 
am  as  much  a  practical  man  as  Mr.  Keary.  He 
accuses  me  of  having  hastily  arrived  at  an  er- 


OX    WEIGHING    3,500    LBS.,    RAISED    IN    SANGAMON    CO.,  ILL.,  1834.     BRED  FROM  "SEVENTEEN  BLOOD," 

(From  an  old  print.) 


162 


HISTOEY     OF     HEEEFOED     CATTLE 


roneous  conclusion,  in  having  accused  him  of 
having  drawn  a  comparison  between  Short- 
horns, Devons  and  Herefords  unfavorable  to 
the  latter.  Yet,  his  essay  speaks  for  itself. 
Does  he  not,  in  every  particular,  claim  the  pref- 
erence for  his  two  favorite  breeds;  while  I,  on 
the  contrary,  declare  that  they  are  both  in- 
ferior? and  I  have  offered  to  test  their  several 
merits  and  to  back  my  opinion.  Mr.  Keary 
says :  "My  knowledge  of  Herefords  is  questioned 
because  I  have  omitted  to  notice  the  grey  ones, 
a  pet  sort  of  Mr.  Smythies.  I  cannot  call  to 


"SEVENTEEN   STEER,"    JOHN    SHERMAN. 

(Bred   by   J.    D.   Gillette,    Elkhart,    111.     Champion   Chicago 

Fat  Stock  Show,  1878.) 

mind  having  often  seen  many  of  these  extra- 
ordinary greys,  and  Mr.  Smythies  admits  him- 
self that  after  a  lengthened  inquiry  and  a  great 
deal  of  trouble,  he  could  only  purchase  four." 
Four  what?  Not  four  greys,  but  four  of  the 
pure  blood  of  Mr.  Tully's  of  Huntingdon.  I 
think  no  man  could  mistake  the  meaning  of  my 
letter  who  did  not  do  so  willfully.  If  I  had 
only  desired  to  purchase  grey  ones,  I  might, 
I  suppose,  have  got  four  hundred  in  the  time. 
Some  of  our  best  breeders  had  nearly  all 
greys;  Mr.  Jones,  of  Brierton,  who  used  to 
produce  as  good  a  lot  of  steers  as  most  men, 
had  all  grey  ones  for  many  years;  and  Mr. 
Eicketts,  of  Sarnesfield,  whose  herd  was  a  very 
good  one,  had  nearly  all  greys,  and  many  other 
breeders  in  the  county  had  a  good  many.  As 
an  excuse  for  omitting  the  name  of  Sir  Francis 
Lawley  as  a  breeder  of  Herefords,  he  said  he 
did  not  profess  to  mention  the  names  of  all 
the  breeders  of  Herefords  that  may  be ;  but  still, 
it  appears  singular  to  me  that  he  should  have 
omitted  the  name  of  a  breeder  who  not  only  has 
the  best  herd  in  existence  at  the  present  day, 
but  the  best  herd  of  any  breed.  Did  he  do  so 
with  respect  to  either  of  the  other  breeds  ?  Mr. 
Keary  denies  that  he  states  in  his  essay  that 
the  young  Shorthorns  have  rather  a  liberal  al- 


lowance of  cake,  and  that  he  only  asserts  that 
of  the  Herefords,  and  requests  that  I  will  refer 
to  it  again.  I  have  done  so  and  copy  the  fol- 
lowing sentence  from  the  "Journal" :  "From 
the  time  of  rearing,  little  or  no  difference  may 
be  said  to  exist  in  the  treatment  of  the  young 
stock,  between  the  Shorthorns  and  Herefords. 
Warm  and  well  sheltered  paddocks,  with  hovels 
or  yards  with  open  sheds,  form,  in  both  cases, 
their  winter  quarters,  in  which  they  are  sup- 
plied with  hay,  roots,  and,  generally  speaking, 
a  rather  liberal  allowance  of  cake,  or  other 
artificial  food." 

Now,  sir,  I  confess  I  was  stupid  enough  to 
consider,  from  this  statement,  that  Shorthorns 
were  so  treated.  I  will  leave  your  readers  to 
determine  whether  or  not  I  had  a  right  to  come 
to  such  a  conclusion  from  the  foregoing  sen- 
tence. I  denied  in  my  letter  that  Herefords 
were  so  treated — at  least,  that  mine  were,  and 
I  asserted  this  on  my  word  of  honor  as  a  gentle- 
man. Mr.  Keary  then  says :  "To  practical  men 
such  statements  are  somewhat  startling,"  or,  in 
other  words,  What  Mr.  Smythies  has  stated 
is  false.  Never  having  heard  Mr.  Keary's  name 
till  I  saw  it  at  the  end  of  this  essay,  I  have  no 
means  of  knowing  in  what  society  he  may  have 
been  brought  up,  but  I  beg  to  inform  him  that 
the  men  with  whom  I  have  passed  my  life 
hold  such  an  assertion  as  I  have  made  above 
as  sacred  as  the  most  solemn  oath.  It  is  very 
difficult  to  prove  a  negative,  but  the  doubt 
which  Mr.  Keary  has  attempted  to  throw  on 
my  veracity  renders  the  endeavor  to  do  so  im- 
perative. If  Mr.  Keary  will  do  me  the  favor 
to  accompany  me  into  Herefordshire,  I  will 
bring  before  him  men  who  have  worked  on 
my  farm  for  many  years,  some  ever  since  I  oc- 
cupied it.  I  will  produce  two  of  my  bailiffs 
who  lived  with  me  nine  or  ten  years  each,  and 
one  twenty-three  years.  He  shall  also  see  the 
men  who  looked  after  my  cattle;  he  shall  also 
see  a  variety  of  men  who  have  worked  on  the 
farm  at  various  periods,  and  who  were  dis- 
charged, and  who  are  not  likely  to  make  any 
false  statements  in  my  favor;  and  if  he  can 
find  any  one  man  who  can  prove  that  he  ever 
saw  an  oil  cake  on  my  estate  during  the  time 
I  occupied  it,  excepting  the  year  mentioned  in 
my  former  letter,  or  ever  saw  any  lot  of  steers 
of  mine  eating  cake,  corn,-  seeds,  meal,  or  any 
artificial  food  whatever,  I  will  present  him  with 
a  hundred  sovereigns  and  pay  all  his  expenses. 
I  beg  also  to  refer  him  to  Mr.  Eusbridger,  the 
Duke  of  Eichmond's  bailiff;  to  Mr.  Eowland, 
of  Creslow,  one  of  the  largest  graziers  in  Eng- 
land ;  to  Mr.  Senier,  of  Broughton  House,  near 
Aylesbury;  to  Mr.  Druce,  of  Ensham;  to  Mr. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


163 


William  Trinder,  of  Wantage;  to  Mr.  Bailey, 
near  Wolverton,  and  to  a  variety  of  other 
graziers  who  have  bought  my  steers,  whether, 
when  they  put  them  into  the  stalls  to  feed,  they 
took  to  cake  as  if  they  had  been  accustomed 
to  it. 

I  think,  sir,  I  have  offered  such  proof  of  the 
truth  of  my  statement  as  must  satisfy  the  mind 
of  any  unprejudiced  man,  and  if  I  have  not 
satisfied  Mr.  Keary,  which  I  think  not  unlikely, 
for 

"A  man  convinced  against  his  will, 
Holds  the  same  opinion  still," 

I  shall  be  glad  to  give  any  further  proof  that 
the  nature  of  the  case  admits  of,  if  he  will  be 
so  good  as  to  point  it  out. 

Mr.  Keary  goes  on  to  say  that  he  has  learned 
that  the  practice  of  treating  young  cattle  as 
he  has  described  was  extensively,  if  not  uni- 
versally, used.  The  best  steers  at  Hereford  fair 
were  usually  found  in  the  show  yard.  When  I 
was  a  member  of  the  Herefordshire  Agricul- 
tural Society,  all  animals  exhibited  for  their 
prizes  were  restricted  from  having  cake  or  corn, 
and  no  person  could  become  a  candidate  for  a 
prize  without  first  signing  a  certificate  that  the 
animal  exhibited  by  him  had  not  eaten  cake, 
corn,  seeds,  meal,  or  any  artificial  food  what- 
soever. One  thing  is  certain,  that  if  those  per- 
sons who  have  been  in  the  habit  of  showing 
their  stock  there  have  told  Mr.  Keary  that  their 
steers  were  fed  as  he  says  they  were,  they  must 
have  stated  what  was  not  correct  in  one  in- 
stance, for  they  cannot  both  be  true.  I  have 
obtained  many  prizes  there,  and  I  always  had 
to  sign  such  a  certificate. 

Mr.  K.  seems  very  indignant  at  my  accusing 
him  of  knowing  but  little  of  Hereford  cattle. 
I  was  willing  to  attribute  his  unfair  comparison 
to  ignorance  from  which,  indeed,  I  really 
thought  it  did  arise ;  but  if  he  wishes  to  have 
it  considered  willful  misrepresentation,  I  can 
have  no  objection ;  he  is  welcome  to  place  him- 
self upon  which  horn  of  the  dilemma  he  likes 
best. 

Another  striking  instance  of  Mr.  K.'s  per- 
version of  the  meaning  of  my  letter  I  cannot 
pass  over.  He  says  that  though  I  bred  seventy 
a  year  for  a  long  period,  I  never  had  but  one 
good  milking  cow ! !  Does  the  sentence  in  my 
letter  to  which  he  alludes  convey  any  such 
meaning?  It  is  this.:  "I  have  seen  Hereford 
cows  milk  well,  and  had  one  myself  that  made 
eleven  pounds  of  butter  a  week  for  three 
months."  .Does  that  imply  that  I  had  but  one 
good  milker?  Was  that  any  reason  to  infer 
that  I  might  not  have  had  a  hundred  good  milk- 
ers ?  It  is  true  that  from  this  sentence  it  might 


be  inferred  that  I  had  only  one  that  would 
make  eleven  pounds  of  butter  a  week,  but  I 
might  have  had  any  quantity  that  would  have 
made  seven  or  eight ;  but  to  exemplify  the  argu- 
ment I  was  using,  I  selected  the  strongest  in- 
stance that  had  occurred  in  my  herd. 

He  also  adds  that  I  admit  it  takes  several 
months  longer  to  make  up  a  Hereford  than  it 
does  a  Shorthorn.  I  fancy  he  is  the  only  man 
who  read  my  letter  that  did  not  perceive  that 
that  was  a  sarcasm  on  his  assertion,  which  I 
clearly  showed  my  disbelief  of  by  offering  to 
place  four  Herefords  in  competition  with  four 
Shorthorns,  to  be  slaughtered  at  two  years  old. 

I  will  only  allude  to  one  more  instance  of 
gross  perversion  of  the  meaning  of  my  letter. 
Mr.  Keary  says,  "With  Mr.  Smythies'  challenge 
I  can  have  nothing  to  do."  In  this  wise  decision 
he  shows  his  creed.  The  prudence  of  the  York- 
shireman  is  quite  apparent  in  refusing  to  ac- 
cept a  challenge,  which  he  knows  he  must  lose 
if  he  accepts.  But  the  way  in  which  he  evades 
it  is  most  to  be  noticed.  He  says  it  is  im- 
practicable ;  he  knows  no  Shorthorn  breeder  who 
breeds  a  hundred  steer  calves  in  a  year.  Nor 
I,  either,  nor  of  any  other  breed,  and  I  would 
ask,  is  there  any  other  man  in  the  United  King- 
dom who  has  read  my  letter,  besides  Mr.  Keary, 


I  had  challenged  him  to 


who  imagined  that 
show  a  hundred 
steers  bred  by  one 
man  in  one  year? 
What  are  the 
words  of  my  let- 
ter ?  "I  will  show 
one  hundred 
Hereford  beasts 
that  were  the 
property  of  Sir 
Francis  Lawley, 
on  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1849,  and 
the  same  number 
that  were  the 
property  of  Mr. 
Aston,  Lynch 
Court,  on  the 
same  day,  against 
the  same  number  that  were  the  property  of  any 
two  breeders  of  Shorthorns  or  Devons  on  the 
same  day  in  any  part  of  Great  Britain."  Is  it  not 
clear  that  I  meant  the  general  breeding  stock 
upon  their  farms?  He  then  adds,  "His  next 
challenge  is  equally  difficult  to  carry  out  impar- 
tially and  fairly."  What,  sir,  is  there  no  grazier 
in  the  midland  counties  to  be  found  with  suffi- 
cient honesty  to  try  this  experiment  ?  I  could 

name  twenty  myself  who  would 
J     J 


WM.      POWELL,     CHANNING. 

TEX..      FORMERLY     OF 

BEECHER,    ILL. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


HIS TOE Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


advocate  of  truth,  and  therefore  court  investiga- 
tion; I  have  nothing  to  conceal,  and  therefore 
have  no  occasion  to  put  false  interpretations 
upon  passages  as  clear  as  the  sun  at  noon,  nor 
to  make  use  of  subterfuges  of  any  sort.  As  to 
the  boasted  superiority  of  the  Shorthorns,  let 
us  see  what  the  past  says.  If  Mr.  Keary  will 
search  the  records  of  the  Smithfield  Club,  I 
think  he  will  find  the  Herefords  have  taken 
away  more  prizes  than  his  favorite  Shorthorns, 
and  five  times  as  many  as  the  Devons.  Mr. 
\Ycstcar  sold  twenty  Hereford  oxen  for  two 
thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty  odd  pounds.  I 


"QUEEN  OF  ATHENS"  AND  CALF,   "MY  MARYLAND." 
(Bred   by   John   Merryman,   Cockeysville,    Md.) 

once  stated  this  fact  in  a  letter  in  the  "Farm- 
ers' Journal,"  which  statement  was  ridiculed 
in  a  letter  the  following  week,  written  by  Mr. 
Henry  Berry  [Youatt's  authority.  T.  L.  M.], 
who  was  a  great  advocate  for  the  supremacy  of 
Shorthorns,  as  a  perfect  impossibility.  A  few 
days  after  his  letter  appeared  I  received  one 
from  a  gentleman  staying  at  Creslow,  contain- 
ing an  extract  from  Mr.  Westcar's  books,  giv- 
ing the  date  of  the  sale,  the  name  of  the  butcher 
they  were  sold  to,  and  the  sum  paid  for  them, 
amounting,  together,  to  the  sum  I  have  men- 
tioned. Six  of  them  were  sold  in  one  deal  to 
Mr.  Giblet,  of  Bond  street,  for  six  hundred 
pounds.  Have  twenty  Shorthorn  bullocks  ever 
sold  for  two-thirds  of  the  money?  So  much 
for  the  past.  As  to  the  future,  I  am  ready  and 
willing  to  test  the  respective  merits  of  these 
three  breeds  in  any  way  Mr.  Keary  will  point 
out.  I  only  wish  it  to  be  clearly  ascertained 
which  are  the  most  useful  beasts.  I  am  con- 
vinced in  my  own  mind  that  no  animal  of  any 
description  can  be  fatted  on  the  common  vege- 
table produce  of  a  farm  so  soon,  or  brought  to 
such  perfection 'on  grass,  hay  and  roots  only, 
as  a  Hereford,  and  this  appears  to  me  to  be 
the  great  desideratum  at  the  present  day,  that 
we  should  be  able  to  convert  the  vegetable  pro" 


duce  of  our  farms  into  animal  matter  at  the 
greatest  advantage,  and  that  we  should  not  have 
to  go  to  the  foreigner  to  buy  oil  cake  to  feed 
our  beasts  when  we  have  enough  at  home  to  feed 
them  with  if  we  select  the  proper  animal.  I  know 
it  is  a  notion  amongst  Shorthorn  breeders  that 
oxen  cannot  be  fatted  without  corn  or  cake.  I 
once  showed  a  fat  cow  at  Bath,  and  won  the 
prize  with  her,  and  sold->her  to  Mr.  Hale,  the 
celebrated  butcher  in  that  town,  who  told  me 
she  was  the  fattest  animal  he  had  ever  seen. 
I  had  given  in  a  certificate  that  she  had  been 
fed  on  grass,  hay  and  roots  only.  Some  people 
who  saw  her  thought  it  impossible  she  could 
have  been  so  fed,  and  somebody,  just  before  the 
judges  entered  the  yard,  threw  some  oil  cake 
into  the  manger  before  her,  in  hopes  the  judges 
might  see  her  eating  it.  This  I  was  told  by 
one  of  the  judges  when  he  came  out  of  the  yard, 
and  he  added,  she  evidently  had  never  seen 
such  a  thing  before,  for  she  took  no  notice  of  it ; 
we  tried  her  competitors  with  it,  and  they  ate 
it  up  in  a  minute.  So  convinced  am  I  of  the 
decided  superiority  of  Hereford  'cattle  for  feed- 
ing purposes  over  any  others,  that  I  am  most 
anxious  to  see  them  brought  fairly  into  com- 
petition, and  whenever  they  are  so,  honestly  and 
honorably.  If  the  "Journal"  committee  of  the 
Royal  English  Agricultural  Society  wish  to  act 
fairly,  they  ought  to  publish  my  letters,  that 
the  poison  and  the  antidote  may  travel  together, 
and  let  the  world  determine  who  is  right.  I 
have  done  nothing  underhand,  or  in  secret;  I 
have  referred  you  by  name  to  many  most  re- 
spectable men.  If  I  have  stated  one  syllable 
that  is  not  true,  I  have  afforded  you  every  means 
of  detecting  me;  if,  therefore,  you  fail  to  do 
so,  I  have  a  right  to  claim  from  my  agricul- 
tural brethren  an  implicit  reliance  on  the  truth 
of  my  statements.  Regretting  that  I  have  oc- 
cupied so  much  of  your  valuable  paper, 
I  remain  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  R.  SMYTHIES,  (ff  78) 
Grey  Friars,  Colchester,  Feb.  16. 


I  wrote  to  Mr.  Thomas  Brown,  editor  of  the 
"Ohio  Farmer,"  to  find  out  the  clandestine  man 
who  signed  himself  "Agricola,"  who  wrote  on 
"in-and-in  breeding,"  etc.,  as  I  considered  the 
remarks  he  made  on  that  subject  doing  much 
injury  to  the  public.  His  assertions  on  other 
points  seemed  to  me  truly  ridiculous,  and  that 
a  common  sense  editor  would  refuse  to  publish 
such  stuff.  His  teachings  on  breeding,  his 
Shorthorn  puffing,  and  his  writing  anonymous- 
ly, condemned  him  in  my  estimation.  I  never 
knew  a  man  (who  is  a  man)  ashamed  to  own 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


165 


his  own  productions.     The  following  was  Mr. 
Brown's  reply : 

Cleveland,  April  23,  1856. 
My  Dear  Sir: 

I  do  not  think  there  is  any  special  danger 
of  my  being  seriously  used  hy  Mr.  Allen.  I 
know  your  alarm  is  honest,  and  your  cautions 
well  meant,  and  I  therefore  thank  you  for  your 
letter.  "Agricola"  is  not  Mr.  Allen,  and  I 
don't  know  that  Allen  ever  met  him.  He  is  one 
of  the  "oldest  breeders  in  America,"  a  D.  D. 
and  LL.  D.,  whose  fame  is  as  wide  as  the  earth. 
He  is  now  president  of  a  flourishing  theological 
college  and  professor  of  Biblical  Literature — 
and  is  none  other  than  the  Rev.  Robert  J. 
Breckenridge,  of  Lexington,  Ky.  Are  you  sat- 
isfied on  this  point?  Keep  it  to  yourself. 

I  have  just  received  a  good  article  from  Aston 
on  Herefords.  I  mean  to  do  you  and  your  Here- 
fords  full  justice,  but  I  must  be  permitted  to 
take  my  own  time  and  way  to  do  it.  I  am 
obliged  to  you  for  any  advice,  and  reproof,  even, 
given  in  kindness.  I  desire,  too,  to  continue  on 
friendly  relations  with  you. 
I  am,  very  truly, 

Your  friend, 

THOS.  BROWN. 

I  wrote  Mr.  Brown  that  this  was  the  first  I 
had  ever  heard  of  the  Rev.  Robt.  J.  Brecken- 
ridge, and  that  it  was  high  time  he  declined  to 
give  instructions  to  breeders.  If  Mr.  Brown's 
extravagant  encomium  of  the  man  had  gone 
still  further,  and  he  had  said  this  famed  Mr. 
Breckenridge  had  been  known  beyond  "the 
earth,"  I  should  have  believed  it  quite  as  read- 
ily as  many  other  assertions  made  by  him  and 
his  correspondents  on  Shorthorns;  but  I  do  and 
always  shall  believe  that  neither  of  these  as- 
sumed writers  on  breeds  of  cattle  knew  how 
much  mischief  he  was  doing  the  community  by 
advising  "sire  to  daughter  and  continue  it." 
One  of  these  noted  writers  and  breeders,  to  my 
knowledge,  has  bred  blind  calves,  calves  void 
of  symmetry  and  quality,  calves  minus  their 
legitimate  power  of  reproducing,  calves  with 
long  pedigrees,  and  who  has  not  gone  near  so 
far  into  the  "in-and-in"  system  as -he  recom- 
mends others  to  breed,  and  at  the  time  he  talks 
of  "Colling's  successful  in-and-in  breeding  in 
Shorthorns ;  the  long  Scotch  coat  was  produced 
in  them,  the  origin  of  which  no  man  can  dis- 
pute who  knows  both  breeds."  Here  is  a  mys- 
tery that  ought  to  be  solved  and  who  is  more 
capable  of  doing  it  than  the  man  "whose  fame 
is  as  wide  as  the  earth?" — a  man  anxious  for 
notoriety  as  a  breeder  and  dictator,  a  man  care- 
ful and  kind  to  his  "flock  and  herd,"  a  man  who 
advocates  truth,  purity,  morality,  honesty,  jus- 


tice, one  who  loves  his  country.  I  say  again, 
there  can  be  no  better  man  to  solve  this  mystery 
than  this  intelligent  and  learned  divine,  upheld 
and,  supported  by  his  one-sided  editor  and  con- 
temporary, who  is  so  well  versed  in  the  im- 
provement of  his  country,  and  in  the  protec- 
tion of  his  pet  correspondents.  This  same  one- 
sided editor  speaks  of  my  letters  being  "made 
frightful  by  underlining."  Mark  the  letter 
above,  that  his  readers  may  "learn  and  inwardly 
digest."  This  is  a  wide  world  to  live  in,  and  the 
people  are  diversified.  Some  feel  "warm  when 
they  have  seen  the  fire,"  and  are  satisfied  with 
the  comfort  such  a  blessing  bestows.  Others, 
with  more  extravagant  ideas,  heedlessly  clench 
the  flames,  and  if  a  man  will  put  his  hand  in 
the  fire  he  must  expect  to  get  scorched.  Ed- 
itors may,  in  their  ignorance,  madness  or  self- 
conceit,  commit  truth  to  the  flames,  but  can 
never  destroy;  it  will,  phcenix-like,  rise  again 
from  its  ashes,  to  teach  such  vain  editors  de- 
cency and  justice.  One-sided  editors  will  fre- 
quently add  brighter  coloring  to  glaring  un- 
truths from  a  favored  correspondent,  while  his 
opponent  is  repulsed  with  editorial  power,  in 
forbidding  entrance  to  his  columns  what  he 
knows  to  be  true.  But  truth  will  out — nothing 
can  suppress  it.  The  editor  of  the  "Ohio  Farm- 
er" will  sooner  or  later  find  out  that  "two  heads 
are  better  than  one,  if  one  is  a  sheep's  head." 


"DOLLY  VARDEN"   (V.  9,  p.  279)  5. 
(Bred  by  J.  Morris,  Madley,  Eng.) 

I  did  not  see  Mr.  Aston's  "good  article  on 
Herefords,"  of  which  Mr.  Brown  speaks,  nor 
do  I  believe  it  ever  appeared.  It  was  in  answer 
to  C.  M.  Clay,  therefore,  I  suppose  it  was  too 
"powerful"  for  Shorthorn  breeders,  and  was 
committed  "gently"  to  the  flames,  from  whence, 
he  thinks,  such  articles  never  return. 

I  have  been  accused  of  "untruth"  unfounded- 
ly by  an  editor  before  this,  and  my  accuser  had 
fairly  been  convicted  of  perjury ;  nothing  saved 
him  from  a  prisoner's  cell  but  money,  untruths, 


166 


and  a  flaw  in  the  indictment;  but  this  same 
editor  is  now  reformed,  and,  I  see,  strongly  ad- 
vocating morality.  1  glory  in  his  wisdom,  and 
therefore  freely  forgive  him.  If  I  am  "pug- 
nacious," unclassical,  severe,  and  forbidding,  as 
my  opponents  choose  to  characterize  me,  I  can 
forgive.  Nor  do  I  consider  publishing  Mr. 
Brown's  article  a  breach  of  trust,  after  his  con- 
duct to  me. 

*     *     * 

EDITORS    AND    JUDGES. 

There  is  nothing  more  important  to  the  agri- 
cultural community  than  just  and  good  judges. 
Nor  is  there  any  true  evidence  of  a  man's  being 
a  good  judge  of  cattle  because  he  lives  in  a 
large,  expensive  house,  and  gives  high  prices 
for  imported  stock.  Such  men,  if  reported  rich, 
are  very  apt  to  be  looked  up  to  for  this  depart- 
ment— many  of  which  are  very  fearful  of  soil- 
ing their  hands  and  their  clothes,  frequently 
handle  cattle  with  their  gloves  on;  some  of 
kid  and  others  of  a  different  material.  Such 
men  generally  consider  such  labor  beneath  their 
dignity,  while  practical  men  leave  not  a  single 
point  unexamined,  making  their  hands  and 
their  eyes  guide  them  to  a  just  decision.  Such 
men  will  not  be  swayed  from  the  true  points 
of  an  animal  by  prejudice,  favor  or  aristocratic 


influential  men,  but  will  give  the  animal  its  due 
without  reference  to  its  owner.  All  societies 
will  be  a  curse  to  the  country  until  such  men 
are  nominated. 

In  the  present  course  of  things,  a  costly  ani- 
mal, say  a  "five  thousand  dollar  one,''  must  be 
the  best,  because  he  costs  so  much,  when  good, 
unbiased  judgment  would  probably  pronounce 
him  in  second  or  third  class. 

There  is  no  lack  of  display  in  portraits  and 
publications,  and  these  enormous  prices  quickly 
go  the  rounds.  Editors  of  agricultural  papers 
are  generally  too  anxious  to  "obtain  first"  such 
exciting  articles,  and  are  very  jealous  of  others 
who  "copy  from  them  without  credit."  Neither 
do  they  forget  to  flatter  and  feed  the  vanity 
of  those  extravagant  purchasers,  many  of  whom 
never  see  the  animals  until  they  arrive  home, 
spurring  them  on  to  this  destructive  mania,  and 
when  such  prices  are  given  without  judgment 
or  discussion,  it  is  a  ruinous  principle. 

Most  judges  are  apt  to  select  animals  for 
prizes  from  their  "important"  puffed  charac- 
ter, made  public  by  editors,  who  had  probably 
been  well  paid  for  their  puffing — rather  than 
trusting  to  their  own  judgment,  and  frequently 
listen  to  these  dictates  as  settled  facts  without 
consideration.  The  owner,  too,  is  an  important 
man,  and  frequently  money  only  has  made  him 


HEREFORDS    ON    THE    PLAINS    OF    COLORADO. 
(From  a  photograph  taken   in  the  spring,   after  a  hard    winter.) 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


16? 


so.  Editors  have  puffed  his  cattle — puffed  his 
management  as  a  breeder — courting  an  equality 
to  his  exalted  society,  and  to  obtain  a  golden 
fir,  he  knowing  at  the  same  time  the  true  credit 
belonged  to  his  agents.  By  this  means  some 
editors  are  made  notorious,  their  papers  popu- 
lar, their  judgment  consulted,  and  frequently 
put  on  as  judges  of  cattle,  some  of  which  find 
difficulty  in  distinguishing  the  different  breeds, 
without  "guessing"  and  inquiring.  Still  they 
can  write  about  these  breeds  with  as  much  con- 
fidence as  the  best  judges. 

These  editors  may  call  me  "pugnacious,"  but 
they  know  my  statements  are  true,  and  there- 
fore they  may  poke  their  editorials  at  me  to 
suit  themselves,  if  they  are  only  sufficiently 
manly  to  send  me  a  copy  and  allow  me  to  an- 
swer them ;  if  not,  it  is  no  better  principle 
than  stabbing  a  man  in  the  dark.  I  think  it 
will  benefit  the  community  if  they  are  "re- 
proved in  kindness." 

There  are  many  editors  truly  good  fellows, 
if  they  did  not  assume  to  be  judges  of  cattle. 
Many  remarks  they  make  on  this  subject  are 
truly  ridiculous. 

It  is  very  gratifying  to  receive  "visits"  from 
many  of  them  if  the  more  vain  would  not  tell 
the  public  how  kindly  they  had  been  treated  by 
great  men,  in  what  kind  of  carriage  they  had 
been  drawn  to  such  breeders'  mansions;  how 
upright  and  stately  they  sit  in  that  carriage, 
ruminating  over  the  "big"  words  that  should 
compose  their  description  and  flattery;  not  for- 
getting to  tell  such  a  man  what  advantage  and 
favor  it  was  to  have  such  puffs  in  their  col- 
umns. 

Some  editors  are  even  weak  enough  to  tell 
what  they  had  for  dinner,  and  even  add  to  this 
the  enormous  size  of  the  beautiful  Tom  Turkey 
presented  to  them  *to  carry  home  for  another 
"luxurious  meal."  My  readers  who  have  read 
agricultural  papers  must  admit  all  this  to  be 
true,  and  they  must  further  admit  that  a  mod- 
erate breeder  who  understands  his  business 
practically,  lives  in  a  moderate  house,  with  mod- 
erate ideas,  and  possessing  substantial  judg- 
ment, is  very  seldom  noticed,  but  more  fre- 
quently avoided  and  unjustly  repulsed.  To  be 
the  guest  of  an  honest,  plain  farmer  would  not 
be  etiquette,  if  he  lived  in  a  plain  house.  Such 
editors  as  the  "Ohio  Farmer"  would  deem  him 
beneath  his  dignity  and  unworthy  of  an  edi- 
torial remark  if  he  had  not  a  fine  pair  of  mules 
or  a  splendid  pair  of  horses  to  ride  behind, 
seated  in  an  aristocratic  carriage  for  the  purpose 
of  taking  his  observations ;  a  Tom  Turkey,  how- 
ever fat,  however  "enormously"  heavy,  would 
scarcely  be  considered  a  present,  while  that  of 


the  reported  great  man's  would  be  puffed  and 
stuffed  with  "enormous  extravagance." 

Such  is  the  way  of  the  world,  and  we  are 
compelled  to  succumb  to  it  as  long  as  such  ed- 
itors as  that  of  the  "Ohio  Farmer"  "has  his  own 
way,"  and  is  allowed  to  burn  up  a  proper  an- 
swer. I  suppose  he  is  lord  of  all  he  surveys 
when  he  beholds  the  whole  of  his  paper,  and 
therefore  has  power  to  forbid. 

There  are  many  agricultural  editors  who  re- 
quire more  substantial  judgment;  more  inde- 
pendence of  character;  more  sound  investiga- 
tion into  the  numerous  articles  they  publish, 
and  although  some  of  them  are  willing  to  treat 
both  sides  of  the  question  fairly,  every  one  must 
admit  there  is  a  vast  deal  of  cattle  trash  pub- 
lished only  for  the  want  of  better  judgment  to 
guide  them. 


A    LETTER    TO    THE    EDITOR    OF    THE 
FARMER." 


'OHIO 


Owego,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  17,  '57. 
Thos.  Brown,  Esq. : 

Sir :  A  friend-  has  sent  me  your  paper  to- 
day, containing  Mr.  C.  M.  Clay's  letter,  from' 
which  I  see  you  have  previously  copied  mine 
from  the  "Mark  Lane  Express."  If  you  publish 
the  whole  of  that  letter,  I  am  satisfied. 

If  you  publish 
my  letters  just  as 
I  write  them  I 
will  meet  Mr.  Clay 
or  any  other  per- 
son on  that  sub- 
ject. "All  I  ask 
is  a  fair  field  and 
no  favor."  It  is 
very  easy  to  say 
and  to  print  that 
another  tells  an 
"untruth,"  but  it 
is  more  difficult 
to  prove  it,  nor 
can  I  believe  it 
gentlemanly  to 
say  so  without 
proof.  When  Mr. 

Clay  or  any  other  person  proves  an  "untruth" 
in  any  of  my  letters  they  are  at  liberty  to  con- 
demn me  as  one  of  "low  degree,"  "low  bred," 
"third-class  quality,"  and  "no  breeder."  I  will 
then  retire  from  the  field  disgusted  with  my 
own  actions. 

On  the  other  hand,  I  am  perfectly  willing  to 
admit  all  that  Mr.  Clay  says  as  a  "gentleman," 
but  I  cannot  agree  with  him  in  opinion,  nor  in 
his  judgment  on  cattle,  however  long  he  may 
have  been  a  dealer  or  a  breeder. 


HON.    J.    W.   PROWERS, 
WEST   LAS  ANIMAS,    COLO. 


168 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


There  is  but  one  true  standard  of  quality, 
symmetry,  weight,  etc.,  and  he  who  differs  from 
that  is  no  judge. 

I  honor  the  name  of  "Clay"  as  highly  as  any 
other  man,  and  I  regret  that  I  made  the  mis- 
take of  calling  Mr.  Brutus  Clay's  Mr.  Cassius 
M.  Clay's.  I  fully  understood  that  it  was  C.  - 
M.  C.  that  took  the  prizes  at  Springfield.  I 
therefore  transfer  the  remarks  I  made  upon 
that  herd  to  where  they  belong,  and  will  fully 
maintain  all  I.  have  said  in  answer  to  C.  M.  C. 
When  we  have  both  had  a  fair  trial,  I  will  leave 
to  the  public,  whose  just  opinion  has  most 
weight  in  the  scale  of  true  judgment. 


HEREFORDS  BRED  BY  THE  REYNOLDS  LAND  &  CAT- 
TLE CO.,  CHANNING,  TEX. 

My  desire  is  to  test  this  matter  honestly, 
and  fear  no  man. 

If  you  publish  this,  I  will  accept  Messrs.  C. 
and  B.'s  challenge  in  a  fair  way  in  another 
communication.  If  not,  I  shall  answer  him  in 
other  papers. 

I  send  you  another  letter  from  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express,"  for  your  perusal  and  publica- 
tion, if  you  choose. 

I  am,  sir,  Your  humble  servant, 

WM.  HY.  SOTHAM. 

MR.   SOTHAM'S   ANSWER   AND  ACCEPTANCE  OF 
c.  M.  CLAY'S  CHALLENGE. 

Owego,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  25,  1857. 

Mr.  Editor:  In  reply  to  Mr.  Cassius  M. 
Clay's  letter.  He  says,  "The  word  of  a  man  is 
no  more  worthy  of  credit  because  he  may  go  be- 
fore a  magistrate  and  make  oath  to  the  same." 
I  fully  endorse  this,  Mr.  Editor,  and  will  say 
still  further :  a  man  who  is  over-anxious  to  take 
such  a  course  is  less  likely  to  be  believed  and 
trusted. 

I  take  it  for  granted  (inside  the  rules  of 
gentlemen)  that  Mr.  Clay  had  no  self-interest 


in  Shorthorns,  but  has  more  of  it  in  Mr. 
Brown's  invitation  to  write  for  his  paper.  The 
half  of  "Locomotive,"  and  the  whole  of  that 
"robust  family  of  Shorthorns'' ;  the  former 
"beating  the  world,"  and  the  latter  as  good  as 
can  be  found  in  it,  can  have  no  "exciting  inter- 
est" to  their  owner,  nor  can  there  be  the  least 
sign  of  "elevation"  towards  these  valuable  ani- 
mals by  such  expressions  from  Mr.  Clay.  He 
having  "se//-possession,"  "se//-control,"  and  an 
"amiable  disposition" — rests  composed  and  con- 
tented with  the  increase  as  it  surrounds  him — 
(enviable  position  this  !)  He  needs  no  demand, 
has  no  desire  to  attract  a  man  in  the  "habit" 
of  giving  "high  prices,"  or  taking  advantage  of 
his  "amiable  weakness."  Mr.  Clay  has  no  such 
intentions,  his  only  "habit,"  object,  and  self- 
interest  is  in  writing  for  the  Ohio  Farmer,  and 
Mr.  C.  seems  to  think  "that  a  Mr.  Sotham  will 
'find  out'  these  profitable  advantages  in  time, 
when  the  public  become  more  familiar  with 
his  character."  I  must  say,  Mr.  Clay,  that  I 
have  no  desire  for  this  public  "estimate,"  and 
rather  your  "seZ/-interest"  would  rest  where  it 
is.  Neither  have  I  any  desire  to  excite  high, 
artificial  prices  in  Herefords.  I  always  sold 
at  reasonable  ones,  and  it  is  still  my  wish  to 
do  so. 

Now,  Mr.  Clay,  I  see  plainly  by-  your  letters, 
you  consider  yourself  a  judge  of  cattle.  You 
have  studied  it  practically,  therefore  you  must 
know  that  the  herd  that  takes  most  prizes  is 
not  always  the  best ;  neither  are  the  judges  who 
award  those  prizes.  Excellent  proof  of  this 
was  shown  at  Springfield,  which  every  practical 
judge  must  candidly  admit.  I  met  a  Short- 
horn breeder,  whom  I  am  well  aware  ranks  "in- 
side the  rules  of  gentlemen,"  and  who  openly 
confessed  that  Shorthorns  there  were  miserably 
lacking  in  quality,  nor  did  he  attempt  to  hide 
the  remarks  from  some  of  his  own  herd.  A 
white  heifer  belonging  to  Mr.  Duncan  was  de- 
cidedly the  best  female  in  that  class  and  the 
best  in  her  own.  There  was  another  red  and 
white  heifer  that  compared  well  with  her,  still 
these  two  were  beaten  by  one  as  hard  and  as 
tight  as  flesh  could  be  forced  upon  her — third- 
class  of  the  lowest  kind.  The  white  heifer  went 
home  prizeless,  and,  in  my  opinion,  reflecting 
much  animal  or  "amiable  weakness"  on  the  ma- 
jority of  the  judges.  Hence,  my  minor  report. 
I  have  too  much  regard  for  my  associates  to 
believe  for  a  moment  there  was  any  self-interest 
in  this  decision,  for  I  feel  assured  they  came 
inside  "  the  rules  of  gentlemen." 

Mr.  Clay  says  that  breeders  of  Shorthorns  do 
not  deem  it  necessary  to  attack  other  breeds  in 
order  to  elevate  their  own,  and  further  says, 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


169 


"the  best  judges  I  have  heard  speak  upon  the 
subject  regard  the  Herefords  as  not  a  pure 
breed,  and  if  they  were  I  have  all  the  less  fancy 
for  them."  This  remarkable  injustice;  this 
hearsay ;  this  fancy ;  this  self-contradiction,  is  it 
not  untruth?  Mr.  Clay,  I  will  not  have  it  so; 
neither  will  I  deem  it  self-interest,  if  I  am  con- 
sidered by  the  public  "to  step  outside  the  rules 
of  gentlemen."  I  cannot  help  it — I  must  say 
it  is  your  amiable  weakness  to  vindicate  history. 
Notwithstanding  this,  your  opinion  is  the  same 
opinion  still.  Your  robust  family  is  the  same 
and  may  still  be  the  best  in  the  world  under  the 
same  opinion.  Durhams  may  still  be  the  best- 
breed  of  cattle,  and  Locomotive,  who  took  the 
first  premium  against  the  world,  is  still  Loco- 
motive if  his  weight  has  kept  such  steam  pres- 
sure from  his  becoming  too  exaltingly  elevated. 
So  the  world  goes — we  are  all  entitled  to  an 
opinion,  and  many  of  them  will  be  remembered 
as  long  as  they  remain  in  print. 

Again,  Mr.  Clay  says :  "As  to  the  Herefords, 
I  have  nothing  to  say,  for  or  against  them,  ex- 


Show  at  Birmingham;  he  will  there  find  the 
Herefords  stood  far  superior  to  any  other  breed 
classes  at  that  exhibition.  Mr.  Clay  did  not 
mean  to  pull  down  the  Herefords  by  these  re- 
marks, I  know  he  did  not.  He  had  previously 
said  it  was  not  necessary,  and  he  would  have 
studied  the  facts  in  the  case  before  he  had  ven- 
tured to  attempt  it,  though  I  cannot  help  think- 
ing there  is  a  little  amiable  weakness  in  this 
mistake  to  vindicate  history. 

As  to  the  animal  likenesses.  Did  Mr.  Clay 
ever  see  one  of  Mr.  Page's  bull  portraits  on 
paper  show  hollow  crops?  On  the  contrary, 
did  Mr.  Clay  ever  see  the  original  except  New 
Year's  Day  and  Balco  with  full  crops?  There 
may  be  more  in  these  two  questions  than  Mr. 
C.  imagines,  and  I  would  advise  him  to  con- 
sider before  he  answers  them  in  the  name  of  an 
old  breeder.  I  have  something  further  to  say 
on  this  important  subject  hereafter. 

I  have  now  to  acknowledge  the  proof  of  Mr. 
C.'s  cow  weighing  2,020  Ibs.,  and  also  his  own 
assertions  that  no  Hereford  in  America  could 


MEDAL  OF  THE   CENTENNIAL   AT   PHILADELPHIA,   1876,   AWARDED  TO  T.   L.   MILLER. 


cept.  they  have  never  in  public  opinion  risen 
to  the  rank  of  contending  for  the  supremacy." 
Can  such  an  assertion  as  this  come  from  the 
pen  of  an  old  breeder  and  dealer? 

They  have  beaten  the  Shorthorns  five  times 
out  of  eight,  when  each  were  contending  for 
supremacy,  under  the  most  adverse  circum- 
stances, and  influential  nobility  on  the  other 
side.  I  refer,  Mr.  Clay,  to  the  annals  of  the 
Smithfield  and  Birmingham  Clubs  from  their 
beginning  for  an  endorsement  of  this  fact.  I 
also  refer  him  to  the  report  of  the  "Mark  Lane 
Express"  of  December  loth,  of  this  Christmas 


weigh  as  heavy,  or  realize  as  much  as  $140.  I 
have  bred  more  than  twenty  cows  that  would 
beat  her,  myself,  under  the  same  circumstances, 
and  to  confirm  "my  opinion"  I  sold  to  Mr. 
Bennett,  the  noted  salesman  at  Brighton  (who 
almost  every  dealer  knows),  a  Hereford  cow 
that  weighed  on  the  railroad  scales  at  Albany 
2,313  Ibs.,  and  when  in  Brighton  2,267 
Ibs.;  Mr.  B.  gave  me  $150  cash  for  her;  I 
also  sold  him  a  half-bred  Hereford  and  Short- 
horn cow,  a  very  superior  animal,  she  weighed 
somewhat  lighter,  and  sold  for  less  money.  The 
Hereford  was  milked  once  a  day  until  August 


170 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


1st,  when  she  became  dry.  I  kept  her  on  a 
good  bite  of  grass,  on  a  light  sandy  soil,  as 
long  as  the  grass  lasted,  then  put  her  up  to  feed. 
She  was  economically  fed  (and  not  "stuffed") 
until  the  last  of  March,  when  I  started  to  Bos- 
ton with  her. 

This  was  the  extent  of  her  feeding. 

I  will  now  for  a  finality,  propose  to  meet  Mr. 
Clay's  "challenge"  in  a  fair  way;  I  have  two 
heifer  calves,  "Prudence,"  calved  August  29, 
1856;  "Woodlark,"  calved  September  30,  1856. 
These  are  all  I  have  left  this  season.  They  ran 
with  their  dams  as  long  as  any  grass ;  when  the 
cows  came  to  winter  quarters,  they  were  allowed 


HEREFORD.  SHORTHORN. 

(The  thickness  of  Hereford  and  Shorthorn  roasts  compared. 
Actual  photograph  of  roasts  from  Hereford  and  Short- 
horn bullocks  dressed  at  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show,  1879, 
showed  Hereford  33  1-3  per  cent  thicker  than  the  Short- 
horn.) 

to  suck  their  dams  once  a  day;  about  the  20th 
of  December  they  were  taken  away,  and  now 
live  on  oat  chaff  and  cut  cornstalks,  mixed  with 
about  a  pint  of  oatmeal  each  per  day,  mixed 
with  their  chaff,  one  common  sized  rutabaga 
per  day,  cut  up  between  them  regular,  and  are 
in  growing  store  order,  as  I  do  not  believe  in 
forcing  calves;  as  spring  and  warm  weather 
approaches  I  shall  increase  the  roots,  and  keep 
to  about  the  same  quantity  of  oatmeal.  These 
calves  shall  be  turned  to  grass  in  the  spring, 
until -next  fall,  wjien  I  will  bring  them  with 
me  to  Kentucky,  at  the  National  Show,  place 
them  in  any  honest  Kentucky  grazier's  hands, 
against  any  two  heifer  calves  now  owned  by 
Cassius  M.  Clay,  or  Brutus  J.  Clay,  of  a  similar 
age ;  if  they  have  not  any  exactly  the  same  age, 
a  few  months  difference  imist  be  allowed  for 
accordingly.  The  four  calves  shall  be  weighed 
when  delivered  to  the  receiver,  the  feed  to  be 
weighed  the  whole  year,  and  at  the  end  of  it 
all  four  of  them  again  weighed.  The  following 
year  shall  be  pursued  with  the  same  treatment; 
coming  in  at  three,  again  at  four  years  old. 
They  shall  be  milked  both  seasons,  each  as  long 
as  she  will  hold  out  in  milking  under  the  just 
and  economical  management  of  their  receiver; 
the  butter  regularly  weighed,  and  disposed  of 


by  him,  he  reporting  quality  and  giving  a  just 
account  at  different  times,  as  he  deems  right. 
At  the  end  of  this  trial  they  will  be  five  years 
old;  they  shall  be  fed  for  one  year,  or  two,  as 
agreed  upon,  the  two  heifers  that  make  the  most 
butter  and  most  beef,  for  the  food  consumed, 
to  be  the  winners.  The  quality  of  beef  at  the 
"block"  to  be  taken  into  consideration.  Each 
pair  of  heifers  to  be  charged  with  what  they 
eat,  of  each  kind  of  feed,  all  living  on  the  same, 
and  allowing  them  a  good  and  sufficient 
grazier's  quantity  through  the  whole  trial,  the 
losing  heifers  to  be  forfeited  to  receiver,  to  pay 
expenses.  Pedigrees  of  heifers  to  be  given  at 
the  time  of  delivery.  There  are  plenty  of  men 
in  Kentucky  that  will  act  fairly  between  us. 

One  more  question,  Mr.  Clay,  and  I  have 
done  for  this  time.  Did  you  ever  see  a  "Dur- 
ham," "Shorthorn,"  or  "Teeswater"  with  a 
"long,  silky  coat"  that  you  would  "venture"  as 
a  breeder  to  pronounce  "thoroughbred?"  I  will 
"venture"  to  assert  that  kind  of  coat  is  de- 
scended from  the  Scots.  The  original  " Dur- 
ham s"  have  no  claim  to  it,  or  ever  possessed  it ; 
so  say  all  the  old  breeders  in  England  with 
whom  I  am  acquainted,  and  they  are  not  a  few. 
Most  of  them  speak  from  knowledge  descended 
from  their  ancestors.  Every  effort  "Short- 
horn" men  have  made  to  contradict  this  charge 
has  created  a  stronger  desire  in  me  to  believe 
it  and  that  it  was  bred  into  them  clandestinely. 
I  have  every  reason  to  believe  the  noted  Hub- 
back  was  half  Scotch,  no  "proof"  has  ever  been 
shown  to  the  contrary,  but  the  more  breeders 
try  to  hide  this  plausible  "history"  of  him,  the 
more  likely  to  be  true. 

I  hope  Mr.  Clay's  next  letter  will  contain 
more  practical  teaching,  and  I  heartily  wish 
him  success,  though  we  differ  widely  in 
"opinion." 

I  am,  etc., 

WM.  HY.  SOTHAM. 

WM.  HY.  SOTHAM'S  LETTER  TO  B.  p.  JOHNSON, 

ESQ. 
Secretary  New  York  Agr.  Society. 

Owego,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  15,  1855. 
B.  P.  Johnson,  Esq.: 

Sir :  As  you  have  undertaken  to  write  an  un- 
called-for article  in  your  "New  York  State 
Journal"  of  that  Society,  placing  the  Short- 
horns predominate  in  your  opinion,  in  value, 
weight,  early  maturity,  etc.,  I  think  you  have 
done  great  injustice  to  the  Society.  No  such 
body  has  the  right  to  endorse  the  opinion  of  any 
man,  without  his  producing  the  weight  of  each 
breed  satisfactorily,  and  prices  sold  for  to  the 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


171 


butchers,  also  the  facts  of  their  early  maturity. 
You,  as  editor  of  that  "Journal,"  ought  to  be 
extremely  cautious  how  you  advance  your  opin- 
ion, extolling  any  one  breed  over  another;  it  is 
a  ruinous,  selfish  principle  for  such  a  Society  to 
adopt.  Such  opinions  adopted  by  the  Society 
are  puffs  unfounded,  and  very  injurious  and 
destructive  to  all  connected  with  them. 

The  Hereford  breed  is  the  only  one  that  has 
taken  first  prizes  at  Smithfield  and  Birming- 
ham Shows  at  two  years  old.  They  have  done 
this  three  times,  proof  of  which  you  can  find 
by  referring  to  the  record  of  each  club.  The 
Shorthorns  have  never  won  a  prize  younger  than 
three,  and  if  you  refer  back  to  the  records  you 
will  not  only  find  one  at  that  age;  they  are 
generally  four  and  upwards. 

You  are  the  first  man  who  dare  risk  his  repu- 
tation in  print  that  Shorthorns  are  uniform  in 
quality.  I  will  defy  you  to  refer  me  to  a  just 
breeder  of  Shorthorns  who  will  admit  this. 
They  kuoir  better,  but  prefer  being  silent  on 
the  subject.  It  is  those  who  are  ignorant  of  the 
facts,  and  wish  to  make  themselves  notorious 
who  advance  such  opinions,  and  it  is  by  this 
abominable  system  that  the  Shorthorns  have  ob- 
tained their  assured  notoriety,  and  called  "first 
class." 

Societies,  especially  those  of  the  Empire 
State,  ought  to  be  impartial  and  give  all  breeds 
an  equal  chance.  If  members  of  that  Society 
are  expected  to  look  up  to  its  superior  officers 
for  example  it  is  very  important  that  those  of- 
ficers are  upright  and  just  men. 

Now,  Mr.  Johnson,  I  ask  you  (as  I  know  you 
to  be  an  honest  and  just  man)  whether  you 
know  a  herd  of  Shorthorns  uniform  in  quality? 
No  breed  on  earth  varies  more  in  this  respect. 
I  have  seen  first,  second  and  third  quality  in 
one  herd,  and  that  of  puffed  notoriety.  I  have 
never  seen  a  herd  of  Shorthorns  (and  I  have 
seen  a  great  many,  both  in  England  and  this 
country)  without  two  qualities,  and  those  fre- 
quently of  second  and  third. 

As  you  have  decided  for  the  Society  that 
Shorthorns  are  bcM,  and  Hercfords  are  second, 
it  is  high  time  we  show  outside  the  gate,  and 
challenge  to  show  the  Shorthorns  inside,  as  we 
are  there  forbidden  to  show  by  the  remarks  ad- 
vanced by  the  secretary  of  that  Society,  nor  can 
Herefords  ever  succumb  to  Shorthorns,  when 
we  have  shamefully  beaten  them  in  England 
under  the  most  adverse  circumstances  and  by 
the  best  judges. 

I  send  you  an  extract  from  Mr.  R.  Rowland's 
letter  to  me,  dated  March  13,  1855,  giving 
weights  of  Herefords  and  prices  sold  to  the 
butchers.  When  you  can  honorably  beat  them, 


you  are  at  liberty  to  state  all  the  particulars 
in  your  "Journal." 

Hereford  breeders  challenge  you  to  do  so,  and 
until  you  can  do  so  truthfully  we  shall  consider 
our  breed  triumphant  in  reality. 

Richard  Rowland,  Esq.,  and  successor  to  the 
well-known  Mr.  Westcar,  writes  me  as  follows: 

"I  will  add  the  prices  of  some  of  Mr.  West- 
car's  oxen.  The  weights  I  do  not  know,  ex- 
cept in  a  few  cases.  I  was  an  exhibitor  for 
some  years  after  I  came  here  and  took  three 
prizes  with  Hereford  oxen,  which  weighed  from 
290  to  270  stone,  eight  pounds  to  the  stone — 
these  were  the  four  quarters — [that  means  dead 
weight,  or  4,000  to  3,800  Ibs.  live  weight,  T.  L. 
M.],  and  that  is  about  the  weight  Mr.  Westcar's 
large  oxen  reached.  I  have  shown  for  many 
years,  but  have  now"  left  off.  Shorthorn  men 
in  the  aristocracy  always  ruled  at  Smithfield, 
and  Hereford  feeders  are  very  tenacious  of  feed- 
ing there  on  that  account,  but  the  prize  Short- 
horns that  win  there  (as  you  have  seen)  go  to 
Birmingham,  and  get  fairly  beaten  by  Here- 
fords where  no  favor  is  shown  to  breeds  of  any 
kind;  they  are  there  governed  by  true  merit." 

Now,  Mr.  Johnson,  if  you  will  give  a  prize 
for  the  six  heaviest  breeding  cows  of  any  breed 
from  one  breeder,  fed  on  hay,  roots  and  pasture 
only,  I  will  be  an  exhibitor  for  that  prize;  the 
scales  will 
then  be  the 
only  judge 
wanted.  I 
will  also  show 
the  same  six 
cows  for  qual- 
ity— also  for 
butter,  sepa- 
rately. Now, 
sir,  you  have  a 
chance  of 
proving  all 
you  have  said 
so  highly  fa- 
vorable  to 
Shorthorns  JOHN  D.  GILLETTE,  ELKHART,  ILL. 

and  you  must 

admit  that  the  course  you  have  taken  in  puffing 
them  in  our  "State  Journal"  will  tend  to  bring 
the  Society  into  disrepute.  Every  judge  the  So- 
ciety selects  reads  these  puffs  and  many  of  them 
are  much  guided  by  them  in  their  decisions. 

Your  remarks  on  Mr.  L.  C.  Morris's  bulls, 
Balco  and  Marquis  of  Carabus,  extolling  both 
bulls  to  the  highest  pitch  of  eminence  (in  your 
opinion )  in  the  State  Society's  "Journal,"  a  pa- 
per destined  to  be  the  organ  of  the  Society,  is 
also  very  ruinous.  Both  these  bulls  were,  in 


172 


HISTOKY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


the  opinion  of  the  Secretary,  "hard  animals  to 
beat,"  both  were  equally  praised  for  their  vari- 
ous good  qualities.  While  Balco  was  an  excel- 
lent first-class  animal,  and  the  Marquis  of  Cara- 
bus  a  very  inferior  second-class — very  flabby 
flesh  and  very  thin  skin — this,  every  man  who 
is  really  a  judge  of  cattle,  will  admit. 

Some  time  before  this,  I  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
Secretary,  condemning  Mr.  Rotch's  "points  of 
excellence,"  showing  the  Society  the  fallacy  of 
countenancing  such  stuff,  and  told  them  it  was 
a  direct  insult  to  good  judges.  These  letters 
were  then  read  to  the  ex-committee,  and  then 


IT  126 

FOUR-YEAR-OLD.  THREE-YEAR-OLD. 

(Ages  of  cattle  compared   by  teeth.) 

"laid  upon  the  table,"  which  was  the  last  of 
them.  The  influence  of  Shorthorn  men  pro- 
hibited anything  of  this  kind  from  having  its 
proper  force. 

With  the  above  letter  I  gave  the  following 
memorandum  of  the  price  of  twenty  fat  oxen 
sold  by  the  late  Mr.  Westcar,  Bucks,  England, 
taken  from  his  books  by  his  nephew,  Richard 
Rowland,  Esq. 

Sold  in  Fleet  Market,  London: 

Dec.  16,  1800,  2  oxen  to  Chapman £200 

Dec.     4,  1800,  1  ox  to  Chapman 147 

Dec.  15,  1800,  1  ox  to  Harrington 100 

Nov.  26,  1801,  6  oxen  to  Giblett  &  Co. .  .   630 

Dec.  31,  1801,  1  ox  to  Chapman 126 

Dec.  31,  1801,  2  oxen  to  Harwood: 200 

Dec.     4,  1803,  1  ox  to  Chapman   100 

Dec.  19,  1803,  1  ox  to  Reynolds 105 

Dec.  19,  1803,  1  ox  to  Giblett 105 

Dec.     5,  1804,  1  ox  to  Giblett 105 

Dec.     4,  1805,  1  ox  to  Giblett 100 

Nov.  28,  1811,  1  ox  to  Chandler   105 


£2123 

Averaging  £106  3s,  or  $513.04  each. 
These  proofs  were  entirely  unnoticed — and 
there  has  been  a  time  since  when  you  could 
scarcely  pick  up  a  New  York  State  agricultural 
journal  that  did  not  contain  a  puff  for  Short- 
horn cattle.  I  ask  the  members  of  the  Society 


whether  this  is  right?  I  have  not  shown  an 
animal  at  our  State  Society  Show,  except  at 
Elmyra,  where  I  was  bound  to  sustain  our 
southern  tier  of  counties,  and  which  will  ulti- 
mately show  what  they  can  really  accomplish 
when  put  to  the  test.  , 

When  I  found  the  Secretary  of  the  Society 
would  not  publish  my  letters  I  wrote  to  the 
President,  whose  letter  I  have  now,  and  will 
probably  appear  at  some  future  time.  I  asked 
him  why  my  letters  could  not  be  published  in 
the  "Journal."  He  said  nothing  could  appear 
there  unless  connected  with  the  Society.  I  did 
not  see  why  my  opinion  on  cattle,  as  a  member, 
had  not  as  much  right  in  that  "Journal"  as  that 
of  the  Secretary,  and  I  thought  that  "the  anti- 
dote ought  to  go  with  the  poison."  "But  no !" 
all  was  of  no  avail,  and  here  it  ended.  I  ask 
my  readers  to  look  at  this  in  its  true  light,  for 
the  next  "Quarterly"  may  bring  something  more 
for  the  members  to  investigate. 

WM.  HY.  SOTHAM. 

PEDIGREE. 

My  idea  of  pedigree  is  to  refer' back  to  those 
breeders  who  have  universally  bred  first-class 
cattle.  Uniform  in  quality,  symmetry  and  size, 
more  especially  the  two  former.  If  like  ^  pro- 
duces like,  of  which  I  have  no  doubt,  when  the 
breeder  understands  his  business,  is  sufficiently 
versed  in  the  three  distinct  qualities,  and  never 
allows  a  second  or  third-class  beast  to  enter  his 
herd.  From  this  process  and  care  in  breeding 
spring  all  genuine  herds.  If  a  breeder  has 
gained  just  celebrity  in  breeding  uniformly 
best  animals,  long  ago,  and  the  offspring  of 
that  breeder  follow  his  example,  inheriting  the 
true  judgment  of  their  sire,  and  never  deviate 
from  the  true  course  laid  down  to  them,  such 
animals  (fan  be  perpetuated.  From  such  a  par- 
ent tree  branches  extend  their  influence,  the 
old  stock  is  genuine,  many  of  the  branches  are 
genuine,  while  others  should  have  been  cast  off 
and  committed  to  the  flames  before  it  had  con- 
taminated the  original  and  substantial  stand- 
ard. 

A  pedigree  from  the  old  stock,  conveyed 
through  the  best  branches,  where  no  dark  stain 
has  entered,  and  where  sober  thoughtfulness  has 
perpetrated  that  true  delineation  of  character, 
in  a  long  continuance  of  good,  uniform  breed- 
ing, is  worth  much,  and  such  pedigrees  only 
should  be  recorded  in  a  Herd  Book.  I  contend 
that  the  composer  of  that  book  should  know, 
before  he  enters  an  animal  in  its  pages,  whether 
it  inherits  quality  and  symmetry;  if  not,  it 
cannot  be  genuine.  The  principal  point  in  a 
herd  is  uniformity  of  first  quality,  and  should 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


that  herd  possess  first,  second  and  third,  does  it 
deserve  recording  in  the  Herd  Book?  I  de- 
cidedly say  no.  Such  a  herd  ought  not  to  be 
countenanced  by  judge  or  breeder,  and  how 
many  coarse  third-class  and  flabby  second-class 
bulls  there  are  in  the  Shorthorn  Herd  Book, 
with  long  pedigrees.  There  is  no  class  of  cattle 
in  the  world  so  uneven  in  this  important  par- 
ticular; therefore,  what  good  is  their  pedigree, 
which  is  intended  to  perpetuate  uniformity  in 
good  qualities  ?  The  Herefords  and  Devons  are 
generally  uniform  in  first  quality,  if  descended 
from  proper  breeders. 

It  is  no  criterion  that  a  man  is  a  genuine 
breeder  because  his  name  is  puffed  in  almost 
every  paper  by  editors  and  their  puffers.  I 
would  rather  risk  a  pedigree  from  a  man  whose 
name  is  scarcely  known  at  all.  A  good  judge 
can  seldom  be  deceived  in  the  true  points  of  an 
animal.  And  in  these  exciting  times  a  large, 
coarse  Shorthorn  bull  in  second  or  third  class, 
with  a  long  pedigree,  is  a  curse  to  buyer,  seller 
and  the  country. 

The  late  Mr.  Bates,  for  instance,  was  puffed 
as  a  breeder  in  the  most  extravagant  manner; 
and  whose  herd  can  show  more  unevenness  than 
his?  He  has  sent  to  this  country  more  coarse 
second  and  third-class  bulls  than  any  other 
breeder.  His  name  and  pedigree  have  created 
a  mania  which  I  feel  much  inclined  to  say  is 
bordering  much  on  lunacy.  And  as  I  am  bound 
to  tell  the  truth,  I  think  a  pedigree  from  such 
exciting  causes,  descended  from  such  bulls  as 
the  late  Mr.  Bates',  are  worthless.  I  would 
much,  rather  trust  my  hand  and  eye,  guided  by 
sober  judgment,  than  such  pedigrees,  for  there 
must  be  something  wrong  in  a  herd  possessing 
three  qualities. 

I  think  a  pedigree  from  a  man  who  advocates 
in-and-in  breeding  ought  to  be  avoided.  I  have 
tried  this  ruinous  experiment  to  my  own  satis- 
faction, and  when  I  come  to  a  "deadlock/'  as 
many  breeders  have,  I  will  mix  with  another 
breed  of  cattle  where  I  shall  not  lose  my  quality 
rather  than  engender  disease. 

W.  H.  S. 

I  owe  an  apology  to  my  readers  for  the  hur- 
ried way  in  which  this  paper  is  got  up.  The 
next  quarterly  will  explain  all. 

(END  OF  PAPER.) 

After  Mr.  Sotham's  dissolution  of  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  Corning  he  moved  to  Black  Rock, 
near  Buffalo,  N".  Y.,  and  from  thence  to  Gen- 
esee  Flats  and  to  Owego,  and  finally  to  Islip, 
Long  Island,  all  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
continuing  to  breed  Herefords. 

In  1850  Mr.  John  Humphries  and  Mr.  Aston 


of  Elyria,  Ohio,  imported  the  Hereford  bull 
John  Bull  (3885)  E.  H.  B.  and  464  of  the 
American  Hereford  Record,  bred  by  Mr.  E. 
Price  of  Pembridge,  Herefordshire,  Eng.,  by 
Goldfmder  2d  (959)  474,  bred  by  John  Perry, 
Macho warne;  by  Wichend  (1118)  486,  bred  by 
Mr.  Perry;  by  Monkland  3d  (1012)  498,  bred 
by  Mr.  Perry;  by  Monkland  (552)  504,  bred 
by  Mr.  W.  Perry  of  Cholstry;  by  Lion  (335) 
519,  bred  by  Mr.  W.  Perry;  by  a  bull  of  Mr. 
Jeffries;  and  on  his  dam's  side  tracing  to  Sir 
David  (349)  68.  Mr.  Humphries  also  imported 
Victoria  478,  bred  by  Mr.  Bowen  of  Markland, 
Leominster,  tracing  to  Old  Court  (306)  60. 

T.  Aston  imported  the  cow  Duchess  15,  bred 
by  Mr.  Bowen  of  Markland.  For  continuance 
of  her  breeding  see  Vol.  1  of  the  Herd  Book. 
Also  imported  Curly  (801)  14,  bred  by  Mr.  T. 
Roberts,  Ivingtonbury,  Leominster,  Eng.,  trac- 
ing directly  to  the  stock  of  Mr.  Benj.  Tomkins. 
From  these  herds  H.  and  N.  Abbie  of  Elyria, 
H.  Chappel,  Thos.  Clark,  Thomas  Cox,  A. 
Dyke,  H.  S.  Kline,  N.  G.  Porter,  William  Rich- 
ardson, H.  T.  Smith,  W.  W.  Aldrich  and  G.  W. 
Byers,  all  of  Ohio,  had  stock  from  the  produce 
of  these  importations. 

Mr.  Frederick  William  Stone  of  Guelph,  Can., 


"SEVENTEEN"    SHORTHORN   STEER,    McMULLIN. 

(Champion  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show,   1881-2,   bred  by  John 

D.  Gillette.) 

imported  in  1860  or  1861  quite  a  number  of 
Hereford  cattle,  (fl  79-80-81)  Among  the  bulls 
imported  by  Mr.  Stone  was  Sailor  (2200)  12, 
by  Severn  (1382)  24,  and  he  by  Walford  (871) 
47.  (fl  82)  Mr.  Stone's  importation  was  large- 
ly of  Lord  Berwick's  herd  of  Shropshire,  and 
Lord  Bateman's  of  Shobdon,  Leominster,  Eng. 
Mr.  Stone  also  bred  Shorthorns,  and  while  the 
Herefords  were  his  favorites,  having  both 
breeds,  he  was  not  a  decided  advocate  of  one 
more  than  another,  but  distributed  much  very 
valuable  Hereford  blood. 


HISTOBY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Mr.  Taft  of  Williston,  Vt.,  writing  to  the 
"Breeder's  Journal,"  August  7,  1882,  says: 

"The  Albany  'Cultivator'  in  August/  1846, 
contained  the  following  notice  of  some  Here- 
fords  that  were  brought  to  this  town: 

"  'Rev.  L.  G.  Bingham  of  Williston,  Vt.,  has 
lately  purchased  of  Messrs.  Corning  and  So- 
tham  some  fine  Hereford  cattle.  The  lot  con- 
sisted of  the  imported  cow  "Aston  Beauty/' 
two  }rearling  heifers,  a  yearling  bull  and  heifer 
calf.  They  were  animals  of  excellent  qualities, 
and  we  think  will  prove  particularly  valuable 
to  that  section  of  the  country.  Their  vigorous 
constitutions  will  adapt  them  to  the  climate, 
and  on  the  sweet  pastures  of  the  hills  and  moun- 
tains they  will  easily  and  quickly  thrive  and 
fatten,  while  in  any  fair  trials  in  the  yoke  or 
for  the  production  of  butter  they  will  not  be 
'found  wanting.' 


MR,    J.     H.     ARKWRIGHT,    HAMPTON     COURT,     HERE- 
FORDSHIRE,   ENG. 

"The  cattle  more  than  justified  all  that  was 
said  of  them  in  the  above  extract.  They  pro- 
duced splendid  oxen,  were  not  wanting  in  the 
production  of  butter,  and  one  of  the  best 
drovers  in  the  Boston  cattle  market  told  me  he 
was  never  cheated  by  buying  a  Hereford  'in  the 
lump/  But  the  man  who  brought  the  cattle 
here  failed  in  his  extensive  enterprises  and  left 
the  State,  and  they  were  not  bred  after  that; 
but  the  grades  were  here  and  traces  of  the 
blood,  with  its  excellent  characteristics,  re- 
mained in  this  vicinity  until  lately.  There  is 


now  but  one  full-blooded  Hereford  in  Vermont, 
'High  Chief  2d/  recorded  in  the  English  Here- 
ford Herd  Book  No.  5966,  bred  by  Mr.  Hawes 
in  Maine,  and  now  owned  by  me ;  and  there  are 
very  few  in  New  England. 

"Yours  truly, 

"R.  S.  TAFT." 

Commenting  on  which,  the  editor  of  the 
"Journal"  says : 

"There  are  quite  a  number  of  Hereford s  in 
Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut  which  we  know  of.  A  herd  was 
started  in  Oxford,  Me.,  by  Mr.  Holmes." — Ed. 

THE  RUST  OR  SYRACUSE  Ox  created  a  sensa- 
tion in  his  day,  being  proven  by  Mr.  Sot  ham 
and  others  to  have  Hereford  blood.  This  ox 
was  owned  and  fed  by  Mr.  N.  P.  Rust,  Syra- 
cuse, to  whom  was  awarded  the  first  premium 
of  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society  for 
the  best  fat  animal  exhibited  at  the  Albany  Fair, 
in  1842.  This  ox  was  eight  years  old;  his  live 
weight  February  19,  1841,  2,360  pounds;  on 
the  18th  of  July,  1842,  it  was  3,400  pounds, 
and  when  exhibited  at  the  State  Fair  in  Albany 
September  28,  1842,  it  is  said  to  have  weighed 
4,200  pounds,  which  would  be  a  gain  of  three 
pounds  per  day  for  nineteen  months.  At  this 
weight  he  retained  his  activity  and  appetite, 
and  continued  to  take  on  flesh  as  fast  as  ever. 
If  it  is  said  that  the  weights  and  gains  are  too 
large,  we  have  only  to  say  that  they  are  given 
by  Shorthorn  men,  when  claimed  by  them  as  a 
Shorthorn  grade.  Mr.  Rust  made  a  certificate 
as  to  the  feeding  of  his  ox,  as  follows : 

He  has  been  fed  nineteen  months  on  corn- 
meal,  from  twelve  to  sixteen  quarts  a  day,  and 
during  the  winter  he  was  fed  a  bushel  of  pota- 
toes or  rutabagas  each  day.  During  the  sum- 
mer he  was  fed  four  quarts  of  oil  meal  in  addi- 
tion to  his  cornmeal.  Mr.  Sanford  Howard, 
one  of  the  careful,  practical,  painstaking  writers 
of  that  time,  gave  his  opinion  that  the  ox  owed 
his  excellence  to  Hereford  blood  and  was  a 
typical  Hereford. 

(U  84)  CONTEMPORARY  WITH  THE  RUST  Ox, 
a  gigantic  Hereford  ox  was  being  exhibited  in 
England, of  which  the  following  account  sve  find 
in  the  "Chamber  of  Agriculture  Journal"  of 
November  14,  1881.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  the  English  ton  is  2,240  pounds,  which 
would  make  the  steer  the  immense  weight  of 
4,480  pounds: 

"The  records  of  Hereford  cattle  are  not  de- 
void of  information  respecting  gigantic  oxen. 
Some  forty-five  years  ago  one  animal  gained 
some  notoriety  by  the  name  of  'Wettleton  Ox/ 
on  account  of  his  immense  scale,  deep  flesh  and 
wonderful  symmetry.  The  ox  was  exhibited  upon 


HISTORY     OP    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


175 


Ludlow  race  course,  and  also  at  many  of  the 
principal  towns  in  England.  To  give  some  idea 
of  his  immense  size  we  quote  an  old  poster  call- 
ing attention  to  the  animal  when  it  was  ex- 
hibited in  Ludlow  race  course.  It  is  as  follows : 
'Stupendous  Ox.  Now  Exhibited  on  this  race 
course.  The  celebrated  Wettleton  Ox,  bred  and 
fed  by  Mr.  Sheppard  of  Wettleton,  the  proprie- 
tor. He  is  of  the  pure  Hereford  breed,  stands 
eighteen  hands  high,  girts  twelve  feet,  three 
feet  six  inches  over  the  first  rib ;  three  feet  three 
inches  across  the  hips,  and  weighs  upwards  of 
two  tons  (4,480  pounds).'  At  that  period  the 
exhibition  of  the  ox  created  great  attention,  and 
no  animal  approaching  it  in  scale  has  ever  be- 
fore been  exhibited  in  that  part  of  the  king- 
dom." 

Mr.  Sotham  never  lost  interest  in  the  Here- 
fords  even  after  he  had  given  up  breeding. 

Writing  to  the  "National  Live  Stock  Jour- 
nal," May  12th,  1871,  Mr.  Sotham  says,  under 
the  caption  of 

"lIEREFORDS    VS.    SHORTHORNS." 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "Journal"  : 

Much  has  been  said  in  comparison  of  Ilere- 
fcrds  with  Shorthorns,  and  much  more  can  be 
said;  and  as  the  Herefords  are  but  little  known 


in  the  West  1  think  it  only  fair  to  bring  their 
true  merits  before  the  people,  and  as  I  do  not 
own  a  single  animal  of  the  breed  I  cannot  now 
be  accused  of  interested  motives.  Much  has 
been  said  in  favor  of  Shorthorns,  and  extraor- 
dinary prices  have  been  published  to  the  world, 
given  by  men  of  money,  for  none  other  could 
purchase  them.  There  are  but  few  men  capable 
of  breeding  Shorthorns,  and  all  who  know  any- 
thing about  them  are  aware  that  they  are  a 
made-up  breed,  hence  their  want  of  unity  in 
breeding.  Tell  me,  ye  Duchess  men,  ye  follow- 
ers of  Bates,  did  you  ever  see  uniformity  of 
breeding  in  the  herd  of  Thomas  Bates  ?  A  more 
uneven  herd  I  never  beheld,  either  at  home  in 
their  glory,  with  their  admirers  around  them,  or 
divided  in  America  by  those  gentlemen  who 
strongly  advocate  the  Duchess  tribe  of  Bates' 
breeding  of  thin  skins  and  soft  handling.  What 
is  more  remarkable,  these  advocates  both  in 
England  and  this  country  were  generally  men 
who  knew  nothing  about  breeding ;  were  literary 
men  who  had  acquired  a  fortune  by  some  lucra- 
tive business,  became  possessed  of  it  by  heir- 
ship,  or  leaped  into  it  by  some  "lucky"  specu- 
lation. These  men  gave  high  prices  because 
they  had  the  money,  not  because  they  had  the 
judgment  to  select  for  themselves;  because  the 


THE   RIGHT  HON.   EARL  OF  COVENTRY,   CROOME   COURT,    WORCESTERSHIRE.- 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


Duchess  stock  had  become  fashionable  in  Amer- 
ica, and  men  who  did  not  know  their  true  value 
paid  fabulous  prices  for  them.  Still,  they  soon 
began  to  find  out  that  it  cost  more  to  keep  up 
appearances  than  the  animals  could  realize,  and 
they  retired  from  the  Duchess  contest  as  soon 
as  propriety  would  allow,  or  with  as  little  injury 
to  the  cause  as  possible — Morris  &  Becar  retired 
in  favor  of  Thorn, — Thorn  retired  in  favor  of 
Sheldon, — Sheldon  retired  in  favor  of  Walcott 
&  Campbell — all  Duchess  men.  Vail  retired 
from  a  Duchess  to  a  Devon  breeder.  Lewis  F. 
Allen,  author  of  "American  Shorthorn  Herd 
Book,"  followed  Mr.  Vail's  example  and  went 


MR.    S.    W.    URWICK,    HEREFORD,    ENG. 

(For    twenty    years    Secretary    of    the    English    Herd    Book 

Society.) 

from  Duchess  to  Devon.  After  spending  much 
more  than  he  got  from  them  in  hawking  them 
about  from  place  to  place  with  nattering  adver- 
tisements he  finally  disposed  of  the  tail-end  in 
Illinois,  after  a  winter's  feeding  on  corn  to  lay 
on  the  flesh.  He  flew  to  Devons  for  relief.  Then 
came  Stevens  in  literary  force,  with  arguments 
strong  in  favor  of  Sherwood  and  himself.  They 
imported  freely  from  Bates.  What  became  of 
them,  all  know.  Then  came  Chapman,  with 
all  his  Duchesses,  full  of  puffs,  portraits  and 
pedigrees.  This  ended  in  smoke,  with  Halton 
at  the  head  of  the  herd,  who  sold  at  the  sale 
for  about  what  his  owner  advertised  as  the  price 


of  a  cow.  Then  came  Page,  with  his  flattering 
portraits  macje  of  straight  lines  as  if  all  done 
with  a  ruler,  accompanied  with  constant  puffs 
of  the  Duchess  tribe.  But  where  are  Mr.  Page's 
Shorthorns  ?  They  can  be  mainly  seen  on  paper 
and  there  he  gets  his  profit.  Flattery  is  not 
lost  upon  his  admirers,  and  these  pictures 
please  fancy  men  of  money,  and  attract  novices 
by  their  sameness  in  straight  lines.  I  could 
enumerate  others  to  the  end  of  a  very  long  cli«i>- 
ter,  but  space  in  the  "Journal"  is  too  valuable. 
Let  me  ask  the  Duchess  men  the  cause  of  all 
this?  Because,  in  another  communication,  and 
at  a  more  convenient  season,  I  shall  show  that 
Bates  could  not  be  compared  to  Booth  in  breed- 
ing Shorthorns,  and  I  shall  endeavor  to  show 
that  Shorthorns  well  bred  by  scientific  breeders, 
such  as  Booth  and  his  true  followers,  are  equal 
to  any  cattle  in  existence.  Notwithstanding 
this,  Hereford  breeders  have  pursued  the  even 
tenor  of  their  ways,  bred  some  very  superior 
animals  and  have  won  more  prizes  than  Short- 
horns at  the  Smithfield  and  Birmingham  shows 
in  England,  more  especially  when  they  have 
come  in  competition  with  each  other.  The  Here- 
fords,  being  a  race,  they  breed  more  uniformly, 
and  the  breeders,  not  being  led  away  by  ficti- 
tious prices  or  sham  auctions,  as  the  Shorthorn 
breeders  in  England  and  this  country  were,  they 
stick  to  good  breeding,  and,  being  content  with 
reasonably  remunerative  prices,  made  money 
and  extended  the  breed  all  over  England,  Wales 
and  Australia;  and  now  the  West  Indies  and 
Scotland  are  beginning  to  encourage  them  and 
they  are  increasing  strongly  among  the  farmers 
of  Ireland.  You  seldom  hear  of  sales  of  Here- 
fords  where  they  are  thoroughly  known,  be- 
cause the  demand  at  home,  at  reasonable  and 
remunerative  prices,  is  greater  than  the  supply ; 
while  Shorthorn  breeders,  waiting  for  their 
extraordinary  prices,  look  in  vain  for  moneyed 
men,  who  are  a  long  way  between,  but  who  pay 
well  to  have  their  name  conspicuous  in  print, 
injure  the  Shorthorn  cause  by  bidding  far  be- 
yond the  value,  vainly  seeking  that  fame  which 
can  only  be  realized  by  fancy  men  with  money. 

As  the  Shorthorns  have  many  strong  advo- 
cates among  these  men  of  money,  let  me  show 
you  what  Herefords  have  done  against  their 
strong  influences,  you  have  seldom  heard  of  a 
Hereford  sale,  unless  when  the  head  of  the  fam- 
ily had  gone  to  his  last  home  and  his  estate  had 
to  be  divided;  while  the  Shorthorn  sales  are 
everlastingly  in  print,  under  the  sheriff  or,  to 
attract  novices,  with  under-bidders  to  spur  them 
on,  aided  by  strong  and  frequent  drinks,  to  keep 
up  notoriety.  This  cannot  be  denied. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  Smithfield  shows, 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


177 


when  Shorthorns  and  Herefords  contended 
against  each  other,  the  Herefords  almost  in- 
variably took  the  first  prizes.  Mr.  Westcar  of 
Creslow,  Buckinghamshire,  took  the  first  prize 
with  a  Hereford  twenty  years  in  succession,  but 
subsequently  retired  from  the  contest,  disgusted 
with  the  trickery  of  Shorthorn  breeders  who, 
at  length,  insisted  that  Hereford's  and  Short- 
horns should  be  put  in  separate  classes — because 
repeated  failures  drove  them  to  it.  Notwith- 
standing this,  the  Herefords  took  more  prizes 
in  steers  and  oxen  from  that  alteration  than 
Shorthorns,  while  the  cow  class  in  Shorthorns 
took  the  majority  of  prizes  because  Hereford 
breeders  would  not  sacrifice  their  best  animals 
for  that  purpose.  Shorthorn  breeders  forced 
their  females  from  birth  for  show  and  appear- 
ance, thus  producing  barrenness,  hence  their 
show  cows  for  the  gold  medal.  This  being  fash- 
ionable, a  large  majority  of  Shorthorn  cows 
over  Hereford  could  always  be  found  in  the 
show  yard,  enabling  them  to  win  more  gold 
medals  under  the  forcing  system. 

Again,  Shorthorn  breeders  were  constantly 
boasting  of  early  maturity  over  Herefords,  un- 
til they  were  obliged  to  succumb.  In  1862  Mr. 
Heath  won  the  gold  medal  with  a  Hereford 
steer  two  years  old,  while  there  were  thirteen 
Shorthorns  from  three  to  five  years  old  in  the 
same  class.  Soon  after  this,  I  believe  in  1854, 
Mr.  Shirley  showed  another  two-year-old  Here- 
ford, winning  the  gold  medal  under  precisely 
the  same  circumstances.  The  following  year 
he  did  the  same.  I  may  be  mistaken  in  the 
years  of  Mr.  Shirley's  triumphs,  but  these  are 
facts  that  cannot  be  denied,  for  they  are  on 
record,  and  they  silenced  the  traducers  of  Here- 
fords, and  you  heard  of  no  more  bragging  in 
print  of  the  early  maturity  of  Shorthorns.  Even 
Allen,  Stevens,  Tucker  and  Tom  Brown  had  to 
knock  under  and  fly  to  some  other  plea  for 
Shorthorns. 

Then  the  great  milking  qualities  were 
brought  before  the  public.  A  prize  was  given 
for  that  quality  at  the  Royal  Show  at  Oxford, 
in  1839,  open  to  all  England  and  all  breeds. 
There  was  great  competition,  Shorthorns  pre- 
dominating. Mr.  J.  R.  Smythies'  Hereford  cow 
took  first  prize  for  the  best  milker,  a  Shorthorn 
second.  This  prize  was  discarded  afterward, 
because  Shorthorn  men  had  control  and  they 
feared  a  repetition.  This  somewhat  silenced 
the  bragging  for  milking  Shorthorns  and  en- 
couraged the  dairy  men  in  favor  of  Herefords. 
Mr.  Smythies,  in  a  communication  to  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express,"  February  5,  1849,  discussing 
the  merits  of  Herefords  as  milkers,  says:  "I 
have  seen  Hereford  cows  milk  well,  and  had  one 


myself  which  made  eleven  pounds  of  butter  per 
week  for  three  months;"  but  he  observes  that 
"beef  is  much  more  profitable  than  butter  in 
this  section,  and  on  that  account  it  is  not  an 
object  with  Hereford  breeders  to  have  good 
milkers."  This  is  undoubtedly  the  fact,  and 
it  explains  why  Hereford  breeders  have  not  paid 
more  attention  to  the  milking  properties  of 
their  cattle.  Mr.  Duckham  (fl  83),  in  his  lec- 
ture, says  of  Herefords :  "In  the  dairy  counties, 
where  the  milking  qualities  of  the  cow  are  well 
atfended  to,  the  most  satisfactory  results  are 
realized."  He  quotes  from  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Reed,  to  whose  experience  with  the  Herefords 
as  workers  reference  had  been  made,  the  state- 
ment, "that  they  have  been  used  for  dairy  pur- 
poses for  nearly  half  a  century  upon  the  farm 
and  that  he  believes  they  yield  a  larger  return 
than  could  be  obtained  from  any  other  breed 
upon  a  similar  class  of  land."  Mr.  Duckham 
also  quotes  from  a  letter  of  Mr.  James  of  Map- 
powder,.  Dorsetshire,  whose  dairy  herd  of  Here- 
fords has  been  formed  thirty  years.  He  states 
that  the  stock  has  been  much  improved  since 
he  obtained  it,  and  that  Hereford  dairies  are 
becoming  very  common  in  that  country.  He 
adds :  "In  proof  that  they  are  good  for  milk, 
we  let  near  a  hundred  cows  to  dairy  people, 
and  if  I  buy  one  of  any  other  breed  to  fill  up 


MR.    J.    H.    ARKWRIGHT. 

(First  President  of  the  English  Herd  Book  Society;    on  his 
favorite   hunter,    "Bagpipes.") 

the  dairy  they  always  grumble  and  would 
rather  have  one  of  our. own  bred  heifers.  We 
let  our  cows  at  so  much  a  year,  finding  land 
and  making  the  hay."  Mr.  D.  also  quotes  from 
a  Cornwall  correspondent,  who  says  that  accord- 
ing to  his  experience  "the  Herefords  are  good 
milkers  and  he  is  convinced  that  when  the  cows 
are  deficient  in  their  yield  of  milk  it  does  not 
arise  from  any  constitutional  defect,  but  rather 
from  mismanagement  in  rearing,  or  a  deficiency 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


of  the  constituents  essential  to  the  production 
of  milk  in  their  food.  My  cow  Patience,"  he 
continues,  "bred  by  Mr.  J.  Y.  Cook,  Moreton 
House,  Hereford,  has  this  summer  given  four- 
teen pounds  of  butter  per  week,  and  Blossom, 
bred  by  the  late  Mr.  Longmore,  Salop,  gave 
twenty-two  quarts  of  milk,  yielding  two  and  one- 
half  pounds  of  butter  per  day,  equal  to  seven- 
teen and  one-half  pounds  of  butter  per  week." 
The  same  correspondent  says:  "I  consider  the 


Herefords  are  particularly  adapted  to  this 
humid,  fickle  climate,  where  Devons  become 
small  and  delicate  and  Shorthorns  grow  long 
and  coarse."  This  statement  of  butter,  seven- 
teen and  one-half  pounds,  is  somewhat  extraor- 
dinary, but  I  know  Mr.  Duckham  to  be  a  gentle- 
man of  veracity,  who  would  not  state  anything 
to  the  public  but  what  he  knows  to  be  true. 

WM.  H.  SOTHAM. 
Detroit,  Nov.  20,  1870. 


C.   M.   CULBERTSON,  NEWMAN,  ILL. 
(First  President  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Asso- 
ciation-.) 


179 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


MR.  WM.  H.  SOTHAM'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  HEREFORDS 


We  have  quoted  from  the  standard  publica- 
tions of  the  day  the  early  correspondence  of 
Mr.  W.  H.  Sotham  and  his  opponents  to  show 
his  and  their  methods.  We  have  proven  beyond 
doubt  that  the  Herefords  were  during  all  this 
time  the  thriftiest  graziers  and  the  most  eco- 
nomical producers  of  the  best  beef  of  all  the 
British  breeds.  Before  taking  up  the  later  his- 
tory of  the  Herefords  we  feel  it  but  justly  his 
due  to  more  fully  present  a  history  of  Mr.  So- 
tham's  connection  with  the  breed.  Mr.  Sotham 
fought  a  good  fight,  actuated  by  the  highest 
motives ;  his  was  a  practical  mind  thatj  looking 
through  the  fog  of  fashion,  fad,  prejudice  and 
self-interest,  saw  nothing  but  the  beef-making 
qualities  of  beef-bred  animals.  Prime  beef  at 
minimum  cost  was  to  Mr.  Sotham  the  desidera- 
tum in  cattle,  and  no  animal  had  value  in  his 
eyes  that  did  not  meet  the  requirements  of  our 
motto :  "Economy  of  production  and  value  of 
product."  It  is  given  to  few  men  to  have  such 
a  rich  and  varied  experience.  His  sterling  hon- 
esty and  love  of  truth  added  to  this  experience 
founded  a  character  that  could  not  patiently 
brook  opposition  based  on  inexperience,  subter- 
fuge, mediocrity  and  self-interest. 

Mr.  Sotham  gave  his  life-work  to  the  Here- 
ford breed  of  cattle,  without  at  any  time  much 
hope  of  financial  reward.  He  came  naturally 
to  look  upon  the  Hereford  breed  as  a  ward  un- 
der his  'fostering  protection,  and  upon  their 
thrift  and  perfect  quality  as  inherent  good  traits 
of  faithful  adopted  children.  And  undaunted 
by  vicious  opposition  he  continued  his  cham- 
pionship half  a  century,  till,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
eighty-three,  he  died  in  1884  at  Chicago. 

We  quote  herewith  as  a  suitable  place  for  its 
preservation,  from  Mr.  Sotham's  own  pen  with- 
out comment  his  "History  of  the  Herefords," 
written  for  the  "Chicago  Drover's  Journal"  in 
1881,  two  years  before  his  death. 

PART  I. 

Stonington  Park,  111.,  Oct.  2. — Referring  to 
the  stock  on  exhibition  at  the  recent  New  York 


State  Fair,  the  "Country  Gentleman"  of  the  23d 
of  September  says :  "The  twenty-six  Herefords 
are  owned  by  two  exhibitors,  Erastus  Corning 
of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  Burleigh  and  Bodwell  of 
Fairfield  Centre,  Me.  Mr.  Coming's  cattle  were 
all  bred  by  himself  with  the  exception  of  one 
imported  bull,  Comus  (4457)  6665,  and  it  is 
complimentary  to  the  skillful  management  un- 
der which  this  well-known  herd  has  always  been 
conducted  that  it  defeated  the  Maine  white- 
faces,  including,  as  they  did,  a  number  of  cattle 
recently  brought  over  and  regarded  as  among 
the  best  in  England.  The  Hereford  show,  all 
things  considered,  was  certainly  the  best  for 
years." 

I  think  this  pretty  good  proof  of  what  I  told 
more  than  once,  that  the  Herefords  were  as  good 
when  I  imported  them  to  the  United  States  as 
they  are  now.  In  18^9  I  bought  the  first-prize 
cow  at  Oxford  Royal  Agricultural  Show.  The 
bull,  cow  and  offspring  that  took  first  prize  at 
Tredegar  and  Cirencester,  England,  and  several 
others  about  as  good  in  my  first  importation. 
Mr.  Erastus  Corning,  Jr.,  has  only  brought  one 
female  into  this  herd  since  we  first  imported 
them,  and  she  never  bred — a  beautiful  animal— 
and  every  means  were  tried  to  obtain  an  off- 
spring without  success.  All  the  improvement 
that  has  been  made  on  the  herd  to  my  knowl- 
edge has  been  from  the  bulls  Mr.  Erastus  Corn- 
ing, Jr.,  has  imported,  and  they  have  been  good. 
I  am  not  at  all  surprised  to  hear  of  his  success 
.  over  the  boasted  herd  of  Mr.  Burleigh,  as  I  fully 
believe  that  herd  and  others  sold  from  it  was 
imported  on  speculation  rather  than  for  good 
breeding  purposes ;  and  I  am  fearful  that  there 
will  be  too  much  of  this,  to  the  injury  of  the 
Herefords.  I  had  supposed  that  Hereford  breed- 
ers had  profited  by  the  bad  example  set  them  by 
Shorthorn  speculators  on  pedigree. 

The  late  Hon.  Erastus  Corning  (ff  85)  was 
a  true  nobleman  at  heart,  and  a  sincere  friend. 
Whatever  he  undertook  was  based  on  sound 
principle,  and,  being  just  in  all  his  dealings, 
remarkably  liberal  in  his  views,  coupled  to  an 
enterprising  spirit,  he  was  a  true  benefactor  to 


180 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


his  country.  He  did  everything  in  his  power, 
while  obtaining  a  huge  fortune,  for  its  benefit; 
though  not  a  speech-maker,  while  Senator  of 
his  own  State,  and  at  Washington,  his  sound 
judgment  was  the  foundation  of  many  that  were 
made.  Many  who  were  popular  for  their  best 
speeches  based  them  on  the  foundation  of  his 
soundness.  This  I  know  ocularly  and  demon- 
stratively, having  been  present  at  such  consulta- 
tions many  times  to  witness  his  superiority.  Un- 
fortunately for  the  Herefords,  he  was  a  strong 
politician  an'd,  although  he  delighted  in  im- 


T.    E.   MILLER,    BEECHER,   ILL. 

(First  Secretary  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders' 

Association.) 

provements,  he  had  but  little  judgment  in  cat- 
tle. 

When  I  first  went  to  England  for  Herefords 
I  had  very  limited  capital,  but  great  faith  in 
them  as  being  the  best  breed  for  this  country. 
I  felt  that  I  understood  their  true  merit  when 
in  England,  and  some  of  their  best  breeders 
were  my  most  intimate  friends.  Having  but 
little  capital,  I  felt  that  it  was  impossible  for 
me  to  get  any  from  my  mother  country. 

The  fall  of  1839  I'had  just  finished  buying 
nearly  4,000  head  of  cattle  in  droves  for  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Wilson,  as  they  were  making  their 
way  from  the  West  to  Albany.  I  paid  a  portion 
down  on  each  drove  to  be  then  delivered  at  the 
price  stated  per  hundred  at  his  slaughter  house 
for  barreling  purposes.  After  contracting  for 


many  droves  I  returned  to  Albany,  and  as  the 
droves  came  in  we  selected  some  of  the  best  and 
(1J  86)  I  took  them  to  the  Bull's  Head  (N.  Y.) 
for  market.  Mr.  Wilson  barreled  a  little  over 
six  thousand  head  that  season ;  he  sold  his  hides 
for  cash,  his  tallow  for  cash,  his  feet,  horns, 
and  bones  also.  His  beef  as  soon  as  in  the  bar- 
rel was  sent  to  New  York  to  his  factor  and  ship- 
per, of  whom  he  drew  at  sight  for  the  propor- 
tion per  barrel  agreed  upon,  he  holding  the  beef 
as  security.  The  whole  of  his  capital  was  in- 
vested in  his  beef,  and  the  prospect  being  favor- 
able for  higher  prices  he  held  on  to  it. 

I  had  frequently  spoken  of  the  Herefords  in 
high  praise  to  Mr.  Wilson  and  he,  being  highly 
pleased  with  my  description,  proposed  that  if  I 
would  go  to  England  and  get  credit  for  a  good 
lot  that  when  I  arrived  in  New  York  he  would 
meet  me  there  with  money  enough  to  pay  the 
whole  investment,  in  which  he  said  he  should 
have  ample  means  from  his  returns  in  the 
spring.  I  told  him  that  I  would  do  this,  if  I 
could  do  it  with  safety.  He  assured  me  that  I 
could,  and  with  this  promise  I  started. 

I  purchased  twenty-two  head,  paid  what  little 
money  I  had  of  my  own,  and  promised  to  pay 
all  on  my  return  to  New  York.  Among  them 
were  those  I  have  above  stated.  When  I  arrived 
I  found  that  barreled  beef  had  gone  down  and 
much  depressed,  that  much  of  his  had  soured 
and  was  unsalable,  as  he  had  involved  himself 
so  much  that  he  was  compelled  to  fail ;  but  he 
went  to  the  Hon.  Erastus  Corning,  told  him  in 
what  way  he  was  situated  with  me,  that  he  knew 
my  judgment  was  good  and  that  the  cattle 
would  be  superior. 

On  this  information  Mr.  Corning  sent  Mr. 
Watts  Sherman,  then  cashier  of  the  Albany  City 
Bank,  of  which  Mr.  C.  was  president,  to  ex- 
amine the  cattle  on  board.  This  gentleman  was 
highly  pleased  with  them,  examined  my  bills 
and  prices  for  them,  and  drew  a  draft  on  Mr. 
Corning  for  the  whole  amount.  I  took  them 
to  his  farm  and,  they  being  about  the  first  Here- 
fords ever  imported,  they  raised  considerable 
excitement;  but  their  true  m,erit  was  but  little 
known. 

The  Shorthorns  had  full  sway,  were  owned 
by  rich  men  who  determined  to  support  them 
at  all  hazards  and  who  had  the  controlling 
power  over  the  executive  committee  of  the  N.  Y. 
State  Agricultural  Society,  and  when  they  (the 
Herefords)  came  to  be  shown  in  the  fair  by 
their  side  (the  Shorthorns),  could  not  avoid 
seeing  the  Hereford  superiority  for  beef-mak- 
ing, hence  became  jealous  and  full  of  prejudice, 
put  on  Shorthorn  men  as  judges,  who  would  not 
report  anything  in  their  favor,  but  tried  to  make 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


181 


a  bad  impression,  considered  me  an  innovator, 
and  were  determined  to  keep  them  in  the  back- 
ground ;  would  not  make  a  class  for  all  breeds, 
although  I  kept  constantly  urging  it,  on  paper, 
and  at  their  meetings.  They  often  insinuated 
that  the  Herefords  were  far  below  the  Short- 
horns, and  a  portion  of  them  puffed  and  por- 
trayed Bates  and  his  tribes  beyond  control;  he 
must  have  the  ascendancy,  above  everything. 
This  brought  me  into  a  controversy  with  many 
Shorthorn  men,  with  whom  I  had  to  fight  a 
hard  battle,  to  which  the  editors  of  the  "Coun- 
try Gentleman  and  Cultivator"  must  confess, 
and  their  paper  will  prove. 

No  person  could  be  more  kind  to  me  than 
Mr.  Corning,  and  my  endeavor  was  to  recipro- 
cate. He  was  much  pleased  with  the  cattle  and 
the  same  year  gave  me  a  draft  on  Baring  Broth- 
ers, London,  to  go  and  buy  another  lot.  They 
were  similar  to  the  first  purchase,  and  being  so 
successful  in  bringing  them  out  I  did  not  in- 
sure. Took  the  whole  steerage  and  filled  it  with 
cattle  and  feed.  Just  before  we  got  to  the 
banks  of  Newfoundland  a  heavy  storm  came 
upon  us,  shattered  our  bulwarks  and  swept  off 
our  galley.  This  storm  blew  us  back  300  miles; 
the  hatches  were  closed,  and  the  waves  sent 
their  foaming  white-caps  and  heavy  spray  over 
us  in  quick  rapidity;  no  air  could  be  conveyed 
into  the  steerage,  consequently  the  cattle  broke 
.loose,  were  jumbled  up  together  and  died  in 
their  suffocation  and  confusion.  Such  a  spec- 
tacle I  never  before  beheld,  as  each  animal  was 
drawn  up  to  be  deposited  in  its  watery  grave. 
I  had  become  attached  to  several  of  the  beauti- 
ful animals  that  thus  suffered  and  perished,  as 
I  fed  and  nursed  them  on  the  voyage ;  I  thought; 
of  the  kindness  and  liberality  shown  me  by  Mr. 
Corning  and  felt  that  he  would  blame  me  for 
not  insuring. 

When  the  calm  came  I  began  to  reckon  on  the 
loss,  and  found  that  gentleman's  would  not  be 
less  than  $8,000.  My  embarrassment  was  most 
trying,  although  I  was  not  ashamed  to  meet  Mr. 
Corning,  but  his  loss,  under  the  kindness  he 
had  shown  me,  weighed  heavily.  When  we  met 
and  he  heard  my  explanation  not  a  murmur 
did  I  hear  from  him.  He  was  so  well  versed  in 
this  world's  affairs,  and  the  disasters  belonging, 
that  he  saw  the  situation  at  once.  He  never 
hinted  the  loss  to  me. 

After  this  he  became  so  beset  by  Shorthorn 
breeders,  who  did  everything  they  could  to  dis- 
courage him,  and  they  being  men  of  capital  and 
influence,  he  listened.  They  tried  to  make  him 
believe  that  the  Herefords  did  not  amount  to 
anything,  that  I  was  only  a  braggadocio,  that 
there  were  no  other  cattle  in  the  world  like 


Shorthorns,  and  the  fictitious  prices  they  sold 
for  made  him  believe  there  was  something  in  it ; 
still,  they  could  not  get  him  to  adopt  them. 
Between  politics  and  his  other  extensive  busi- 
ness he  found  he  could  no  longer  stand  the 
worry  of  the  special  pleading  of  Shorthorn 
breeders,  of  their  abuses  toward  me  and  the  dis- 
paragement of  the  Herefords.  He  resolved  to 
become  clear  of  it. 

I  never  was  so  kindly  treated  by  any  person 
in  the  world  as  I  was  by  the  late  Hon.  Erastus 
Corning  and  Mrs.  Corning;  had  I  been  a  near 
relative  they  could  not  have  treated  me  more 
kindly.  They  did  much  to  lead  me  into  the 
best  society  in  Albany.  I  fully  appreciated  all 
they  did,  and  exerted  my  utmost  to  reciprocate. 
I  frequently  went  to  his  house  to  spend  the 
evening,  and  in  one  of  those  events  he  said  to 
me :  "Sotham,  I  know  your  strong  faith  in  the 


ADAMS   EARL,    "SHADELAND,"   LAFAYETTE,    IND. 

(First  Treasurer  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Asso- 
ciation.) 

Herefords,  and  the  strong  prejudice  that  Short- 
horn breeders  have  against  you  and  them.  I 
like  the  Herefords  and  believe  all  you  say  of 
them ;  but  I  cannot  stand  the  constant  pleading 
of  that  body  of  men  to  turn  my  attention  to 
their  favorite  breed.  I  know  nothing  of  either 


182 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


breed,  practically;  therefore,  if  you  have  faith 
in  taking  the  most  part  of  them  at  half  value, 
and  will  get  an  endorser  for  the  amount,  you 
shall  take  them.  You  may  make  the  papers 
to  suit  your  time.  I  will  keep  three  heifers,  the 
cow  Victoria  and  a  bull,  to  show  that  I  am  still 
a  believer  in  them.  You  may  take  the  bulk  of 
the  herd,  and  if  you  do  I  sincerely  hope  you  will 
be  successful."  This  seemed  to  me  a  most  rea- 
sonable, kind  and  valuable  offer  for  me,  but  I 
felt  that  the  little  capital  I  had  in  them  was 
gone  in  our, wreck  at  sea,  and  how  to  get  a 


J.    M.    STUDEBAKER,    SOUTH    BEND,    IND. 

(Member     Organization      Committee,      American      Hereford 

Cattle  Breeders'  Association.) 

farm  to  support  them  upon  was  an  important 
consideration.  However,  I  secured  an  endorser 
and  a  farm  at  Black  Rock,  near  Buffalo,  and 
took  the  herd  there. 

*     *     * 

PART  II. 

From  my  early  boyhood  I  had  an  exceedingly 
high  opinion  of  the  Hereford  cattle,  and  have 
since  that  time  been  a  strong  and  staunch  advo- 
cate for  them,  and  think  I  can  fully  support 
all  I  have  said.  The  uniformity  of  their  char- 
acter, the  superiority  of  their  flesh,  combined 
with  rich  milking  and  substance  of  body, 
induced  me  to  patronize  them  to  the  best  of  my 
ability. 


My  frequent  visits  to  the  herds  of  Messrs. 
Hewer  of  Northleach,  Gloucestershire,  England, 
in  an  early  day,  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  see- 
ing some  good  ones  bred  by  them.  Mr.  Win. 
Hewer,  Sr.,  Wm.  Hewer,  Jr.,  and  Joseph  Hewer, 
the  father  and  two  sons,  did  all  in  their  power 
to  outvie  with  each  other,  and  each  tried  his 
utmost  to  get  at  the  pinnacle  of  good  breeding. 
They  were  as  earnest  in  excelling  each  other  as 
opposite  breeders.  All  were  practical  men  of 
good,  common  sense.  Their  herds  originated 
from  that  well-known  breeder,  Mr.  John  Hewer 
of  Herefordshire.  If  either  procured  a  very  su- 
perior bull,  each  derived  the  benefit  and  each 
bred  him  at  pleasure. 

They  studied  together  the  improvement  each 
animal  made,  and  vice  versa  the  defects,  and 
by  their  combined  good  judgment  none  excelled 
them  in  good  breeding.  This  prosperous  course 
of  rivalry  was  pleasant  and  instructive,  and  ren- 
dered superior  aid  in  arriving  at  superior  judg- 
ment, without  which  no  man  can  become  a 
proper  breeder.  The  Messrs.  Hewer's  Hereford 
cattle  and  Cotswold  sheep  obtained  as  high  a 
stand  as  any  in  England,  and  by  which  all 
became  wealthy,  derived  from  their  practical 
knowledge  of  a  superior  animal  and  the  coup- 
ling of  male  and  female.  (If  88) 

Much  care  and  attention  are  required  in  the 
effect  of  improvement,  and  can  only  be  obtained 
gradually.  Skill  in  the  advancement  is  inherent, 
which  cannot  be  learnt  by  lessons  or  lectures 
or  by  professional  theoretical  novices.  The  re- 
sult must  be  practically  satisfactory  to  enable 
you  to  pursue  with  confidence ;  without  this  you 
cannot  succeed.  He  who  trusts  to  the  opinion 
of  others  will  never  make  a  breeder.  Results 
from  his  own  experience  must  be  his  guide,  and 
when  a  breeder  arrives  at  the  highest  point  of 
excellence,  his  name  spread  far  and  wide,  it  is 
a  very  difficult  matter  to  keep  there.  Prosperity 
is  apt  to  make  men  careless  and  consequential, 
which  is  almost  certain  to  create  degeneration, 
and  when  this  takes  place  the  downward  strides 
are  long  and  rapid. 

The  Messrs.  Hewer  made  vast  improvements 
in  the  Hereford  cattle  and  Cotswold  sheep.  The 
senior  held  his  fame  and  his  untarnished  repu- 
tation until  his  death ;  Wm.  Hewer,  Jr.,  until  he 
retired;  but  Joseph  was  taken  away  in  his  early 
career,  by  jumping  into  the  water  to  save  a 
favorite  ram  when  he  was  saturated  with  per- 
spiration in  his  haste  to  arrive.  He,  in  his 
usefulness,  left  a  fine  herd  of  Herefords  and 
Cotswolds  to  be  divided.  The  Hereford  cattle 
and  Cotswold  sheep  of  my  first  importation  were 
derived  from  the  Messrs.  Hewer,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  first-prize  Hereford  cow  I  pur- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


183 


chased  from  Mr.  James  Walker,  with  her  year- 
ling bull,  which  took  first  prize  at  the  show  of 
the  Royal  at  Oxford  in  1839,  and  bred  by  Mr. 
Turner. 

I  showed  the  kindness  I  received  from  the 
late  Hon.  Erastus  Corning  of  Albany.  This 
gentleman  was  a  pattern  to  rich  men.  He  was 
a  princely  honest  man,  and  was  always  ready 
to  encourage  true  enterprise.  His  object  was  to 
do  good,  and  his  thorough  knowledge  of  busi- 
ness and  the  world  gave  him  the  advantage  over 
most  men.  There  was  no  man  who  ever  knew 
him  thoroughly  but  that  loved  and  revered  him. 
He  was  moderate  in  all  his  views,  kind,  even  to 
a  fault,  and  no  man  worthy  of  support  ever 
called  upon  him  in  vain.  He  was  a  true  pro- 
moter of  deserving  enterprise.  I  only  wish  there 
were  more  such  men  at  the  head  of  our  Govern- 
ment now.  It  would  then  have  a  solid  founda- 
tion. His  mind  was  based  upon  a  sound  and 
solid  principle,  and  being  just  in  all  his  deal- 
ings, he  advised  others  into  the  same  course. 
With  such  a  mind  as  this,  Mr.  Corning  could 
not  help  seeing  the  true  value  of  the  Hereford 
cattle  when  they  appeared  on  his  farm,  and 
after  paying  all  the  charges  upon  them,  ad- 
vanced me  more  money  to  go  to  England  again 
for  others  of  a  similar  character,  as  they  were 
admired  by  all  who  saw  them.  (j[  89) 

The  trio,  Lewis  F.  Allen,  Ambrose  Stevens 
and  John  R.  Page,  were  the  scribes  for  the 
"Bates  mania,"  and  to  denounce  the  Herefords, 
and,  although  neither  of  them  had  any  practical 
knowledge  of  stock,  they  had  an  unbounded 
conceitedness  connected  with  their  brass  to 
teach  men  more  practically  informed  how  to 
breed. 

Then  there  were  Thos.  Brown  of  the  "Ohio 
Farmer/'  Francis  Rotch  of  Bates  fame,  George 
Vail,  an  importer  and  constant  puffer  of  Bates 
and  his  tribes,  in  connection  with  S.  P.  Chap- 
man, neither  of  whom  really  knew  anything 
more  of  Herefords  or  Shorthorns  than  a  cast- 
iron  soldier.  All  wrote  and  re-wrote,  but 
neither  knew  what  they  were  writing  about. 
They  might  know  enough  to  distinguish  a 
heifer  from  a  steer.  All  these  scribes  went  to 
Erastus  Corning  with  high -praise  of  Bates  and 
claiming  that  Herefords  had  no  character.  Al- 
though Mr.  Corning  felt  differently,  he  was  dis- 
gusted with  their  familiarity  and  constant  har- 
angue, that,  with  his  other  important  business, 
was  a  great  annoyance  to  him,  and  on  that  ac- 
count he  made  me  the  generous  offer  which  I 
explained. 

Now,  let  me  show  you  what  became  of  all 
these  scribes  and  deceivers.  Lewis  F.  Allen, 
editor  of  the  Shorthorn  Herd  Book,  became  a 


hawker-  of  his  Shorthorns ;  tried  public  sales  at 
great  expense,  without  effect;  then  sent  them 
to  Illinois  to  be  fed  on  corn  for  many  months 
to  make  a  better  appearance,  so  that  he  could 
dispose  of  the  whole.  All  who  purchased  know 
what  trouble  there  was  in  obtaining  correct 
pedigrees — in  the  Red  Ladies  more  particular- 
ly. After  the  disposal  of  these  he  went  to 
Devons.  While  in  Shorthorns  and  their  grades 
his  diary  presents  a  most  laughable  tale,  with 
which  I  am  familiar,  and  may  present  at  some 
future  day. 

Ambrose  Stevens,  the  bosom  and  confidential 
friend  of  the  editor  of  the  Herd  Book,  who  kept 
two  Shorthorn  cows  for  him,  the  only  stock  of 
the  kind  he  then  possessed,  bred  to  Allen's  bulls, 
but  bred  nothing  of  character.  Allen,  finding 
they  were  no  profit  to  him,  wished  me  to  take 
them  until  Stevens  could  find  a  place  for  them. 
I  put  them  to  my  Hereford  bull  Major,  and  one 
of  them  produced  a  heifer  calf  of  true  Hereford 
character,  except  she  had  a  "sweet  head"  so 


GEO.    F.    MORGAN,    LINWOOD,    KAN. 

(Member  Organization  Committee  American  Hereford  Cattle 

Breeders'   Association.) 

puffed  up  by  Bates.  I  saw  this  heifer  at  Bata- 
via,  N.  Y.,  when  she  was  two  years  old,  and 
among  the  "grand  importation"  made  by  Am- 
brose Stevens,  Esq.,  from  Mr.  Stevenson,  the 
noted  breeder  of  the  Princess  tribe,  Ambrose 
could  not  help  but  admit  that  she  was  the  best 
animal  in  the  lot.  She  was  of  pure  Hereford 
character  except  in  head  and  horns,  which  were 


184 


short,  small  and  crumpled.  I  tried  to  buy  her, 
but  he  would  not  set  a  price,  as  he  valued  her 
"sweet  head"  very  highly.  I  never  learnt  what 
subsequently  became  of  her  or  her  progeny. 

I  now  hear  but  little  of  John  K.  Page;  his 
light  seems  to  be  "hid  under  a  bushel."  I  hear 
nothing  of  his  herd,  and  his  notorious  flattering 
portraits  on  paper  seem  to  have  lost  patronage. 
John  was  once  a  shining  light ;  I  should  not  be 
surprised  to  see  him  swaggering  amongst  the 
white-faces  with  as  much  pomp  as  he  did  at 
Shorthorn  sales,  if  he  can  make  it  prove  as  agree- 


THOS.   CLARK,   BEECHER,   ILL. 

(Member  Organization  Committee  American  Hereford  Cattle 
Breeders'  Association.) 

able  to  Hereford  breeders  as  he  did  to  those  of 
Shorthorns.  Jphn  puffed  Morris  &  Becar,  who 
retired  in  favor  of  Jonathan  Thorn ;  he  retired 
in  favor  of  Sheldon,  who  retired  in  favor  of 
Walcott  &  Campbell — all  Duchess  men.  Vail 
retired  to  S.  P.  Chapman  and  became  a  Devon 
breeder.  Chapman  failed  when  in  prime  of  life 
—when  he  considered  himself  just  in  his  glory, 
while  advertising  Halton  (purchased  by -Mr. 
Vail)  at  $20  per  cow,  which  was  more  than  the 
brute  was  worth.  I  should  like  to  hear  the  first 
man  say  that  he  ever  saw  a  good  one  from  him. 
All  Page's  puffs  and  portraits  of  him  at  the 
head  of  the  herd  ended  in  smoke.  Halton  sold 
at  the  sale  at  about  the  price  advertised  for  a 
cow  to  be  bred  to  him. 

Francis  Kotch  was  another  Bates  puffer  and 
a  fancy  pet  scribe  of  the  "Albany  Cultivator  and 


Country  Gentleman,"  the  organ  for  the  Short- 
horns, which  was  solely  under  these  scribes  and 
breeders.  If  a  Hereford  breeder  advocated  their 
breed  he  was  either  "strongly  prejudiced  against 
Shorthorns"  or  was  no  judge  of  them  or  of  Here- 
fords.  They  knew  "on  which  side  their  bread 
was  buttered,"  and  they  took  advantage  of  it. 
Eotch's  prestige  in  Shorthorns  failed  before  he 
died ;  his  herd  became  extinct ;  there  is  nothing 
left  of  his  work  as  a  pleasant  memorial,  and  this 
same  "Country  Gentleman"  has  ever  since 
shunned  the  Herefords,  though  conscious  of 
how  much  they  had  abused  them. 

I  name  some  of  these  gentlemen  and  their  or- 
gan because  they  were  the  principal  ones  who 
were  constantly  worrying  Hon.  Erastus  Corn- 
ing by  condemning  Herefords  and  speaking  in 
high  praise  of  the  Shorthorns.  Thirty  to  forty 
influential  men  of  money  against  one  individ- 
ual, who  had  but  little  means  to  defend  himself 
against  such  men,  glorying  in  their  power.  It 
was  that  overbearing  power  that  brought  them 
to  a  sense  of  their  weakness,  when  put  into  the 
balance  scale  of  profit  and  loss. 

It  is  difficult  to  say  how  much  they  losl.  I 
do  most  earnestly  wish  that  good  and  just  man, 
the  late  Hon.  Erastus  Corning,  was  here  now  to 
witness  the  change  and  realize  the  true  char- 
acter of  those  men  in  their  present  state,  who 
did  all  in  their  power  to  influence  him  in  their 
well-known  deceit,  none  of  which  can  again 
visit  him  for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  him  in 
his  calm  and  unalloyed  resting  place.  He  is 
now  receiving  his  just  reward  for  the  good  he 
has  done  on  earth. 


PAET    III. 

These  Shorthorn  men  were  fully  aware  they 
had  something  to  contend  with  in  the  Here- 
fords, and  exerted  their  utmost  to  keep  them  in 
the  background.  Criticised  their  white  faces  and 
bellies,  the  long  horns  of  the  cows  and  the  large 
horns  of  the  bulls,  their  thick  hides,  not  knowing 
that  the  two  latter  were  the  best  signs  of  con- 
stitution and  good  quality,  of  which  the  most 
fashionable  Shorthorns  were  deficient.  Bates  ob- 
tained a  name  for  breeding  superior  cattle  from 
in-and-in  families,  at  the  same  time  produced 
his  best  cattle  from  "outs  in  the  dark/'  deceiv- 
ing his  followers,  thus  condemning  himself  and 
destroying  his  reputation  for  "pure  breeding." 
Although  the  truth  will  out,  nothing  can  sup- 
press it,  the  Bates  mania  became  so  strong  that 
his  disciples  were  not  sufficient  judges  or  ob- 
servers to  detect  this  fraud,  or  they  were  de- 
termined to  fully  endorse  it. 


HISTORY    OP    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


185 


The  facts  were  so  plain  to  a  practical  breeder, 
and,  when  coming  before  the  public,  though 
startling,  the  more  they  were  stirred,  the  more 
plainly  the  proof  appeared.  The  way  Mr.  Mat- 
thews sifted  Mr.  Bates'  pedigrees  in  the  "Na- 
tional Live  Stock  Journal"  and  stating  unde- 
niable facts  of  their  mixed-up  alloys  were  suffi- 
cient proof  of  his  intentional  misleadings.  Judge 
T.  C.  Jones  and  J.  H.  Sanders,  publishing  these 
articles  without  comment,  were  at  the  same  time 
insane  on  Bates  and  his  "top  crosses,"  neither 
of  them  being  capable  of  detecting  which  alloy 
had  the  advantage. 

The  mania  cry  was  "pure  Bates,"  "absolutely 
pure,"  and  men  went  headlong  into  this  "pur- 
ity" like  maniacs  released  from  an  asylum, 
proof  of  which  was  so  palpable  at  the  New  York 
Mills  sale,  that  "he  who  runs  could  read." 
Bates  and  his  clique  consisted  of  the  men  I  have 
named ;  the  tongues  and  pens  of  those  who  had 
but  little  money  were  freely  exercised  by  favor 
of  those  who  had. 

Mr.  John  R.  Page  was  a  special  pleader.  He 
made  in-and-in  pedigrees  pure,  assisted  by  L. 
F.  Allen  and  Ambrose  Stevens;  to  make  this 
more  sure  he  sketched  very  flattering  portraits 
of  pet  animals,  and  Lewis  F.  Allen  placed  them 
in  the  Herd  Book,  which  was  sufficient  to  create 
an  excitement.  John  R.  Page  had  just  the  tools 
to  do  it.  (ff  90)  (fl  91)  His  pencil  and  ruler 
could  draw  straight  lines  out  of  an  original 
crookedness.  He  had  a  faultless  art  of  making 
crooked  side-lines  straight,  could  make  high 
hips  low,  coarse  bone  fine,  smoothen  rough  shoul- 
ders, transfer  thin  necks  into  prominent  neck 
veins;  "sweet  heads"  was  a  specialty  with  him, 
as  he  invariably  carries  that  pattern  in  his  eye, 
and  his  brain  -was  always  addled  with  it.  He 
always  patronizes  "up-standing  style,"  conse- 
quently could  not  shorten  the  legs  to  change 
that  character  in  the  fashionable  Dukes,  but  he 
made  their  bone  finer  and  much  out  of  pro- 
portion. John  could  not  make  a  picture  in 
Shorthorns  without  excessive  flattery  no  matter 
how  uneven  the  original  was ;  the  one  on  paper 
was  all  straight  lines,  and  thus  they  appeared 
in  the  Herd  Book  and  sale  catalogue,  which 
were  John's  principal  advertisers,  assisted  by 
Lewis  F.  Allen's  and  Ambrose  Stevens'  tongues 
and  pens.  Examine  all  his  pictures  there  and 
you  will  find  a  straight  furrow  along  the  back 
of  those  so-called  breeding  animals,  as  if  made 
up  of  blubber  and  over-ripe  for  Christmas  show. 

Here  let  me  ask  any  practical  man  who  has 
seen  the  original  Dukes  (j[  92)  whether  they 
ever  saw  a  full  neck  vein,  a  smooth  shoulder 
point,  a  straight  under-line  or  full  crops  on 
either  of  them — all  strong  signs  of  constitution 


and  quality?  Then  look  in  the  Herd  Book  and 
see  how  John  R.  Page  has  straightened  them  and 
blended  each  together,  so  that  the  picture  on 
paper  appeared  ideal.  Can  any  reasonable  man 
see  such  transactions  with  such  proof  before 
him  in  any  other  light  but  that  of  deception  ? 
But  it  fully  corresponds  with  the  "ins  and  outs" 
of  the  Bates  pedigrees,  and  thus  all  went  hand- 
in-hand.  I  am  exceedingly  sorry  that  the  best 
Shorthorns  should  be  abused  by  novices  which 
brought  a  curse  upon  them. 

The  next  position  was  that  John  should  be 
the  Bates  auctioneer.  I  saw  him  at .  his  first 
appearance  on  the  nostrum  sell  the  noted  herd 
of  Mr.  Haines  of  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey. 
His  audience  was  looking  for  a  strong  "opening 
speech"  on  the  Dukes,  and  "pure  breeding,"  but 
were  much  disappointed.  On  going  to  the  scaf- 
fold, raised  for  his  exaltation,  all  eyes  were  upon 
him,  expecting  great  things  to  come  to  pass  in 


BEN   HERSHEY,    MUSCATINE,   IA. 

(Member  Organization  Committee  American  Hereford  Cattle 
Breeders'  Association.) 

the  Shorthorn  world,  and  from  the  tongue  of 
him  who  professed  to  be  "the  Herd  Book  in 
breeches," — the  infallible  man  of  Bates. 

No  sooner  had  he  shuffled  himself  into  posi- 
tion, he  stood  erect  as  if  studying  attitude.  In 
this  state  of  mind  he  resembled  an  automaton. 
He  then  moved  gracefully,  flourishing  his  right 


186 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


arm  to  the  assemblage,  then,  pointing  his  fore 
finger  in  vacancy,  his  phiz  looked  beseechingly. 
This  was  done  in  silence,  to  command  attention. 
Then  came  the  opening:  "Gentlemen,"  said 
he,  with  a  short  pause,  "you  are  all  aware  of 
the  great  importance  of  the  breeding  of  Bates' 
Shorthorns,  and  how  exceedingly  popular  I  have 
made  them  in  this  country  and  in  England, 
and  I  have  the  honor  of  being  selected  above 
all  other  men  as  the  sole  auctioneer  for  that 
excellent  tribe,  the  breeders  of  them  knowing 
how  thoroughly  I  am  posted  in  their  pedigrees ; 
having  every  one  committed  to  memory,  I  can 

vouch    for    their 


being  correct.  As 
there  are  many 
in  this  herd  that 
have  top  crosses 
in  Bates  I  shall 
expect  you  to  bid 
very  spiritedly. 
This  is  all  I  have 
to  say/'  He  then 
looked  gravely 
at  his  audience, 
but  his  gravity 
was  not  that  of  a 
cynic,  for  I  sup- 
pose he  felt  like 
the  ass  when 
amongst  the 

monkeys,  that  they  were  all  "making  faces  at 
him." 

"Now,  Mr.  Haines,  have  the  first  animal 
brought  before  me." 

"There,  gentlemen,"  said  John,  "is  a  most 
beautiful  animal,  one  of  the  most  fashionable 
pedigrees  (which  he  read)  that  a  fancy  man  can 
desire;  she  has  four  top  crosses  in  Bates,  by 
Dukes,  in-bred  to  Duchesses,  and  one  in  Ox- 
fords. Now,  gentlemen,  give  me  a  bid."  Si- 
lence ruled  for  a  while.  He  calmly  repeated, 
"Come,  gentlemen,  give  me  a  bid."  The  audi- 
ence looked  at  John  and  John  looked  at  the 
audience.  "I  have  seen  animals  not  so  good  as 
that,  not  so  high  in  Bates,  sold  for  five  thou- 
sand dollars.  Give  me  a  bid,  gentlemen;  she 
is  to  be  sold.  Shall  I  say  a  thousand  dollars  for 
you,  Mr.  L.  F.  Allen?"  who  shook  his  head. 
"You,  Mr.  F.  Rotch  ?"  who  looked  over  his  nose 
on  to  the  ground.  "What  do  you  say,  friend 
Stevens?"  who  wriggled  in  his  boots,  as  if  he 
wanted  to  bid,  had  he  the  purse  to  endorse  him. 
A  gentleman  from  Rahway  offered  him  $100. 
"Did  you  say  one  hundred  ?"  said  John ;  "I  sup- 
pose you  meant  one  thousand— the  very  lowest  I 
expected  to  be  the  first  bid,  but  as  Mr.  Haines 
will  not  allow  any  under  bidders,  and  means  to 


W.   H.  TODD,  VERMILLION,  O. 


sell,  1  suppose  I  must  take  it."  S.  P.  Chap- 
man offered  $125;  there  she  stood  and  John 
looked  as  if  he  was  struck  dumb;  twisted  his 
curled  mustache  round  his  fore-finger,  hung  his 
lower  lip,  looked  solemn,  mumbled  out  in  his 
confusion,  "Gentlemen,  I  am  surprised  at  such 
a  Bates  cow  as  that  going  at  $125 ;  going,  go- 
ing— remember,  I  shall  knock  them  down  quick- 
ly." One  dollar  advances  were  afterwards 
made,  until  she  reached  $133 — "going,  going, 
gentlemen;  I  cannot  dwell — gone."  John 
looked  like  a  mummy  rising  in  a  muddle  when 
the  next  animal  came  out,  and  the  next  sale 
went  on  as  in  the  beginning;  he  looking  inci- 
dentally like  a  "live  auctioneer/'  until  the  sale 
was  postponed. 

Luther  Tucker,  Sr.,  was  the  "chiel  takin' 
notes"  for  the  "Country  Gentleman,"  who  ex- 
pected John  to  be  a  shining  light,  and  sustain 
the  flattering  advertisement  he  had  given  him, 
and  more  fully  support  the  Bates  mania.  Both 
felt  gloomy  and  forlorn  in  their  unexpected  dis- 
appointment. To  make  a  little  amend,  John 
sketched  a  flattering  picture  of  the  Haines  un- 
sold bull,  so  high  up  in  Bates,  to  be  "transferred 
on  stone,"  to  appear  in  the  "Country  Gentle- 
man" at  the  editor's  earliest  convenience.  When 
it  appeared,  John's  zeal  for  the  Bates  mania 
cheeringly  revived,  and  he  again  considered 
himself  the  leading  star  of  the  Bates  clan;  his 
cheek  added  an  additional  shade  of  brass,  and 
he  again  felt  in  his  prodigality  that  he  was  born 
a  wonder,  was  ready  for  the  second  sale,  and 
that  he  was  armed  and  equipped  to  again  urge 
on  the  Bates  fiction  with  the  strictest  propriety. 
I  am  sure  that  all  who  attended  the  Haines 
sale  will  vouch  for  the  truth  of  my  statement. 

About  this  time  I  was  preparing  a  herd  of 
seven  of  the  Herefords  for  the  State  Show  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  the  first  time  I  ever  fed 
for  show,  and  they  were  in  fine  store  condition. 
The  Shorthorns  were  always  pampered  for  this 
purpose.  The  Shorthorn  breeders  controlled 
that  society,  demanded  high  prizes  for  them, 
which  were  more  in  the  aggregate  than  all  the 
other  breeds  put  together. 

The  above  gentlemen  I  have  named  were  the 
leading  stars  to  make  premiums  and  appoint 
judges,  and  they  combined  together  to  shut  out 
all  opposition  to  them.  I  made  a  plea  to  the 
committee  for  the  privilege  of  showing  against 
the  Shorthorns.  They  insisted  that  I  had  no 
right  to  expect  to  be  heard ;  that  the  Herefords 
were  so  far  inferior  to  Shorthorns  that  they 
could  not  listen  to  such  a  preposterous  propo- 
sition, notwithstanding  my  stalls  were  crowded 
with  admirers  and  with  the  novelty  of  seeing 
the  "new  breed"  that  the  Shorthorns  seemed 


HISTORY     OF    HEEEFORD     CATTLE 


slighted  by  the  visitors.  I  was  treated  as  an 
innovator,  a  braggadocio,  or  an  adventurer  un- 
worthy of  notice  by  the  clique;  men  I  have 
mentioned  looked  over  the  other's  shoulders 
and  withdrew  with  a  puff;  a  few  good  judges 
pronounced  them  a  superior  breed  of  cattle. 
Luther  Tucker,  Sr.,  was  quite  taken  with  them, 
and  wrote  a  splendid  short  article  praising 
them  highly,  for  which  he  received  many  up- 
braidings  from  his  pet  Shorthorn  correspond- 
ents. As  there  was  no  Hereford  Herd  Book 
when  I  imported  them,  this  was  held  as  a  plea 
for  their  not  being  worthy  of  showing  against 
the  Shorthorns,  with  all  their  alloys,  and  many 
made  a  laughing  stock  of  themselves  by  abus- 
ing their  thick,  mellow  hides,  and  turned  their 
white  faces  into  ridicule.  Then  their  excuse 
was  that  it  was  impossible  for  judges  to  decide 
between  two  breeds.  I  asked  them  if  there 
was  more  than  one  proper  standard  for  a  good 
and  profitable  beefing  animal,  and  whether 
there  was  not  to  be  found  unprejudiced  men  of 
good,  sound,  common  sense,  capable  of  judging, 
impartially,  a  good  animal  regardless  of  the 
breed.  I  was  aware  that  flesh  governed  almost 
all  judges,  but  if  the  Shorthorn  men  were  de- 
termined to  pamper,  and  state  societies  allowed 
them  to  do  so,  Hereford  breeders  must  do  the 
same.  Shorthorn  men  would  not  accept  of  this. 
Xeither  would  they  accept  of  a  challenge.  When 
I  offered  to  show  four  cows  and  a  bull  against 
them  on  the  show  ground,  on  my  own  account, 
for  $100,  they  evaded  it,  well  knowing  they 
would  be  beaten  under  good  and  impartial 
judges,  as  I  consider  three  of  these  cows  were 
as  good  as  any  of  the  late  importations.  One 
was  the  first  prize  cow  at  the  Oxford  Royal,  two 
others  first  and  second  at  Tredegar,  and  the 
bull  first  prize  with  dam  and  their  offspring. 
Although  they  had  not  been  pampered,  they 
showed  evenness  of  flesh,  with  substance,  sym- 
metry and  quality;  they  did  not  require  pam- 
pering to  hide  their  faults  in  their  coarseness, 
or  require  long  legs,  long  necks,  high  crests  and 
high  hips,  to  make  them  stylish  or  fashionable, 

but  I  OFFERED  TO  WEIGH  THEM  ON  THE  SCALES 

AT  THE  SAME  AGES.  They  considered  this  "im- 
pudence" in  me ;  they  declined  to  accept.-  They 
knew  they  were  beaten  and  kept  aloof,  instead 
of  embracing  the  opportunity.  I  called  upon 
the  officers  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society  in 
the  following  letter  to  the  Albany  "Cultivator," 
September  number,  pages  250-53 : 

"I  did  not  intend  to  have  said  anything  more 
in  favor  of  Herefords,  as  I  had  made  up  my 
mind  to  let  them  take  their  chance  till  their 
real  value  should  be  proved,  but  as  certain  in- 
dividuals are.  continually  boasting  of  particular 


tribes  of  Shorthorns,  in  your  paper,  I  am  anx- 
ious to  see  the  Herefords  brought  into  fair 
competition  with  them.  I  think  the  State  Ag- 
ricultural Societies  should  do  something  to 
bring  the  different  breeds  to  a  fair  trial.  I  am 
ready  to  stand  a  brush  with  any  breed  and  in 
any  way  the  society  will  point  out.  All  I  ask 
is  a  fair  field  and  no  favor.  My  idea  is  that 
some  of  each  breed  should  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  an  honest,  disinterested  person,  to  try 
the  experiment,  and  the  society  should  pay  the 
expenses.  An  accurate  account  kept  of  the 
weight  and  kind  of  food  consumed;  the  beef, 
butter,  or  other  products  should  also  be  weighed 
and  disposed  of,  and  the  cattle  that  yield  the 
greatest  return  from  the  weight  taken  at  com- 
mencement for  cost  of  food,  etc.,  should  be  de- 
termined the  best.  I  hope  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee will  take  this  matter  into  consideration 
and  propose  an  honest  trial." 

This,  and  many  other  such  trials,  I  offered 
these  boasting  men  of  Bates,  but  not  one  dared 
to  take  me  up.  They  were  aware  that  discre- 
tion was  the  best  part  of  valor,  in  the  position 
in  which  they  were  placed.  The  tongues  and 
the  pens  of  these  Shorthorn  men  before  named 
had  given  them  a  widespread  notoriety,  and 
their  money  gave  them  a  partial  command  of 
the  press.  Most  of  the  agricultural  editors  and 
proprietors  were 
poor,  and  money 
to  them  was 
tempting.  They 
puffed  and  praised, 
where  no  praise 
was  due,  but  in 
reality  censure 
might  have  been 
more  properly  ad- 
ministered. Lewis 
F.  Allen  strained 
every  nerve  to 
bring  the  Short- 
horns, more  espe- 
cially Bates,  into 
notoriety ;  but  he 
took  great  precau- 
tion to  keep  de- 
grading and  more  important  facts  in  the  dark, 
as  Bates  did  in  his  pedigrees;  took  great 
care  to  keep  the  best  qualities  of  the  Herefords 
out  of  sight,  and  exhibit  fancied  weak  points 
conspicuously. 

I  refer  you  to  Mr.  Allen's  fraudulent  book 
on  cattle.  Never  were  more  infamous  inten- 
tional mistakes  printed  on  paper.  He  read 
Youatt,  and  grounded  his  artificial  knowledge 
of  Herefords  on  this  unfounded  authority. 


G.    S.    BURLEIGH. 
VASSALBORO,  ME. 


188 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


Every  one  of  common  sense  who  read  his  work 
was  aware  that  his  object  was  to  make  money 
out  of  the  Shorthorn  breeders  who  paid  him  for 
his  puffing  of  Shorthorns  and  condemning 
Herefords  (fl  93),  by  which  he  had  to  stretch 
his  conscience,  but  his  self-contradictions  in  the 
latter  partially  destroyed  the  effect  which  he  in- 
tended to  convey.  This  is  how  all  such  men 
lose  their  prestige.  Lewis  F.  Allen,  when  he 
wrote  his  book  on  cattle,  had  no  practical  knowl- 
edge of  breeding.  Had  he  studied  it  impartially 
he  would  have  found  while  praising  the  Bates 
so  highly  for  purity  of  blood  they  had  more  of 
the  alloys,  even  to  "the  old  black  cow,"  than  any 
other  breed;  although  he  pretended  to  have  the 
most  horrid  abhorrence  of  the  Galloway  cross, 
he  was  aware  of  the  improvement,  and  procured 
it  in  his  repeated  mysteries.  Still,  he  stuck  to 
it  that  not  a  particle  of  it  was  in  his  herd, 


W.     S.    VAN    NATTA,    "HICKORY    GROVE,"    FOWLER, 

IND. 

(First  Chairman  Herd  Book  Committee  American  Hereford 
Cattle  Breeders'  Association.) 


though  Mr.  Matthews,  of  Virginia,  proved  con- 
clusively from  his  own  statements  in  "Bell  on 
Bates,"  and  other  authority,  that  such  a  state- 
ment was  utterly  false.  Lewis  F.  Allen,  who 
was  constantly  quoting  Bell,  etc.,  must  have 
been  aware  of  this  fact,  but  he  overlooked  all 
imperfections  in  Bates  and  his  breeding. 

All  who  have  ever  read  Bell  on  Bates  will 
corroborate  Mr.  Matthews'  articles  in  the  "Na- 


tional Live  Stock  Journal."  Allen  was,  like 
Youatt,  determined  to  uphold  the  Shorthorns 
with  extreme  flattery,  at  all  hazards,  although 
he  felt  too  poor  to  support  them ;  he  patronized 
the  Devons  because  they  were  cheaper,  better 
and  more  profitable  than  the  noted  herd  of 
Thos.  Bates,  who  disliked  Booth,  because  he 
beat  him  in  almost  every  instance  when  they 
came  fairly  into  competition  together. 

Bates  was  continually  condemning  Booth 
(!|  94)  for  his  Galloway  cross,  to  which  Mr. 
Booth  openly  confessed.  Bates  contended  that 
his  "pure  bloods"  were  far  above  Booth's  "al- 
loys," which  ought  to  have  been  taken  into  con- 
sideration in  the  showing.  Here  lies  a  serious 
myth.  Could  it  be  possible  that  Bates  did  not 
know  how  his  cattle  were  bred  at  the  time  he 
made  the  statement;  that  all  his  families  pos- 
sessed it?  which  has  since  been  proved,  by  his 
own  conviction,  which  his  weakness  could  no 
longer  hide,  for  his  general  positiveness  was  one 
of  the  certain  marks  of  his  weak  judgment. 
There  he  allowed  his  fancies  to  rule  over  reason, 
and  thus  they  ruled  over  him.  When  Bates 
showed  against  Booth  he  was  very  desirous  of 
having  such  committees  favorably  disposed  to- 
ward him,  and  if  he  did  not  succeed  in  this,  his 
rage  deprived  him  of  his  reason,  and  made  him 
a  laughing  stock,  forgetting  the  old  adage,  "that 
reason  governs  the  wise  man  and  cudgels  the 
fool."  It  was  hard  work  for  his  friends  to  make 
Thos.  Bates  believe  this,  and  no  man  living 
can  believe  contrary  to  his  convictions,  or  doubt 
when  he  is  convinced ;  if  he  affects  to  do  other- 
wise he  deceives  himself. 

Thos.  Bates  proceeded,  flattered  by  his  fol- 
lowers, some  of  which  were  never  more  happy 
than  when  sheltering  themselves  behind  in- 
trigue, proof  of  which  has  been  ample  in  the 
sales  of  Shorthorns  in  this  country.  I  say 
much  of  Bates  and  his  followers  because  I  think 
they  have  done  much  injury  to  Shorthorns  in 
this  country  and  in  England,  and  it  was  their 
combined  influence  intended  to  injure  me  and 
the  Herefords. 

There  are  no  better  men  in  the  world  than 
Shorthorn  breeders,  and  if  so  many  of  them 
had  not  been  led  away  by  the  farcical  Bates,  the 
Shorthorns  would  have  been  in  high  repute.  I 
always  liked  a  good  Shorthorn  cow,  if  not  pure ; 
and  I  shall  be  highly  pleased  to  see  the  best 
contending  against  the  Herefords  under  com- 
petent judges,  who  will  reward  merit  where 
it  is  justly  due.  It  is  profitable  to  have  two 
breeds  that  can  contend  against  each  other;  it 
is  stimulating  to  success. 


HISTORY  OF  HEBE FORD  CATTLE 


PAET  IV. 

All  who  have  read  the  description  of  Lewis 
F.  Allen's  comparison  of  the  Herefords  and  the 
Shorthorns  in  his  hook  on  cattle  must  have 
been  satisfied  of  his  extreme  prejudice  against 
the  former.  It  was  certainly  distinctly  plain 
to  all  who  read  it  that  it  must  have  been  written 
to  give  a  very  unfavorable  impression  of  the 
abused  Herefords.  [Allen  did  not  mention  the 
name  of  Sotham  in  his  book,  purporting  to 
be  a  history  of  cattle  breeds  entitled  "Ameri- 
can Cattle/'  referring  to  Mr.  Sotham  as  "an 
Englishman."  T.  L.  M.]  He  tried  to  make  it 
appear  that  those  I  sent  to  the  East  from  Al- 
bany had  no  reputation,  while,  in  fact,  the 
steers  bred  from  the  bulls  I  sold  to  Mr.  Bing- 
ham,  of  Vermont,  and  others,  stood  higher  in 
the  Boston  market  than  any  other,  and  were 
much  sought  after  by  the  butchers,  although 
only  half-bred. 

I  refer  you  to  a  letter  from  Mr.  Gregory,  in 
the  Albany  "Cultivator"  of  1851,  page  305. 
He  says :  "A  car-load  of  two-year-old  Hereford 
steers,  on  ordinary  keeping,  astonished  the  Bos- 
ton buyers  and  butchers,  and  sold  higher  per 
pound  than  any  other."  What  could  L.  F.  Al- 
len have  been  thinking  of  when  he  tried 
to  injure  those  Herefords  which  he  said  the 
Englishman  (moaning  W.  H.  Sotham)  sent  to 
Vermont  and  Maine  ?  He  knew  when  he  wrote 
that  pretended  history  that  he  was  deviating 
from  the  truth.  I  sold  several  to  go  to  Maine, 
where  they  succeeded  admirably. 

He  knew  full  well  the  full  history  of  the 
importation  of  Mr.  Corning  and  myself;  fre- 
quently sympathized  with  me  for  the  loss  we 
had  sustained  at  sea,  but  I  always  mistrusted 
his  sympathy  was  feigned  for  a  selfish  purpose, 
and  so  it  ultimately  proved.  His  object  was  to 
obtain  the  Herefords,  if  possible,  and  applied  to 
Mr.  Corning  to  see  if  he  could  purchase  them, 
by  giving  him  time,  but  Mr.  C.  informed  him 
that  if  the  Herefords  were  sold  that  I  should 
have  the  advantage,  and  at  half  the  price  he 
would  sell  them  to  anyone  else. 

Mr.  L.  F.  Allen  did  not  dream  of  the  state- 
ments he  made,  for  he  knew  the  whole  particu- 
lars. He  knew  I  was  dependent  on  Mr.  Corn- 
ing's  generosity.  He  came  to  see  me  at  Albany 
and  went  to  see  the  Herefords  (fl  95).  Mr. 
Corning  told  him  that  I  should  have  them  as 
above  stated.  Mr.  Allen  had  been  in  the  Legis- 
lature, was  a  prolific  speaker  at  every  meeting 
connected  with  agriculture,  generally  chief 
spokesman,  and  was  never  more  happy  than 
when  upon  his  legs  and  his  tongue  going. 

Under  the  circumstances  I  confided  in  what 


he  told  me.  "You  buy  the  Herefords,"  said  he, 
"take  them  up  to  Black  Rock.  My  brother  will 
sell  you  his  cows,  eighteen  in  number,  his  cans, 
and  half  of  the  team  and  wagon,  which  draw  his 
and  my  milk  to  Buffalo.  The  milk  business  is 
good,  you  can  soon  pay  for  the  cows  from  their 
milk,  and  the  Herefords  will  sell  there.  The 
timothy  grows  as  high  as  the  fence,  the  shady 
pastures  are  always  good;  you  cannot  help  but 
make  money,  and  you  and  I  can  send  up  our 
milk  together,  as  my 
brother  and  I  have 
done."  This  struck 
me  as  an  excellent 
opening.  I  made  the 
purchase  and  took 
possession  —  sent  up 
my  milk  with  L.  F. 
Allen;  but  I  soon 
found  out  that  the 
demand  for  it  was 
not  so  good  as  repre- 
sented, the  price  low- 
er, and,  for  the  first 
time,  I  began  to  sus- 
pect that  the  Aliens 
were  getting  out  of  it 
on  that  account;  but 
I  got  on  in 
way 

milk  paid  my  expenses  and  a  little  over, 
about  a  year  I  sold  to  R.  L.  Allen  two  Here- 
ford heifer  calves,  to  be  sent  to  Cuba,  the  price 
of  which  about  half  paid  for  the  Allen  cows. 
He  purchased  at  the  same  time  about  six  Short- 
horns of  L.  F.  Allen.  They  were  all  shipped 
together  to  New  York;  from  there  by  R.  L. 
Allen  to  Cuba.  The  whole  of  the  Shorthorns 
died  on  the  voyage,  and  the  two  Herefords  were 
the  only  ones  that  landed  safely.  This  Mr.  A. 
B.  Allen  published  in  the  "Agriculturist," 
when  he  was  its  editor. 

After  trying  the  milk  business  one  year,  in 
connection  with  the  Herefords,  I  found  the  ob- 
ject of  Mr.  L.  F.  Allen  getting  me  there  was  to 
get  his  brother  as  well  out  of  it  as  he  could, 
and  give  him  a  chance  to  get  some  of  the  Here- 
fords, of  which  I  sold  him  three — a  bull,  a  cow 
and  a  heifer  calf.  He  took  these  three  to  Al- 
bany, with  the  whole  of  his  Shorthorns,  with 
one  of  the  most  flattering  advertisements  in 
the  Albany  "Cultivator  and  Country  Gentle- 
man" that  was  ever  put  into  print,  and  a  com- 
ment made  by  the  editor  of  the  high  value  of 
this  herd  of  the  editor  of  the  "Shorthorn  Herd 
Book."  All  of  the  Shorthorns  that  were  sold  at 
the  sale  were  two,  purchased  by  Mr.  Geo.  Vail, 
of  Troy,  whose  sale  was  soon  to  follow,  and  the 


W.    E.    BRITTEN, 
HEREFORD,    ENG. 

the   best  (A   large   exporter   of  Herefords 
u          -.«-  to   America.) 

I     could.      My 

In 


190 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFOED     CATTLE 


cause  of  his  buying,  as  he  told  me  subsequently, 
was  to  encourage  L.  F.  Allen,  and  a  few  weeks 
after  they  were  included  in  his  sale.  The  Here- 
fords  were  the  only  ones  for  which  he  received 
the  cash.  Mr.  Erastus  Corning,  Jr.,  seeing 
Earity  among  such  a  miserable  lot  of  Short- 
horns of  the  "Allen  display,"  which  those  who 
came  there  expected  to  see  from  the  flaming  ad- 
vertisement, bought  her  for  $100.  And  Baron 
DeLonegdale,  of  Kingston,  Canada,  purchased 
the  bull  and  heifer. 

I  must  deviate  from  my  subject  here  to  tell 
you  that  L.  F.  Allen  was  not  only  a  very  care- 
less breeder,  but  a 
most  miserable 
feeder,  to  which 
I  was  witness.  I 
did  not  see  a 
spring  while  I  was 
at  Black  Eock  but 
many  of  his  cattle 
had  to  be  lifted 
up  by  tlie  tail  in 
their  weakness. 
This  was  the  case 
the  same  spring  he 
sent  his  Short- 
horns to  Albany 
for  sale,  hence 
their  miserable 
appearance.  The 
best  Shorthorns 
are  an  excellent  breed,  but  it  is  just  such  novices 
as  these,  under  the  false  pretense  of  breed- 
ers, who  have  destroyed 
The  clan  of  Bates  men, 
before  named,  have  been 
the  Shorthorn  breed.  J. 
Judge  T.  C.  Jones,  who 
many  to  be  "somewhat  sound,"  proved  them- 
selves to  have  been  almost  insane.  The  latter 
does  not  know  which  horn  of  the  dilemma 
to  hang  his  hat  upon,  "Booth  or  Bates."  Here 
it  was  where  he  got  himself  while  recently  in 
England.  He  is  now  in  a  quandary  as  to  which 
side  he  had  better  take,  and  Sanders  is  in  the 
same  situation  as  to  discover  the  best  way  to 
advise  him. 

It  is  these  novices  I  have  described,  and  oth- 
ers of  the  same  sort,  that  have  injured  the 
Shorthorns.  The  breed  itself  is  a  good  one  when 
in  the  hands  of  good  and  practical  men ;  and  it 
is  proper  to  have  two  such  breeds  as  Herefords 
and  Shorthorns  to  contend  against  each  other. 
If  I  was  put  on  as  judge  of  the  two  breeds  I 
would  give  it  to  the  best  animal  and  to  the  best 
of  my  judgment,  notwithstanding  some  men 
suppose  I  am  prejudiced  against  Shorthorns.  I 


J.    H.    BURLEIGH, 

MECHANICSVILLE,    IA. 

(Forty  years  a  Hereford  breeder.) 


their  reputation, 
of  which  I  have 
a  direct  curse  to 
H.  Sanders,  and 
were  supposed  by 


may  have  a  dislike  to  the  novices  I  have  named 
that  have  abused  the  Shorthorns,  but  I  value 
the  best  of  the  breed;  and  I  have  frequently 
been  told  by  some  of  the  best  breeders  of  Short- 
horns that  I  have  done  them  much  more  good 
than  those  flattering  scribes  who  had  not  brains 
enough  to  sustain  what  they  wrote. 

I  found  that  the  supply  of  milk  in  Buffalo 
was  greater  than  the  demand,  and  when  re- 
duced to  two  cents  per  quart  there  was  no  profit. 
At  this  critical  point  Lewis  F.  Allen  and  his 
farm  manager  fell  out  and  a  dispute  arose  be- 
tween them  that  could  not  be  settled  without  a 
lawsuit;  at  the  same  time  the  Grand  Island 
farm  milk  had  obtained  a  bad  reputation,  and 
as  my  milk  was  sent  up  with  it,  and  the  sour 
milk  returned  was  divided  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  gallons  of  each,  I  supposed  there 
was  something  more  than  common  the  matter, 
as  I  had  so  much  coming  to  my  share. 

Whenever  I  went  to  Buffalo  the  customers 
always  told  me  that  my  cans,  which  had  a  spot 
of  solder  on  each,  to  distinguish  them  from  L. 
F.  Allen's,  were  always  sweet  and  good  [natur- 
ally attributed  to  the  richness  of  the  Hereford 
milk.  T.  L.  M.],  while  those  without  the  spot 
were  always  not  only  inferior  but  often  sour 
before  half  was  sold.  The  lawsuit  came  on  be- 
tween Allen  and  his  man,  and  I  was  present 
through  the  whole  trial.  Mr.  John  Townsend, 
his  foreman,  produced  his  witnesses  to  prove 
that  he  had  done  his  duty  faithfully,  and  Mr. 
Allen  produced  his  to  defeat  their  testimony. 
After  the  former  had  brought  all  in,  the  wit- 
nesses of  the  latter  came.  The  first  on  the  stand 
swore  as  follows:  "Do  you  work  for  Mr.  Al- 
len?" "I  do."  "In  what  capacity?"  "I  milk 
part  of  the  cows,  and  help  take  charge  of  the 
milk."  "What  did  you  do  with  the  milk  after 
you  put  it  into  the  cans  ?"  "We  stood  the  cans 
in  the  river  up  to  their  necks ;  the  night's  milk 
went  to  Buffalo  in  the  morning,  and  the  morn- 
ing in  the  evening;  we  put  ice  in  the  cans  to 
cool  it."  "What  else  did  you  do  ?"  "We  took 
off  the  cream."  "By  what  orders  did  vou  take 
off  the  cream?"  "By  Mr.  Allen's."  "Did  he 
ever  go  with  you  to  do  this  ?'•'  "Yes."  "Did  he 
say  that  it  was  all  right  ?"  "Sometimes  he  told 
us  we  did  not  take  off  enough,  and  showed  us 
how  to  do  it."  "What  did  you  do  with  the 
cream?"  "Mrs.  Townsend  made  butter." 
"What  did  you  do  with  the  butter?" 
"Part  of  it  was  kept  for  the  use  of  the 
house  on  the  farm,  and  the  other  was  sent 
to  Mr.  Allen's  house."  The  second  witness  was 
called,  whose  name  was  Edward.  He  was  the 
second  person  who  milked  and  helped  take  care 
of  the  milk;  he  principally  corroborated  the 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFOED     CATTLE 


191 


former's  statement.  Then  came  the  man  who 
drove  the  team  and  delivered  the  milk  to  the 
customers,  who  was  a  German.  "Do  you  take 
the  milk  of  Mr.  Allen  to  market?"  "I  do." 
"Was  there  any  complaint  of  his  milk  among 
the  customers?"  "There  was.  Mr.  Allen  told 
them  that  his  man  did  not  send  the  milk  from 
the  farm  according  to  orders."  "Did  you  take 
up  the  milk  of  Mr.  Sotham  at  the  same  time  ?" 
"I  did."  "Was  there  any  complaint  about  his 
milk?"  "No;  all  the  customers  wanted  the 
cans  with  the  spot  on  it,  as  all  sold  before  it 
became  sour."  "What  did  you  do  with  the  sour 
milk?"  "It  came  back  and  I  measured  and 
put  some  in  both  cans,  to  be  divided  according 
to  the  agreement  made  by  Mr.  S.  and  Mr.  A. 
Mr.  Allen  collected  the  money  every  week  and 
paid  Mr.  S.  his  share,  deducting  the  number 
of  gallons  of  sour  according  to  the  number  of 
gallons  taken  up."  This  settled  my  determina- 
tion to  quit  the  milk  business,  as  I  could  rely 
on  the  just  testimony  given,  and  the  witnesses 
are  now  living  -in  the  neighborhood  of  Black 
Rock  and  Buffalo,  who  will  vouch  for  the  facts 
just  as  I  have  stated  them.  I  then  began  to 
look  out  for  other  quarters  for  the  Herefords, 
but  my  means  were  limited,  the  times  were  very 
hard,  I  had  gotten  into  debt,  and  I  had  not  the 
ready  cash,  without  sacrificing  my  Herefords  to 
meet  them  or  to  procure  suitable  fresh  quarters. 

The  late  banker,  Hon.  Allen  Ayrault,  of  Gen- 
eseo,  N.  Y.,  came  to  see  the  Herefords,  having 
two  splendid  farms  of  his  own,  and  command 
of  the  late  Mr.  Spence's,  near  Geneseo.  He 
probably  was  one  of  the  best  judges  of  cattle 
in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  made  more 
money  by  feeding  the  best  than  any  man  in  that 
part  of  the  country.  Some  of  the  most  promi- 
nent graziers  in  the  United  States  are  located 
in  this  valley.  Such  gentlemen  as  the  late  Mr. 
Jas.  Wadsworth,  Dr.  Fitzhughs,  Mr.  C.  Jones, 
the  late  Mr.  Wm.  Wadsworth,  the  Messrs.  Bud- 
long,  Judge  Sibley,  and  other  wealthy  graziers, 
took  very  active  parts,  all  of  whom  thoroughly 
understood  their  business  and  who  owned  some 
of  the  best  land  for  grazing  of  any  men  in  the 
Union. 

The  Genesee  Flats  are  as  well  known  through 
the  United  States  as  any  other  part  of  it. 
Although  a  very  circuitous,  muddy  stream 
winds  its  way  through  this  fertile  valley,  it  was 
the  means  by  which  it  was  enriched.  When  the 
floods  came  the  sediment  remained  as  a  fertil- 
izer, and  the  water  did  not  remain  long  enough 
to  do  very  much  damage,  and  the  occupants 
were  generally  prepared  for  it.  I  knew  the 
country  well  and  felt  it  would  be  just  the  coun- 
try for  the  Herefords. 


Mr.  Ayrault  was  highly  pleased  with  the  cat- 
l^e.  He  said  he  had  previously  seen  them  at 
State  Fairs,  but  he  said  that  the  Shorthorns 
had  got  such  a  strong  hold,  were  so  strongly 
supported  by  rich  men,  that  Herefords  could 
have  no  chance.  He  viewed  them  very  closety 
in  their  pastures,  and  said,  "what  do  you  feed 
these  cattle  beside  what  they  get  here  ?"  I  told 
him  the  grass  was  all  they  had.  He  seemed  to 
doubt  me,  but  did  not  say  so.  "To  tell  you  the 
truth,  Mr.  Ayrault,  I  have  not  the  means  to 
buy  forcing  feed  for  them,  and  if  I  had,  I  do 
not  believe  they  require  it.  They,  like  myself, 
are  willing  to  work  for  their  living,  and  they 
will  live  upon  the  roughest  kind  of  feed,  which 
you  see  growing  in  these  pastures." 

He  proposed  a  loan  and  again  looked  them 
through  very  steadfastly,  and  said:  "Money 
is  exceedingly  tight  now,  and  chattel  security 
very  treacherous.  I  will  make  a  proposition  to 
you.  There  is  a  very  nice  cow ;"  pointing  to  my 
best  three-year-old.  "If  you  will  give  me  that 
cow,  and  drive  all  the  others  over  to  Geneseo,  I 
will  rent  you  the  best  flat  land  there  is  in  the 
valley,  a  portion  of  the  late  Major  Spence's 
splendid  farm,  at  a  very  reasonable  rate.  Re- 
member, it  is  a 
very  hard  matter 
to  get  money  now. 
You  may  not  get 
such  a  chance 
again."  I  asked 
him  if  he  would 
not  take  some 
other  cow  than 
the  one  he  had 
fixed  upon ;  that 
she  was  my  best 
cow  and  was 
named  (Anne) 
after  my  wife,  and 
that  I  considered 
her  as  good  a  cow 
as  there  was  in 
America.  He  said, 
"I  am  better 
'fixed'  to  put  her 
in  condition  than  you  are.  I  think  it  will 
be  an  advantage  to  you.  It  is  worth  more 
money  than  you  would  ask  for  her  in  these 
close  times."  The  Genesee  Flats  were  very 
tempting,  and  I  thought  such  grass  would 
so  much  improve  the  Herefords  that  I  accepted 
the  offer.  Mr.  Ayrault  drew  a  check  for  the 
money,  and  I  made  arrangements  to  leave  Black 
Rock,  and  more  especially  L.  F.  Allen  and  the 
milk  business. 


WALTER   M.    MORGAN, 

IRVING,    KAN. 

(Forty  years  a  breeder  of  Here- 
fords.) 


192 


PAET  V. 

It  was  a  hard  blow  to  part  with  my  favorite* 
Not  only  was  she  the  best  cow  I  had,  but  I  be- 
lieve she  was  as  good  a  one  as  I  ever  saw.  Noth- 
ing could  have  induced  me  to  part  with  her  had 
I  the  means  to  carry  me  through.  I  went  back 
with  him  to  look  at  the  pastures,  and  found 
them  all  that  he  had  represented,  and  rented 
a  house  in  the  village  of  Piffard.  I  felt  satis- 
fied that  the  Herefords  would  get  fat  in  those 
pastures  "without  cake  or  corn." 

I  got  the  Herefords  together  and  drove  them 
myself  to  Geneseo,  glad  to  leave  Allen  and  the 

milk  business, 
with  the  privilege 
of  his  abusing  the 
Herefords  and  my- 
self to  his  heart's 
content,  and  that 
he,  Ambrose  Stev- 
ens, and  John  E. 
Page,  might  enjoy 
themselves  making 
pedigrees  to  suit 
their  own  inclina- 
tions, and  that  the 
latter  might  make 
all  crooked  lines 
straight  as  con- 
veniently as  he 
could  stretch  out 
his  conscience  to 
flatter  the  picture,  beyond  the  original,  to  its 
fullest  extent.  These  were  my  thoughts  as 
1  traveled  slowly  behind  my  cattle  to  their 
new  home,  and  wondered  how  thinking  men 
could  be  led  away  by  such  vain  pretenders,  who 
in  reality  could  not  discover  quality  in  the  live 
animal,  and  were  too  indolent  to  follow  them  to 
the  shambles. 

Without  the  practical  knowledge  of  "hand- 
ling" (by  "scientifics"  called  "the  touch")  no 
man  can  become  a  judge  or  successful  breeder. 
It  is  very  difficult  to  discover  real  worth  from 
tinsel,  and  it  is  certain  that  wrong  will  always 
bring  its  own  punishment,  therefore  I  will  leave 
these  worthies  in  their  flatteries  and  fiction  in 
their  full  enjoyment  and  proceed  on  my  way 
to  a  better  harbor,  where  prejudice  is  not  so 
strong  and  judgment  more  matured.  What 
struck  me  more  forcibly  was  that  this  trio 
should  be  so  conceitedly  vain  as  to  attempt  to 
teach  .others  so  much  better  informed  than 
themselves. 

It  has  been  very  unfortunate  for  Shorthorn 
breeders  to  have  such  men  to  lead  them  into 
visionary  scheming  and  recklessness  beyond  con- 


WILLIAM  A.   MORGAN, 

IRVING,   KAN., 
of  the  firm  of  W.  A.  Morgan  &  Son. 


trol.  Excitement  led  them  on  to  speculation, 
pride  stimulated  them  to  worship  pedigree,  and 
in  their  moneyed  power  rode  the  hobby  with 
whip  and  spur,  not  having  the  judgment  to 
discover  the  true  valuable  points  to  constitute 
a  perfect  beefing  animal,  which  leaves  their 
faith  intact,  and  their  knowledge  of  quality 
only  a  sham.  If  Shorthorns  are  still  held  up 
I  must  do  my  best  to  meet  them. 

As  I  traveled  through  the  country  I  was 
asked  all  manner  of  questions,  most  of  them  too 
tedious  to  be  answered.  I  turned  my  cattle 
into  their  pastures,  which  were  luxuriant,  and 
the  following  morning  Mr.  Ayrault  drove  in 
with  his  splendid  pair  of  dappled  greys.  The 
cattle  had  filled  themselves  splendidly,  some  of 
them  resting  themselves  from  their  journey,  and 
sleeping  in  the  sun.  "Mr.  Sotham,  I  like  your 
cattle  very  much;  they  are  just  what  we  want 
on  our  rich  flats.  There  are  many  rich  men 
here,  and  I  shall  have  much  pleasure  in  driving 
them  here  to  see  them;  most  of  them  visit  me 
frequently.  I  will  send  my  man  for  my  cow 
to-morrow.  She  is  a  good  one,  is  she  not?" 
"I  should  like  you  to  show  me  a  better  amongst 
all  your  rich  men,"  was  my  answer.  I  delivered 
the  cow  to  his  man,  who  drove  her  to  his  farm, 
and  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  shower  put  her  into 
a  luxuriant  clover  pasture,  where  she  bloated 
and  died,  and  when  opened  had  a  heifer  calf, 
within  six  weeks  of  calving.  If  some  Short- 
horn men  had  had  such  a  truly  valuable  cow  as 
this  die,  they  would  have  said  they  had  lost 
$10,000.  When  the  news  came  to  me,  if  I  had 
lost  one  of  my  children  I  could  not  have  felt 
more  dejected.  I  thought  fate  was  against  me. 
After  they  had  been  there  about  a  month  I  never 
saw  cows  improve  faster  or  fatter  calves  by  their 
sides — not  one  but  was  first-class  beef  or  veal. 
The  heifers  not  sucking  were  thriving  too  fast. 

Mr.  Ayrault  drove  into  the  pastures,  sur- 
veyed the  cattle  with  scrutinizing  eye.  "Well, 
sir,"  said  he,  "I  have  been  reading  your  articles 
in  the  Albany  "Cultivator  and  Country  Gentle- 
man" very  carefully.  Your  reply  to  Mr.  Henry 
S.  Randall  is  practically  magnificent.  I  think 
neither  he  nor  Judge  Hepburn  will  trouble  you 
again.  That  letter  is  a  grand  help  to  the 
Herefords,  and  I  suppose  all  you  say  is  true." 
"Mr.  Ayrault,"  I  said,  "I  always  endeavor  to 
write  the  truth,  without  which  no  mail  is  capa- 
ble of  entering  into  a  controversy.  Mr.  H.  S. 
Randall  is  a  prolific  and  classical  writer,  Judge 
Hepburn  a  rich  and  prominent  man  on  the 
bench,  but  my  opinion  is  that  neither  of  them 
has  sufficient  knowledge  of  Herefords  to  write 
against  them.  I  know  nothing  of  the  classics, 
and  but  little  of  grammar,  and  advance  my 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     C  A  T  T  L  E 


193 


opinions  in  my  own  way,  and  in  plain  language, 
llave  you  seen  the  letter  of  Win.  Kingham?" 
••Yes,  I  have.  You  could  not  have  had  a 
I ictter  endorser.  Although  he  is  not  a  classi- 
cal writer,  he  certainly  is  a  very  practical  man, 
and  seems  to  write  facts."'  I  will  here  copy  the 
k'tter. 

|  \Vo  omit  the  letter  of  Mr.  Kingham,  which 
we  have  reproduced  heretofore  in  Chapter  XI. 
-T.  L.  M.J 

.Mr.  Ayrault  asked  me  if  I  would  not  sell  him 
my  best  bull  for  $100.  "If  you  will  do  so  I  will 
have  his  picture  taken  and  my  name  shall  be 
put  under  him  as  the  owner,  which  will  go  far  to 
help  you,  and  you  know  as  you  are  situated  you 
cannot  afford  to  pay  for  that  picture."  I  asked 
him  what  I  should  do  for  a  bull  to  show  at  the 
State  Fair  at  the  head  of  my  herd.  "Your 
young  bull  is  good  enough,"  said  he,  "and  my 
name  appearing  in  the  paper  under  the  picture 
(H  96)  of  Tromp  will  do  you  great  service.  I 
am  so  well  known  amongst  cattlemen  and  have 
great  influence  with  some  of  them.  I  lend 
them  money  to  buy  the  cattle  they  take  to  New 
York  market.  Remember,  the  cow  I  got  for 
lending  you  the  money,  died,  from  which  I  had 
no  benefit ;  you  must  sell  me  the  bull  lower  on 
that  account."  "Had  your  man  known  enough 
not  to  have  turned  her  into  that  wet,  young 
clover  the  cow  would  have  been  still  living, 
which  you  must  be  aware."  This  he  admitted. 

I  consented  to  let  him  have  the  bull,  though 
I  thought  him  worth  double  the  money.  Tromp 
was  put  in  the  "Cultivator,"  but  his  picture  did 
not  do  him  justice.  The  State  Show  at  Roches- 
ter came.  The  prizes  were  as  they  always  had 
been,  half  in  value  and  half  in  number,  that 
for  Shorthorns.  Mr.  Ayrault  beat  me  in  bulls, 
but  I  gained  most  of  the  others  in  Herefords, 
but  they  were  not  sufficient  to  pay  the  expenses. 
Many  who  had  a  strong  passion  for  red  had  a 
forcible  effecting  prejudice  against  any  other 
color;  condemned  their  white  faces  and  long 
horns.  The  Shorthorn  men  were  exceedingly 
jealous  of  them  as  rivals.  L.  F.  Allen  was  there 
and  blew  his  horn  loud  and  long.  The  majority  of 
the  Executive  Committee  were  Shorthorn  men. 
or  influenced  by  them :  many  had  been  so  from 
the  commencement  of  the  New  York  State  Ag- 
ricultural Society.  It  developed  that  the  object 
of  my  money-lending  friend  was  to  get  these 
cattle  of  me  by  degrees  at  very  low  prices.  His 
constant  plea  was  that  chattel  mortgages  were 
very  precarious,  and  that  I  must  consider  it  a 
very  great  favor  to  have  money  lent  upon  one. 
I  sold  him  two  heifers  to  apply  on  the  debt,  for 
$60  each,  about  half  as  much  as  they  were  really 
worth.  My  calves  were  not  in  the  mortgage,  so 


I  sold  a  bull  and  a  heifer  calf  to  a  gentleman 
for  $200,  and  the  gentleman  drove  them  off. 
I  went  to  Mr.  Ayrault  and  paid  $125  of  it  on 
my  debt.  "Why,  you  had  no  right  to  sell  any- 
thing without  first  consulting  me.  I  shall  send 
my  man  and  have  them  driven  back  again." 
His  lawyer  lived  next  door,  whom  he  consulted, 
who  subsequently  informed  me  that  he  in- 
formed him  that  I  had  a  perfect  right  to  sell 
those  calves,  and  apply  the  money  as  I  thought 
proper.  "Now,  sir,  if  you  sell  another  calf  of 
either  sex  out  of  that  herd  I  will  have  them  all 
sold." 

This  transaction  made  quite  a  stir  in  Geneseo 
and  the  neighborhood..  Now,  my  money-lending 
friend  was  known  by  the  familiar  name  of  "Old 
Slikey."  Numerous  men  came  to  caution  me 
against  "Slikey's"  tyranny,  and  told  me  of 
many  he  had  ruined  by  lending  money  and  tak- 
ing advantage  of  them.  Beware  of  "Old  Slikey" 


CHAS.    13.    STUART,    LAFAYETTE,    IND. 
(Framer  of  the  American   Hereford   Cattle   Breeders'   Asso- 
ciation's Rules  and  By-Laws.) 

was  constantly  brought  before  me.  "He  will 
catch  you  unawares,  as  is  his  custom."  I  felt 
that  I  was  in  a  very  precarious  situation.  I 
realized  this  to  be  the  case,  for  he  foreclosed, 
the  sale  was  advertised,  and  before  I  knew  of  it. 
the  bills  were  out  and  the  sale  was  to  take  place 
ten  days  from  the  date  of  the  bill. 


194 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


My  case  was  soon  noised  abroad,  and  many 
came  to  see  me,  knowing  that  1  was  fully  in  the 
clutches  of  "Old  Slikey,  the  money-shaver," 
and  I  received  much  sympathy.  Amongst  these 
gentlemen  was  Mr.  Murray,  of  Mount  Morris, 
but  a  few  miles  from  Geneseo,  and  who  well 
knew  the  shaving  principle  of  "Old  Slikey."  1 
told  him  my  situation  and  showed  him  the  cat- 
tle. Although  he  was  a  perfect  gentleman  in 
'every  particular,  he  was  no  judge  of  cattle,  but 
he  admired  them  very  much.  He  inquired  how 
much  was  the  indebtedness,  which  I  showed 
him.  He  offered  to  lend  me  the  money.  Mr. 
Murray  was  a  large  capitalist  and  a  true  phi- 
lanthropist. We 
talked  the  matter 
all  over  and  con- 
cluded that  it 
would  be  much 
better  to  let  "Old 
Slikey"  sell  under 
mortgage,  and  to 
call  my  friends  to- 
gether, which  I 
did.  The  day  came 
and  I  found  that  I 
was  surrounded  by 
friends  who  were 
all  strangers  to 
"Slikey."  He  drove 
up  to  the  crowd 
with  his  pair  of 
dappled  greys  and  addressed  his  auctioneer. 
Their  faces  were  familiar  to  each  other. 
"Go  on  with  the  sale,"  said  "Slikey."  The 
first  cow  was  put  up.  The  money-lender 
was  the  first  bidder — $50.  The  biddings  were 
spirited,  and  she  was  knocked  down  to  Mr. 
Murray  at  $165.  "Slikey"  looked  around  with 
a  little  surprise,  and  seeing  strangers  he  could 
not  recognize  he  did  not  know  what  to  make  of 
it.  The  next  cow  came ;  the  banker  offered  $50, 
she  ran  up  to  $162,  and  was  knocked  down  to 
Mr. 'John  Lapham,  of  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  The 
next  .came  a  very  good  cow,  and  known  to  be 
a  very  great  favorite  of  "Slikey's,"  who  put  her 
in  at  $75,  then  bid  up  to  $100.  There  she 
stood  for  a  while;  Mr.  Murray 'bid  $150.  Hon. 
E.  Casner,  of  Penn  Yan,  bought  her  for  $175. 
"Slikey"  looked  around  with  astonishment.  Al- 
though, when  he  alighted  from  his  carriage  he 
looked  as  slick  as  "Beau  Brummel"  ever  did 
look,  and  as  he  viewed  the  crowd,  he  found  he 
had  some  substantial  men  around  him. 

Another  cow  was  ordered  in,  with  a  young 
heifer  catf;  a  wag  inquired  if  the  calf  was  in 
the  mortgage.  "Slikey"  looked  at  him,  and  said, 
"What  business  have  you  to  make  any  remarks, 


EDWIN    PHELPS,    PONTIAC 
MICH. 


sir ;  I  know  my  business."  "So  do  1,"  said  the 
wag,  "and  if  the  cow  and  calf  is  to  be  sold  sep- 
arately, and  I  buy  the  calf,  I  want  to  know  who 
I  am  to  pay  my  money  to."  All  understood 
this  thrust  at  "Old  Slikey,"  and  the  laugh  was 
loud  and  hearty.  He  stood  erect,  as  if  before 
the  glass  after  fixing  his  toilet.  At  length  he 
said,  "The  cow  and  calf  will  be  sold  together." 
The  wag  said,  "Will  Mr.  Sotham  agree  to  that 
without  being  consulted?"  "Slikey"  was  all 
confusion.  He  began  to  feel  that  the  public 
knew  the  secrets  of  his  heart.  The  cow  was  of 
the  first-class,  and  "Slikey"  often  wanted  me  to 
sell  her  to  him  before  she  calved,  at  $100.  There 
was  but  little  choice  in  ten  of  them.  The  cow 
and  calf  were  put  up  together.  "Slikey" put  them 
in  at  $100.  Mr.  Murray  offered  $200 ;  Mr.  Cas- 
ter $210;  Mr.  Lapham  $220;  "Old  Slikey" 
$225 ;  Robert  Rome,  the  well-known  cattle 
buyer  of  Geneseo,  $230;  "Slikey"  $240;  Mr. 
Murray  $250,  and  she  was  knocked  down  to  him 
among  loud  cheers  from  the  crowd,  and  this 
was  the  highest  price  I  ever  sold  a  Hereford. 

At  this  juncture  Mr.  Murray  and  Mr.  Casner 
came  to  me  and  asked  if  I  wanted  to  have  any 
more  sold.  I  told  them  that  I  could  not  help 
myself.  "You  go  tell  the  banker  that  you  will 
have  no  more  sold,"  which  I  did.  He  looked 
almost  black  in  the  face.  "What  right  have  you 
to  stop  the  sale?  there  is  not  much  over  half 
enough  sold  to  pay  your  indebtedness  of  mort- 
gages and  rent.  I  am  surprised  at  your  impu- 
dence, sir."  There  were  lots  of  listeners  around 
to  hear  what  was  going  to  be  done.  .  He  looked 
at  me  as  contemptuously  as  he  well  knew  how. 
"Go  on  with  the  sale,  Mr.  Auctioneer ;  but  little 
over  half  of  the  indebtedness  is  yet  reached." 
Mr.  Murray  and  Mr.  Casner  stepped  up  to  him 
and  told  him  to  make  up  the  balance  of  Mr. 
Sotharrrs  indebtedness,  and  they  would  pay  it. 
The  "shaving  banker"  knew  not  which  way  to 
look ;  all  eyes  were  upon  him. 


PART  VI. 

I  have  not  said  much  of  Mr.  Francis  Rotch. 
of  Butternuts,  Otsego  County,  a  retired  banker, 
and  a  follower  of  Bates,  a  pet  scribe  of  the  Al- 
bany "Cultivator  and  Country  Gentleman."  He 
was  also  somewhat  of  an  artist — sketched  many 
animals  for  the  paper — though  they  were  not 
so  highly  flattered  as  those  of  John  R.  Page. 
He  was  about  generalissimo  of  these  papers  and 
took  the  junior  editor,  Luther  Tucker,  Jr., 
under  his  care.  He  made  much  of  him,  and  he 
frequently  visited  him  at  his  farm.  He  advised 
his  father  to  send  "young  Luther"  to  England, 


HISTORY     OF     HEEEFOBD     CATTLE 


195 


and  the  "Bates  ring"  promised  to  do  much  for 
him. 

Luther  Tucker,  Jr.,  was  then  but  a  stripling, 
but  being  the  son  of  a  very  worthy  father,  whose 
character  for  integrity  and  truth  was  well 
known,  was  an  advantage  to  him.  He  managed 
through  Mr.  Bates  and  others,  to  whom  he  had 
introductory  letters,  to  obtain  a  good  showing 
off.  He  became  acquainted  with  the  "Druid," 
a  gentleman  who  wrote  much  for  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express."  At  that  time  Luther  wrote  some 
communication  for  the  paper,  copying  as  near 
as  his  ability  would  admit,  the  Druid  style ;  tried 
to  imitate  his  style,  and  in  his  deep  study  im- 
paired his  constitution  for  a  while,  which  com- 
pelled him  to  give  it  up.  Ultimately  the  young 
man  began  to  think  himself  out  of  his  "leading 
strings;"  he  could  adopt  a  style  and  language 
of  his  own.  He  praised  Bates  highly  for  favors 
received,  gave  him  a  puff  in  the  "Cultivator," 
and  returned  to  America  to  take  the  position  as 
junior.  A  short  time  had  elapsed  before  he 
paid  Mr.  Rotch  a  visit,  who  at  that  time  had  a 
pure  Bates  bull,  which  he  contemplated  sending 
to  England  to  catch  the  enthusiastic  followers 
of  Bates,  whose  mania  was  nearly  at  full  height. 
The  junior  editor  in  his  youthful  state  was  in 
ecstasy  when  nattered  by  such  a  man  as  Fran- 
cis Rotch,  Esq.,  of  Butternuts,  whom  he  sup- 
posed stood  so  high  in  the  Bates  ring  and  was 
very  wealthy.  "But  what  went  he  out  for  to 
see  ?  A  reed  shaken  with  the  wind,"  or  a  Bates 
bull  he  had  so  partially  extolled  in  England. 
The  truth  was  evident.  They  went  to  the  stable 
and  the  bull  was  ordered  out.  About  this  time 
the  strongest  objection  to  the  Dukes  were  their 
coarseness  and  sluggishness,  even  by  the  most 
imaginative  of  Bates  men.  "Now,"  says  Mr. 
Rotch,  "I  want  to  show  you  the  activity  of  this 
bull  so  you  can  explain  to  the  public  that  the 
sluggishness  of  Shorthorns  is  unfounded." 

The  bull  was  brought  out.  .  He  described  him 
as  follows :  "He  came  out  of  his  stall  with  his 
head  and  his  tail  up."  As  he  was  led  to  and 
fro  Mr.  Rotch  said,  "Did  you  ever  see  such  ac- 
tivity in  a  bull  of  his  great  size  ?"  "No,  never," 
said  the  junior  editor.  "He  can  move  like  a  race 
horse,  his  action  is  extremely  good ;  he  has  such 
a  beautiful  high  crest  he  cannot  help  but  move 
actively,  more  especially  with  his  large  size, 
large  bon-;-,  and  large,  long  legs;  he  is  ex- 
tremely active." 

"See  what  a  loin  he  has,"  said  Mr.  Rotch. 

"And  look  at  his  high  hips,"  said  the  other ; 
"that  in  horses  is  an  indication  of  speed." 

"Look  what  a  cupboard  he  carries;  that  is 
what  we  want  to  make  beef,"  said  Mr.  Rotch. 

"Then  look  what  a  slender  waist  he  has ;  more 


like  a  Duchess  than  a  Duke,"  said  the  editor. 

Although  this  may  not  be  exactly  the  same 
language  as  was  published  in  the  "Cultivator," 
it  is  so  near  that  it  would  be  folly  for  anyone 
to  dispute  it,  and  I  can  refer  to  the  original. 
After  it  appeared  I  wrote  a  criticism  of  this  ri- 
diculous, supposed-puff  for  Rotch,  but  it  was 
refused  publication.  I  sent  it  to  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express,"  where  it  was  published.  Wm. 
Carr,  who  wrote  that  interesting  book  on  the 
Booth  Shorthorns,  embraced  the  opportunity 
and  commented  upon  it,  part  in  poetry  and  part 
in  prose,  in  which  Mr.  Rotch'' s  bull  was  eulo- 
gized as  coming  to  England  (fl  97),  and  the 
junior  .editor  of  the  "Cultivator"  was  coining 
with  him  to  ride  him  to  fox-hounds  to  show  his 
activity  as  a  Bates  Duke.  The  poem  was  a 
laughable  one,  which  I  am  sorry  to  say  was 
burned  up  with  my  furniture  in  the  Chicago  fire. 

This  bull  that  Mr.  Rotch  anticipated  send  in  ir 
to  England  was  one  of  the  coarsest  Dukes  of 
those  exciting  Bates  times.  Here  let  me  say, 
that  there  was  no  man  in  this  country  I  more 
highly  esteemed  than  Luther  Tucker,  Sr.  He 
was  a  purely  honest  man,  and  I  believe  a  sin- 
cere Christian ;  but  the  Bates  mania  overpow- 
ered him.  He  had  his  family  to  support  and  it 
was  his  duty  to  do 
it.  I  never  could 
properly  blame 
the  senior  editor. 
The  Bates  mania 
afforded  him  a 
profit,  and  he  en- 
couraged it.  He 
was  not  to  blame. 
The  Shorthorns 
were  very  valuable 
cattle,  but  the 
Bates  mania  was 
a  curse  to  them, 
which  all  who 
read  must  have 
learned,  and  those 
who  adopted  it 
found  it  a  curse  to  the  community.  After 
the  New  York  State  show  at  Poughkeepsie 
the  following  editorial  appeared  from  the 
pen  of  that  worthy  gentleman,  Luther  Tucker, 
Sr.,  editor  of  the  "Albany  Cultivator  and 
Country  Gentleman."  I  copy  verbatim  from 
the  "Cultivator  and  Country  Gentleman/' 
page  312,  October  number,  1844:  "Herefords. 
— The  only  specimens  in  this  class  were  eleven 
head  from  the  capital  herd  of  Messrs.  Corning 
&  Sotham,  Albany.  These  were  splendid  ani- 
mals. The  two-year-old  bulls  and  bull  calf, 
which  were  all  of  the  masculine  gender  exhib- 


H.    C.    BURLEIGH, 
VASSALBORO,    ME. 


196 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


ited,  were  good.  They  had  fine  limbs,  very  spa- 
cious chests,  round  bodies,  etc.  Several  of  the 
cows  were  very  extraordinary.  'Perfection'  is 
one  of  the  most  massive  cows  of  her  age  to  be 
found  anywhere,  and  'Aston  Beauty'  and  'Vic- 
toria' 1075,  for  beauty  and  finish,  can  scarcely 
be  surpassed,  if  equaled.  It  is  but  justice  to 
SMV  that  no  animals  on  the  ground  excited  more 
praise  than  these." 

I  called  upon  this  worthy  and  impartial  edi- 
tor (j[  98)  and  thanked  him  for  the  high  com- 
pliment he  had  paid  our  cattle,  and  told  him 


TOM.    C.    PONTING,     MOWEAQUA,    ILL. 
(The  first  man  to  drive  Texas  cattle  to  New  York.) 

that  I  thought  he  had  told  the  truth.  I  asked 
him  why  the  Society  would  not  allow  me  to 
show  against  the"  Shorthorns.  He  told  me  that 
"it  w-as  impossible  for  anyone  to  say  less  of 
them,  for  their  superiority  was  apparent,  but 
the  Shorthorns  had  become  so  strongly  estab- 
lished in  this  country  that  it  was  almost  im- 
possible to  contend  against  them.  Your  letters 
have  been  very  pointed,  although  I  publish 
them.  The  Shorthorn  breeders  thought  they 
were  very  severe,  and  my  son,  who  you  know 
has  just  returned  from  England,  and  is  now  a 
partner,  is  averse  to  having  them  published. 
He  speaks  so  highly  of  Mr.  Bates  and  the  ho*s- 
pitality  he  met  with  at  his  house,  that  he  is 
highly  impressed  in  favor  of  the  Bates  tribes, 
and  you  know  how  high  they  stand  in  this 
country  now." 

Whether  the  son  had  any  influence  with  the 
father  I  had  not  heard,  but  there  has  never 
been  an  editorial  in  favor  of  Herefords  since 
that  time. 


After  my  article  was  refused  publication  in 
the  "Cultivator,"  I  met  the  junior  editor,  but 
he  looked  cross-eyed  at  me.  I  began  to  joke  him 
about  the  Rotch  Duke,  but  he  made  himself 
scarce.  A  Shorthorn  breeder,  not  of  the  Bates 
clan,  was  present.  I  said  I  intended  to 
have  asked  him  if  he  was  going  to  take  the 
Bates  clique  with  him  to  England  to  see  the 
bull  take  his  fences  in  a  style  becoming  his 
action,  as  it  was  admitted  by  all  of  that  clan 
that  they  were  "all  stylish;  that  their  heads 
and  tails  were  always  up,"  and  legs  long  enough 
to  get  over  the  ground.  No  editor  could  be 
more  conspicuously  situated  than  to  be  thus 
placed,  for  all  the  Dukes,  Duchesses,  Lords  and 
Ladies  in  England  would  be  there  to  witness 
such  a  transaction,  and  the  example  would  be 
great  for  all  such  editors  to  follow. 

The  poem  of  Wm.  Carr,  and  the  comic  way 
he  described  "view  halloo"  and  "bull  bellow," 
was  one  of  the  most  laughable  productions  of 
the  kind  that  was  ever  written.  It  stirred  up 
the  wrath  of  all  belonging  to  the  Bates  mania, 
as  the  poem  was  founded  upon  my  article. 

Auctioneers  were  more  in  demand,  the  ring 
became  more  excited,  sales  more  frequent,  coun- 
terfeit prices  were  obtained  to  make  the  Bates 
mania  popular.  Pedigree  was  all  in  all.  "Pedi- 
gree, oh,  pedigree,  thou  art  my  darling,  we 
praise  thee,  we  worship  thee,  we  give  thanks  to 
thee  with  sincere  affection.  Bates,  the  great  'I 
Am'  is  pure,  he  has  no  'alloy,'  he  detests  it,  and 
we,  his  devoted  followers,  endorse  him."  Such 
were  the  views  and  actions  of  this  devoted 
tribe. 

Thus  went  on  the  battle.  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers of  Bates  tribes  were  seen  traveling  all  over 
the  country,  to  consult  each  other,  as  the  Here- 
fords  must  be  kept  down  at  all  hazards,  regard- 
less of  their  true  merit.  The  ring  was  contin- 
ued and  none  admitted  unless  in  secret.  Bates 
Shorthorns  must  go  up  above  any  other  tribe, 
and  the  Herefords  must  be  put  down;  there 
was  no  other  alternative.  Expense  was  no  ob- 
ject; the  time  had  come  for  the  Bates  men  to 
be  up  and  stirring;  every  man  must  be  at  his 
post  when  necessary.  Every  flunky  belonging 
to  the  ring  must  do  his  duty.  The  editor  of  the 
"Shorthorn  Herd  Book"  must  add  flattering  no- 
tices to  the  preface  of  his  book;  Ambrose  Ste- 
vens' wits  must  be  stirred  up  to  aid  him  ;  Page's 
pencil  and  brush  must  be  kept  going,  and,  if 
possible,  in  more  flattering  style ;  nothing  must 
be  left  undone  that  can  be  done. 

Such  was  just  the  state  of  things  when  the 
unexpected  panic  came.  The  Bates  men 
dropped  off  financially,  one  after  another. 
Imaginary  rich  men  failed,  on  whom  not  the 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


19? 


least  suspicion  rested,  except  from  the  maniac 
prices  given,  which,  in  the  minds  of  prudent 
men,  was  a  caution  to  prevent  them  from  enter- 
ing into  this  mad  extreme  of  speculation  so  con- 
trary to  reason  and  prudence.  Being  supported 
by  men  of  supposed  moneyed  influence  was  the 
principal  cause  of  its  long  continuance.  Even 
now  some  of  the  aristocracy  of  England  con- 
tinue the  farce,  hut  they,  like  their  fat  calves, 
decline  as  the  "milk  fails."  Those  who  laid 
great  stress  on  the  traveling  exhibition  of  the 
"Bijou"  and  the  "White  Heifer,'1''  knew  nothing 
of  the  rules  of  good  breeding,  or  they  might 
have  known  at  once  that  both  of  these  animals 
were  very  injurious  patterns  by  which  novices 
in  breeding  wished  to  guide  them.  Every  de- 
scription of  them  has  been  of  extreme  coarse- 
ness of  frame  and  softness  of  flesh,  and  a 
paunch  purposely  made  to  consume  expensive 
provender  without  profit. 

Mark  how  the  brains  of  L.  F.  Allen  and  Am- 
brose Stevens  used  this  supposed  elevation  of 
the  Shorthorns — this  portable  caravansary,  con- 
taining the  show  ox  and  white  heifer  as  an 
example  of  exaltation  in  "American  Shorthorn 
Herd  Book"  (page  5  or  6  of  Vol.  II).  What 
would  either  of  these  gentlemen  say  now  should 
they  see  an  exact  picture  of  either,  without  flat- 
tery, transferred  to  the  "American  Shorthorn 
Herd  Book"  to  compare  with  the  flattering  ones 
of  John  R.  Page? 

When  all  of  these  flattering  gentlemen  speak 
of  these  "wonderful  animals"  they  think  "they 
struck  ile,"  at  the  same  time  the  Messrs.  Col- 
lings  were  taking  a  cross  with  the  Galloways  to 
.  reduce  the  Durhams'  coarseness  and  improve 
their  quality.  Both  were  overgrown,  overfed 
and  forced  to  the  extreme  to  create  wonder,  by 
which  they  did  much  to  the  injury  of  good 
breeding.  Notice  what  stress  Mr.  L.  F.  Allen 
made  on  the  craft  of  the  Messrs.  "Collings" 
when  they  started  this  wonderful  caravansary. 
Barnum  never  succeeded  so  well.  This,  his 
strongest  plea  for  Shorthorns,  in  the  second  vol- 
ume of  the  "American  Shorthorn  Herd  Book." 
There  were  hundreds  of  Herefords  that  out- 
weighed them  of  far  more  compact  character, 
supported  with  less  feed  and  expense^  less  bone 
and  offal,  that  were  of  far  superior  quality  and 
held  to  their  original  character,  which  had  been 
established  for  over  a  century  without,  like  the 
Shorthorn,  changing  their  pedigree  into  hodge- 
podge confusion,  of  which  all  the  hidden  secrets 
are  coming  to  light. 

Old  Father  Time  does  much  when  he  under- 
takes to  search  into  the  secrets  of  men's  hearts. 
Mr.  Allen  also  says  in  the  same  volume  that 
Mr.  Ceilings  was  a  close  man.  Are  we  to  infer 


from  this  that  he  kept  the  stock  bull  in  the  dark 
and  the  show  bull  in  the  sunshine?  What  will 
he  say  now,  as  he  discovers  those  secrets  are 
exposed?  Probably  Collings  will  "be  in  a  fix" 
when  he  is  compelled  to  reveal  those  secrets  he 
kept  in  that  closet. 

There  has  been  more  mystery  in  breeding 
Shorthorns  than  in  any  other  course  of  breed- 
ing, but  why  should  there  be  such  mystery,  un- 
less these  breeders  like  darkness  better  than 
light?  The  deceit  is  far  more  injurious.  It  is 
now  generally  believed  that  the  Shorthorns  are 
a  mixture  of  Durhams;  the  white  cattle  with 
red  noses  and  red  ears  of  Chillingham  Park; 
the  Dishley;  the  Devons;  the  Galloways;  the 
West  Highland,  and  last,  though  not  least,  the 
Herefords;  at  least  in  the  Seventeens,  which 
are  now  generally  conceded  to  be  the  best  of 
the  American  Shorthorn  tribes. 

I  have  no  objection  whatever  to  this  mixture ; 
such  experiments  are  beneficial,  and  are  the  art 
of  good  breeding,  had  they  not  been  kept  hi 
the  dark;  but  the  deception  kills  the  merit  due 
to  it.  Dukes,  Duchesses,  Lords  and  Ladies  were 
superfluous  names  to  exalt,  and  a  sham  to  de- 
stroy "good  breeding."  They  were  fascinating 
to  the  moneyed  man,  who  had  more  of  it  than 
brains,  and  who 
was  extremely 
anxious  for  a  con- 
spicuous title.  The 
white-faces  hold 
to  their  color  and 
keep  up  their 
character  for  sym- 
metry, substance 
and  quality,  prin- 
cipally derived 
from  good  breed- 
ing. Their  breed- 
ers have  not  stud- 
ied pedigree  so  ex- 
clusively;  they 
have  not  pinned 
their  faith  en- 
tirely to  it;  know  quality  by  the  hand,  sym- 
metry by  the  eye,  and,  being  aware  of  the  su- 
periority and  purity  of  their  own  breed  over  all 
others,  have  jealously  exerted  every  effort  to 
keep  it  pure.  Here  let  me  quote  a  letter  written 
to  me  by  Wm.  Cottier,  Middle  Aston,  Oxford- 
shire, England,  which  I  had  published  in  the 
Albany  "Cultivator,"  page  132,  August  number, 
1841,  soon  after  my  first  importation.  [This 
letter  we  omit  as  it  is  produced  in  full  in  Chap- 
ter XI,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred.  T. 
L.  M.] 

I  always  considered  Mr.  Cother  one  of  the 


11150 


A.  A.  CRANE,  HOUSTON,  TEX. 


198 


H1STOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


most  practical  men  and  as  good  a  j  udge  of  .any 
kind  of  animal  as  I  know,  and  he  stood  as  high 
as  a  Cotswold  breeder  as  any  in  England,  being 
a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Wm.  Hewer,  Sr.,  of  whom 
he  secured  a  part  of  his  Herefords  and  Cots- 
wolds;  he  was  a  school-fellow  of  mine,  and  we 
traveled  much  together  in  younger  days  to  the 
different  sales  of  Cotswolds  in  Gloucestershire 
and  in  Herefordshire  to  examine  the  Herefords. 
I  need  not  say  anything  in  favor  of  his  substan- 
tial mind,  as  the  letter  is  sufficient  proof.  When 
I  imported  the  Herefords  there  was  no  Here- 
ford Herd  Book,  but  I  had  full  and  correct 
pedigrees  of  all  I  imported  and  kept  them 
strictly  so,  but  the  great  fire  at  Chicago,  1871, 
destroyed  the  whole  of  my  records,  with  all  of 

my  furniture. 

*     *     * 

PAET   VII. 

Soon  after  the  New  York  Mills  sale  of  Short- 
horns Mr.  Cassius  M.  Clay  published  a  chal- 
lenge in  the  "Country  Gentleman"  that  he  and 
his  brother  Brutus  would  show  a  herd  of  one 
bull  and  seven  Shorthorn  cows  and  two  yearling 
heifers  against  any  two  breeders  of  Herefords 
in  the  United  States.  My  anxiety  was  great  to 
accept  that  challenge,  but  I  had  not  the  means 
to  meet  it. 

Mr.  Frederick  Pumpelly  of  Owego,  N.  Y.,  of 

whom  I  rented  my 
farm,  saw  the 
challenge  and 
came  to  see  me. 
"Why/'  said  he, 
"you  ought  to  ac- 
cept that.  Your 
cattle  look  well 
enough  to  show 
anywhere."  I  told 
him  I  had  not  the 
means  to  meet  the 
$200  deposit,  or 
the  money  to  get 
them  in  order  fit 
for  show.  "Call 
upon  me  for  all 
the  money  you 
want  for  expenses, 

and  I  will  deposit  $200  in  the  bank  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  where  he  proposes  to  meet  you  at  the 
National  Show."  I  immediately  accepted  the 
challenge. 

My  cattle,  having  lately  come  from  the  flats, 
were  in  excellent  store  condition.  I  fed  them 
corn  and  oats  ground  together,  in  addition  to 
their  pastures,  to  harden  them  for  the  journey. 
1  took  one  aged  bull,  seven  cows,  two  yearling 


F.  p.  CRANE, 

CHICAGO,    ILL., 
of  firm  of  A.   A.  Crane  &  Son. 


heifers,  three  bull  calves  and  one  yearling  bull, 
supposing  I  might  sell  all  of  the  latter. 

I  had  at  that  time  never  met  Mr.  Cassius  M. 
Clay,  (fl  99)  I  had  the  Herefords  nicely  fixed 
in  their  stalls  on  the  show  ground  and  left  my 
man  and  a  young  friend  of  mine  from  Boston, 
who  accompanied  me  to  witness  the  contest,  and 
who  felt  as  much  interested  as  if  they  were  his 
own  cattle.  I  went  to  the  Gault  House  and 
engaged  a  room  for  the  week,  and  then  entered 
my  cattle  in  the  different  classes  of  the  Here- 
ford department. 

The  late  Mr.  Robert  Alexanders  (j[  100) 
Shorthorns  were  there,  loaded  in  flesh  to  ex- 
treme. I  learnt  subsequently  that  the  two  of 
the  highest  character  (Bates)  had  not  had  a 
calf  for  two  years,  and  as  they  walked  the  blub- 
ber shook  under  their  thin  hides  as  if  in  a  jelly 
bag.  Thinks  I  to  myself,  "I  am  in  for  it  now. 
I  might  as  well  have  put  my  head  into  a  hor- 
net's nest  as  to  have  come  to  Kentucky,  the 
home  of  the  Shorthorns." 

I  had  shown  the  Herefords  at  the  national 
shows  previously,  and  had  become  familiarly 
acquainted  with  Col.  Wilder  of  Boston,  who 
was  president  of  that  society.  The  Colonel  used 
to  always  call  me  "Billy;"  that  was  before  I 
was  old  enough  to  be  called  "Uncle  Billy."  I 
went  to  his  room  at  the  Gault  House;  he  took 
me  by  the  hand  and  said:  "Well,  Billy,  I  am 
mighty  glad  to  see  you.  I  suppose  you  have 
brought  the  Herefords  here  to  meet  Brutus  and 
Cassius  M.  Clay?"  I  said  I  had,  but  I  thought 
it  almost  an  impossibility  for  me  to  have  justice 
here  in  the  midst  of  so  much  opposition.  "Never 
mind,  Billy,"  said  the  Colonel,  "you  shall  have 
justice  to  the  utmost,  as  far  as  I  am  concerned ; 
and  the  Kentucky  breeders  are  honorable  men. 
Keep  up  your  former  courage  and  all  will  come 
out  right."  "I  am  aware  of  the  honor  and  in- 
tegrity of  the  Shorthorn  breeders,"  I  answered, 
"but  a  case  like  this  is  out  of  the  common  way. 
There  is  much  interest  at  stake,  and  I  am  here 
alone  to  contend  against  so  many  rich  men, 
whose  influence  is  great.  What  can  I  do  among 
so  many?"  "Keep  up  your  natural  courage, 
Billy,"  "said  the  Colonel,  "and  you  will  go 
through." 

In  the  morning  I  left  for  the  show  grounds, 
and  I  saw  a  gentleman  sitting  in  a  buggy  in 
front  of  my  stalls.  As  I  was  looking  through 
the  stock  this  gentleman  descended  from  his 
buggy  and  came  to  me.  "Is  this  your  stock, 
sir  ?""  said  he.  "It  is,  sir,  when  it  is  paid  for," 
I  remarked.  "Is  your  name  Sotham?"  "That 
is  my  name,  sir."  "My  name  is  C.  M.  Clay." 
We  shook  hands  and  congratulated  each  other 
on  the  meeting. 


II  I  S  T  0  II  V     0  F     H  E  K  E  FORD     C  A  T  T  L  E 


19U 


Mr.  Clay  called  me  aside  and  began  to  ex- 
plain. "Since  I  wrote  that  challenge  my  cir- 
cumstances are  differently  shaped.  I  cannot 
meet  you.  I  have  only  brought  one  heifer  here 
and  my  brother  declines."  "Well,  Mr.  Clay,"  I 
replied,  "I  did  not  expect  this ;  but  I  know  you 
to  be  a  gentleman,  and  I  will  endeavor  to  meet 
you  as  such.  No  man  knows  better  what  it  is 
to  be  in  a  difficulty  than  myself.  I  sympathize 
with  you  heartily,  and  will  consider  the  trial  at 
an  end/' 

There  was  a  crowd  around  my  stalls  to  see 
the  white-faces;  among  them  Mrs.  Dr.  Watts 
of  Chillicothe  and  her  daughter.  The  Doctor's 
reputation  is  well  known  as  a  Shorthorn  breed- 
er. I  had  met  the  whole  family  at  their  house 
at  Chillicothe  previously,  consequently  I  walked 
with  them  through  the  stalls  of  the  Shorthorns ; 
but  I  found  that  Mr.  Alexander  had  been  polite- 
ly showing  them  through  his  previously,  and 
Miss  Watts,  being  not  only  a  belle,  but  a  very 
sensible  young  lady,  he  paid  her  much  atten- 
tion, and,  being  a  bachelor,  it  was  very  appro- 
priate. 

Mr.  C.  M.  Clay  and  I  walked  together  to  the 
amphitheater,  where  most  of  the  breeders  had 
assembled.  There  we  met  Mr.  Alexander  and 
Mr.  Clay  introduced  me.  "Well,  Clay,"  said 
the  former,  "I  suppose  you  and  Sotham  are  to 
settle  your  differences  in  opinion  to-day." 
"N"o,"  said  Mr.  Clay,  "we  have  amicably  settled 
the  difference."  "Indeed,"  said  Mr.  Alexander, 
"how  came  that  so  ?  I  suppose  you  are  afraid  of 
each  other."  "No,  Mr.  Alexander,"  said  I,  "that 
is  not  the  case.  I  will  leave  Mr.  Clay  to  ex- 
plain." He  repeated,  "You  are  afraid  of  each 
other."  With  this  repetition  my  blood  began  to 
rise.  I  then  said,  "In  my  lot  I  have  brought 
two  yearling  heifers  here  to  show  against  Mr. 
Clay.  I  will  place  these  two  heifers  in  any 
honest,  competent  man's  hands  in  Kentucky 
against  any  two  yearlings  in  your  herd  you 
choose  to  place  against  them.  They  shall  be  fed 
alike  in  weight  and  quality  of  food,  and  those 
who  shall  pay  the  most  for  food  consumed  at 
two  and  a  half  years  old  shall  be  the  winners." 

(If  loi) 

Mr.  Alexander  turned  round  with  rather  a 
forbidding  look,  and  said :  "If  you  come  here 
to  fight,  I  can  fight."  I  replied  that  I  did  not 
come  here  to  fight,  but  that  I  could  fight,  and 
I  had  the  determination  to  meet  him  on  that 
score.  The  atmosphere  began  to  feel  warm,  and 
quite  an  excitement  ensued.  Mr.  Brutus 
Clay  remarked  to  me  that  I  was  just  the 
man  for  Kentuckians!  The  difficulty  must 
b<>  settled,  so  he  said,  "I  propose  that  we 
all  go  to  Alexander's  camp,  take  a  drink,  and 


bury  the  hatchet."  This  was  agreed  upon.  On 
our  way  we  encountered  Mrs.  and  Miss  Watts; 
the  latter  said:  "I  think,  Mr.  Alexander,  that 
you  and  Mr.  Sotham  had  better  compromise." 
He  said  we  were  on  our  way  for  that  purpose. 
We  seated  ourselves  on  the  rustic  seats;  the 
display  of  the  numerous  silver  cups,  all  trophies 
of  Mr.  Alexander's  success  in  the  Kentucky 
show  rings,  were  distributed,  and  bottles  of 
old  bourbon,  the  contents  of  which  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  cups,  in  which  we  drank  each 
other's  health  in  friendly  terms. 


DR.   ORLANDO  BUSH,   SHELDON,   ILL. 
(Ex-President  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Associa- 
tion, the  friend  of  all  Hereford  breeders.) 


We  adjourned  to  Mr.  C.  M.  Clay's  tent  for 
lunch,  which  was  amply  displayed  on  the  grass 
in  true  picnic  order,  characteristic  of  true  Ken- 
tuckian  style  at  agricultural  fairs.  Those  not 
acquainted  with  Mrs.  Clay  and  her  daughters 
were  introduced;  here  we  again  met  Mrs.  and 
Miss  Wratts,  and  a  more  happy  and  a  more  merry 
party  never  met  together.  We  separated  to 
look  after  our  own  interests  in  the  show  ring. 

I  took  all  the  premiums  in  Herefords,  as  I 
had  no  competition,  which  paid  my  expenses. 
I  drew  the  two  hundred  dollars  in  a  draft  on 
New  York,  payable  to  Mr.  Pumpelly,  and  had 
it  enclosed  to  him.  Sold  my  yearling  bull  to 
the  well-known  Hon.  Eobert  Wickliff  of  Lex- 
ington for  $100,  which  was  then  considered  a 
high  price,  and  my  bull  calves  at  $80  each; 


200 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


they  went  to  Tennessee,  all  of  which  gave  me 
great  satisfaction. 

The  next  week  was  the  show  at  Lexington. 
Although  there  were  no  premiums  offered,  the 
society  agreed  to  give  me  first-prize  cups  for 
bull  and  cow  if  I  would  exhibit,  which  I  agreed 
to  do.  The  Hon.  R.  Wickliff,  who  took  much 
interest  in  me  and  my  cattle  at  Louisville,  told 
me  to  make  his  house  my  home  while  I  remained 
in  Lexington,  and  Mr.  Clay  gave  me  a  general 
invitation  to  their  picnic  lunch  on  the  show 
grounds,  and  I  never  met  with  kinder  treatment 
in  my  life  from  all  parties. 

Mr.  Wickliff,  although  partially  blind,  or- 
dered his  car- 
riage and  took 
me  out  to  his 
valuable  estate, 
directly  opposite 
to  Hon.  Henry 
Clay.  Although  he 
had  no  thorough- 
bred cattle,  he  had 
some  fine  grades 
with  which  he  in- 
tended to  breed 
to  the  Hereford 
bull  he  purchased 
of  me.  I  never 
heard  the  result  of 
this  cross.  I  then 
shipped  my  stock 

to  Cincinnati,  to  the  Ohio  State  Fair.  There 
was  no  class  for  Herefords  there,  and  the  Short- 
horn classes  were  strong  from  Ohio  and  Ken- 
tucky. The  society  gave  me  a  special  prize  on 
each  animal  of  bull,  cow,  heifer  and  calf,  about 
half  as  much  as  given  for  Shorthorns,  but  about 
a*s  much  as  paid  my  expenses  at  the  show; 
altogether,  I  returned  home  pretty  well 
satisfied. 

I  presented  the  cups  I  received  at  Lexington 
to  Mr.  F.  Pumpelly,  with  which  he  was  highly 
delighted,  told  me  he  had  received  the  draft 
safely  and  said  that  nothing  could  have  given 
him  greater  satisfaction  than  to  know  that  he 
had  the  power  in  helping  me,  and  that  he  'felt 
proud  of  the  triumph,  (fl  102) 

Soon  after  my  return  I  sold  ten  head  of  my 
Herefords  to  Mr.  John  Merryman  (j[  103)  of 
Cockeysville,  Md.,  for  $1,000;  and  they  were  a 
very  nice  lot.  Mr.  Merryman  is  a  nobleman 
in  heart  and  soul,  and  was  just  the  person  to 
join  me  in  the  fight  for  supremacy  against 
Shorthorns,  but  they  had  such  a  strong  hold 
that  it  seemed  to  be  an  impossibility;  their 
moneyed  influence  was  so  powerful  over  agricul- 
tural societies,  the  press  and  judges,  that  made 


THOS.    FOSTER.    FLINT,    MICH. 


it  very  discouraging.  Still,  this  $1,000  and  my 
sales  in  Kentucky  helped  me  much. 

I  sold  Mr.  George  Clark  of  Otsego  County, 
N.  Y.,  four  cows.  He  was  a  large  land  owner, 
having  several  farms.  I  had  previously  sold 
him  bulls,  and  he  bred  some  very  fine  half  and 
three-quarter-bred  steers,  one  large  lot  of  twen- 
ty-five he  sold  to  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  of  Kinder- 
hook,  N.  Y.,  who  fed  them,  and  when  they  went 
to  the  New  York  market  made  quite  a  sensa- 
tion. They  sold  readily  at  half  a  cent  more  per 
pound  than  anything  present,  notwithstanding 
what  has  been  lately  said  in  a  Kentucky  jour- 
nal to  the  contrary;  this  was  true  for  I  was 
present  at  the  sale.  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  and  many 
others  will  vouch  for  the  facts.  This  was  an- 
other of  Ambrose  Stevens'  unfounded  thrusts 
on  the  Herefords,  which,  had  it  been  made  to 
me  instead  of  T.  L.  Miller,  I  would  have  re- 
plied, as  I  intend  to  let  him  fight  his  own  bat- 
tle, all  I  ask  of  him  is  due  credit  for  my  former 
articles.  Mr.  Miller  is  just  in  his  glory,  and 
he  may  become  the  "father  of  the  Herefords," 
which,  if  rightly  achieved,  may  be  honor  suffi- 
cient to  gratify  the  ambition  of  the  best  of  man- 
kind, who  are  engaged  in  the  true  improvement 
of  stock. 

Rich  and  influential  men  are  apt  to  have  their 
hobbies  and  preferences,  and  the  Shorthorns 
had  their  advantage  in  this  respect,  and,  being 
fully  aware  of  the  superiority  of  the  Herefords. 
found  that  they  had  much  to  do  to  obtain  the 
ascendancy.  They  combined  together  as  one 
man  in  England,  where  the  origin  of  the  well- 
known  feigned  sales  originated,  where  animals 
were  transferred  from  one  herd  to  another  at 
fictitious  prices,  to  present  to  the  world  an 
artificial  value,  becoming  men  of  wealth  and 
character,  which,  like  all  such  transactions-, 
ended  in  failure. 

Let  me  here  refer  you  to  a  small  portion  of 
the  text  of  Mr.  Youatt's  book.  In  the  eleventh 
page  he  says,  speaking  of  Devonfc :  "They  have 
been  long  celebrated  for  a  breed  of  cattle  beau- 
tiful in  the  highest  degree,  and  in  activity  at 
work  and  aptness  to  fatten  unrivaled."  In 
speaking  of  the  Herefords,  page  32,  he  says : 
"They  are  even  more  kindly  feeders  than  the 
Devons ;  will  live  and  grow  fat  where  a  Devon 
will  scarcely  live."  Further  in  the  same  page : 
"The  Devons  will  acquire  bulk  and  hardihood 
and  the  Herefords  a  finer  form  and  activity." 
These,  Mr.  Editor,  are  Youatt's  exact  words. 
Let  me  ask  the  reader  to  reflect  on  these  con- 
flicting, glaring  statements  and  reconcile  them- 
selves to  these  contradictions,  if  they  can.  Many 
such  passages  can  be  found  in  Youatt  on  the 
breeds  of  cattle,  which  convinced  me  that  he  was 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


201 


no  authority  on  either  breed.  His  object  was 
to  endeavor  to  please  all,  at  the  risk  of  his  own 
reputation. 

Let  me  here  refer  you  to  a  letter  written  by 
Hon.  Henry  S.  Randall,  in  the  Albany  "Culti- 
vator," April  number,  1841,  and  my  reply  to 
him  in  the  following  number.  [These  letters  ap- 
pear in  Chap.  XL  T.  L.  M.]  These  two  let- 
ters will  give  some  insight  into  the  prejudice 
1  had  to  meet  against  Shorthorns,  and  here  I 
will  copy  the  letter  published  at  the  same  time, 
which  I  received  from  Mr.  Turner.,  Court  of 
ISToke,  Herefordshire,  England,  who  bred  the 
first-prize  cow  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Show 
at  Oxford,  1839,  which  I  purchased  of  Mr. 
James  Walker.  [This  letter  appears  also  in 
Chapter  XL  T."  L.  M.] 

Some  time  after  Mr.  Turner's  letter  appeared 
in  the  "Cultivator"  Mr.  Richard  Rowland,  a 
nephew  of  Mr.  Westcar,  whom  I  know  well  in 
England,  and  who  inherited  his  property,  wrote 
me  a  very  pleasant  letter,  giving  me  the  names 
of  the.  butchers,  the  prices  each  paid,  copied 
from  Mr.  Westcar's  books,  which  corresponded 
exactly  with  what  Mr.  Turner  wrote  me.  T.  L. 
Miller  used  this  letter,  as  he  did  Mr.  William 
Gurrier's,  having  the  old  books  to  refer  to; 
every  one  of  my  letters  were  marked  so  as  he 
could  refer  to  them. 

Notwithstanding  the  proofs  I  had  given  of 
the  Herefords,  the  Shorthorn  men  I  have  named 
had  great  prejudice  against  them,  knew  their 
value,  and  were  jealous,  and  they  felt  satisfied 
that  with  my  light  purse  they  could  drive  me  to 
the  wall.  They  run  their  cattle  up  to  fictitious 
prices — far  beyond  their  value — for  the  pur- 
pose of  running  the  Herefords  out  of  the  mar- 
ket. A  lot  of  speculators  formed  themselves 
into  a  ring  (all  were  underbidders  for  each 
other),  with  the  three  flunkies  I  have  named 
to  do  the  drudgery,  to  catch  novices  with  more 
money  than  brains  who  came  to  purchase  and 
who  were  easily  caught  in  the  snare  laid  for 
them. 

Many  changed  hands  understandingly,  and 
were  transferred  from  auction  to  auction,  fre- 
quently without  any  money  or  notes  being  trans- 
ferred. I  know  of  one  instance  where  four 
Shorthorns,  sent  to  a  sale  at  Toronto,  Canada, 
from  Kentucky,  were  knocked  down  there  at 
high,  fancy  prices  up  in  the  thousands.  About 
four  months  after  I  saw  the  same  animals  at 
the  owner's  farm,  who  sent  them  there,  and 
they  remained  until  they  were  sold  by  the  sher- 
iff. Pedigree,  regardless  of  the  animal,  was  the 
chief  attraction,  (fl  104) 


*     * 


PART    VIII. 

It  was  with  much  pleasure  I  recently  revis- 
ited the  breeding  farm  of  Erastus  Corning, 
Esq.,  the  only  son  and  heir  of  Hon.  Erastus 
Corning,  and  who,  I  know,  inherits  most  of  his 
late  fathers  noble  qualities.  The  cattle  stables 
were  familiar  to  me.  I  was  present  at  their 
erection,  and  some  of  the  Herefords  called  to 
mind  an  inheritance  of  the  old  sort.  Old  Vic- 
toria, whose  likeness  Mr.  Corning  retains  in 
a  painting  by  Van  Zant,  was  fed  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  after  raising  sixteen  calves.  Some 
of  her  progeny  are  still  here ;  two  of  them  took 
first  and  second  prizes  over  Mr.  Burleigh's  im- 
ported ones  at  the  New  York.  State  Fair  last 
fall,  but  I  think  Mr.  Corning  has  one  better 
cow  than  either,  and  his  young  stock  are  very 
promising. 

The  bull  he  imported  to  cross  with  the  old 
stock  was  bred  by  Mr.  Turner,  Herefordshire, 
England,  from  which  he  has  bred  some  fine  ani- 
mals. I  should  have  liked  him  better  had  he 
inherited  a  thicker  and  more  mellow  hide,  al- 
though Mr.  Turner  has  bred  some  good  ones. 
The  cow  Matchless  I  purchased  at  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Show  at  Oxford,  England,  1839, 
winner  of  first  prize,  was  bred  by  him ;  he  also 
bred  many  winners.  He  is  now  breeding  for 
thicker  hides,  un- 
der a  close  ob- 
servance to  mel- 
lowness. Match- 
less formerly  oc- 
cupied one  of  the 
stalls,  and  there 
were  four  others 
equally  good,  Vic- 
toria, Perfection, 
Pretty  Maid  and 
Gay,  in  the  first 
importation,  all 
but  Matchless 
bred  from  the 
original  stock  of 
Mr.  John  Hewer 
of  Herefordshire, 
to  which  all  the 

best  recent  importations  can  be  traced,  and  I 
suppose  there  is  not  a  herd  of  the  present  day 
but  that  contains  a  portion  of  his  blood,  the  de- 
mand for  Mr.  Hewer's  bulls  being  so  great  that 
he  let  them  out  by  the  year. 

In  1856  Mr.  Corning  imported  three  heifers 
from  one  of  the  best  breeders  in  Herefordshire, 
which  the  high  character  of  the  stock  proved. 
Although  he  has  not  kept  a  register  of  their 
pedigrees,  no  other  breed  has  been  crossed  in, 


WALLACE  LIBBEY, 
OTTAWA,  ILL. 


202 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


and  although  only  kept  in  good  store  condition 
they  are  as  good  and  well-bred  as  any  herd. 
The  good  example  he  has  always  set  in  showing 
his  cattle  in  natural  shape  is  an  excellent  one, 
and  the  judges  had  the  practical  soundness  to 
see  their  situation  against  pampered  ones,  hence 
his  success  in  the  show  ring.  I  hope  we  are  fast 
coming  to  this  legitimate  state  of  things;  the 
country  would  profit  much  by  it.  (fl  105) 

Mr.  Corning  showed  a  fat  heifer  at  the  New 
York  State  Fair  last  fall  against  a  dozen  Short- 
horns. She  took  first  prize  and  was  considered 
by  all  who  saw  her  a  perfect  beauty.  At  Christ- 
mas she  was  killed,  and  some  weeks  since  an 

appropriate    poem 
was  written  of  her 

/  by    a   butcher    boy 

who  admired  her 
attractive  appear- 
ance ;  the  poem  was 
copied  into  the 
"Drover's  Jour- 
nal." The  butcher 
who  killed  her,  Mr. 
J.  Battersby,  told 
me  that  she  was  the 
best  carcass  of  beef 
he  ever  cut  up ;  not 
only  was  she  of 
most  excellent 
quality,  but  steaks 
cut  from  her  neck 
vein  were  beautifully  marbled  and  fit  to 
serve  his  first-class  customers — better  even  than 
the  choice  steak  of  many  other  animals. 

How  many  times  such  truths  have  been  told 
to  me  by  other  butchers,  under  similar  circum- 
stances, and  of  equal  standing  as  Mr.  Batters- 
by, whose  father  was  one  of  the  prominent 
butchers  in  Albany  for  the  past  forty  years. 
No  man  killed  better  meat,  for  which  he  had 
a  high  reputation,  and  his  customers  were  of  the 
highest  class.  His  son  is  following  his  good 
example,  and  I  value  his  testimony,  so  fully 
corroborating  that  of  many  others  of  a  like  prac- 
tical soundness. 


PART    IX. 

Before  going  further  into  the  Herefords,  I 
must  give  you  an  additional  insight  into  what 
I  had  to  go  through  with  in  the  Bates  mania, 
of  which,  as  I  have  told  you  before,  Lewis  F.  Al- 
len, Ambrose  Stevens  (who  were  called  twin 
brothers)  and  John  R.  Page  were  the  leading 
proselytes  to  that  injurious  imposition  that  so 
much  injured  the  Shorthorn  cause.  I  pro- 


A.  H.  BULLIS, 
WINNEBAGO  CITY,  MINN. 


nounced  this  trio  "the  three  flunkies"  to  induce 
men  of  means  to  join  the  hue  and  cry  of  fancy' 
and  fashion  that  had  taken  possession  of  all 
who  belonged  to  it. 

The  first  wrote  a  book  on  the  different  breeds 
of  cattle,  to  extol  the  Shorthorns,  and  did  not 
only  overstretch  his  ability  in  the  task,  but 
made  gross  misrepresentations,  one  must  sup- 
pose purposely,  to  mislead.  All  who  had  pa- 
tience to  get  at  all  interested  in  the  work,  and 
read  his  history  of  the  Shorthorns  and  Here- 
fords,  could  see  his  aim  to  effect  high  favor  to 
the  former,  and  create  a  panic  against  the  lat- 
ter, both  of  which  he  grossly  and,  I  think,  in- 
tentionally, misrepresented.  The  case  was  so 
plain  to  every  unprejudiced  reader  that  my  at- 
tention was  called  to  it  by  several  gentlemen, 
among  whom  were  some  of  the  best  Shorthorn 
breeders.  I  had  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
writer's  character,  so  I  did  not  look  into  his 
book  until  my  friends  strongly  advised  me,  and 
then  the  comparison  between  these  two  valuable 
breeds  was  all  I  had  the  patience  to  investi- 
gate. Fancy  and  fashion  are  capable  of  leading 
even  the  best  men  astray,  and  Lewis  F.  Allen 
did  everything  he  was  capable  of  doing  to  pro- 
mote both  of  these  delusions. 

The  second  man  was  an  adventurer  precisely 
of  the  same  calibre  as  the  first ;  they  were  called 
"twin  brothers,"  as  they  constantly  coupled 
their  visionary  brains  together,  to  support  the 
fancy  and  fashion  adopted  to  boost  the  "Bates 
mania."  This  was  their  hobby  and  they  ex- 
pected to  reap  their  reward  from  the  profit 
made  by  the  Bates  clan,  but,  like  all  such  the- 
ories and  profitless  scheming,  the  bubble  burst, 
which  all  who  read  can  prove.  He  was  the  man 
who  rewrote  the  fictitious  Shorthorn  compila- 
tion called  history,  to  defeat  the  facts  published 
by  Rev.  Henry  Berry,  but  his  misrepresenta- 
tions soon  found  him  out,  and  the  Rev.  Henry 
Berry's  unpleasant  truths  now  stand  as  firmly 
as  if  this  misjudged  prodigal  had  not  so 
thoughtlessly  interfered. 

Still  further  this  notorious  Batesite  brought 
out  from  the  Bates  herd  of  such  notoriety  the 
bull  Duke  of  Cambridge.  Stevens,  after  a  long 
and  familiar  stay  at  Mr.  Bates'  house,  had  per- 
suaded Bates  that  he  (Stevens)  was  the  great 
'"I  am"  of  the  Shorthorn  fraternity;  thus  pre- 
possessed, Bates  presented  him  with  this  "Noble 
Duke  of  Cambridge"  as  a  memento  of  his  kind- 
ness in  so  strongly  supporting  the  Bates  cause 
in  America,  the  urgency  for  continuance  of 
which  Bates  had  strenuously  instilled  into  the 
anxious  mind  of  this  supposed  exalted  breeder. 

The  bull  arrived  here  with  others  from  an- 
other breeder,  of  which  I  shall  hereafter  give  a 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


203 


description  through  Mr.  Stevens'  letter  to  the 
"Cultivator"  at  the  time  of  their  arrival  here. 
The  Noble  Duke  of  Cambridge  was  taken  to  the 
herd  of  Col.  Sherwood  of  Auburn,  and  the  own- 
er charged  him  a  very  high  price  for  half  of 
him.  Subsequently  Stevens  wrote  asking  Mr. 
Bates  to  state  in  a  letter  to  him  that  he  (Stev- 
ens) had  given  Bates  an  enormous  price,  nam- 
ing the. sum.  At  this  Mr.  Bates  became  indig- 
nant; he  felt  that  a  secret  gift  for  puffing  was 
not  so  profitable  to  him  as  represented,  conse- 
quently wrote  Stevens  in  gentle  language  that 
he  was  sorry  to  find  he  (Stevens)  was  somewhat 
the  reverse  of  a  "great  I  am ;"  told  his  house- 
keeper if  he  ever  came  to  his  house  again  to 
forbid  his  crossing  the  threshold.  I  refer  your 
readers  to  "Bell  on  Bates"  to  corroborate  these 
facts. 

Xow  comes  the  third  chap  in  the  Bates  mania 
who,  in  his  vanity,  supposed  himself  to  be  the 
head  of  all,  having  been  selected  by  James  0. 
Sheldon  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  to  take  a  portion 
of  his  Bates  tribe  to  England.  This  gentleman, 
being  so  elated  with  his  flattering  pictures  in 
catalogues  and  Herd  Books,  placed  Page  on 
equal  terms  with  the  other  great  "I  am,"  and 
at  that  time  the  Bates  mania  was  at  its 
zenith.  Page  was  so  fortunate  in  his  pretense^ 
of  the  knowledge  of  pedigree,  fancy,  fashion, 
upstanding  style,  thin  hides,  beautiful,  soft 
touch,  sweet  heads,  high  hips,  extended  paunch 
and  grand  thighs,  so  peculiarly  essential  to 
denote  the  Bates  tribe,  that  he  had  precisely 
what  these  fanciful,  fashionable  supporters  of 
Bates  wanted  on  the  other  side  of  that  "big 
pond."  The  only  thing  against  his  personal 
appearance  was  his  natural  swagger,  for  which 
he  had  no  checkrein.  He  caught  the  rich  com- 
moner and  dipped  a  little  into  the  nobility,  who 
were  at  that  period  anxiously  striving  to  gull 
each  other  at  every  sale,  to  find  out  which  could 
build  the  most  expensive  castle  in  the  air,  conse- 
quently Page  returned  home  highly  elated. 

•I  do  not  describe  this  trio  with  the  idea  of 
injuring  them  or  the  Shorthorns ;  far  from  it : 
but  I  do  say  that  it  was  this  kind  of  men  that 
did  that  cause  more  injury  than  any  other  class ; 
their  tongues  and  their  pens  were  "too  fast" 
for  their  brains,  and  this  short  sketch  will  plain- 
ly show  how  the  Bates  mania  was  created,  and 
I  challenge  any  man  to  deny  with  truth  the 
facts  as  I  have  stated  them.  I  have  no  malice 
against  this  trio,  but  I  had  pity  for  them  in 
their  weakness,  which  I  always  predicted  would 
end  in  the  disappointment  it  did.  This  trio  was 
quite  successful  with  fancy  and  fashionable 
men,  their  smooth  tongues,  in  the  plenitude  of 
their  politeness  made  excessive  flattery  plaus- 


ible to  them,  but  when  they  met  together  to 
flatter  each  other  upon  the  glorious  impression 
they  were  making  upon  the  Bates  mania,  Satan 
stepped  out  without  interfering. 

Bates,  with  all  his  faults,  showed  much  cun- 
ning. When  Mr.  Price  challenged  to  show 
twenty  Hereford  breeding  cows  and  a  bull  for 
£100  against  any  breeder  or  breed  in  Great 
Britain,  no  man  ever  showed  greater  weakness 
in  judgment  than  Mr.  Bates  when  he  accepted 
it.  He  felt  that  he  should  be  sure  to  be  beaten 
unless  the  judges  were  favorable  toward  him, 
and  he  would  only  have  the  choice  of  one  of 
them.  Influenced  by  this  conviction,  after  de- 
positing the  forfeit,  he  began  to  realize  his  crit- 
ical situation,  fully  aware  that  if  he  did  not  ac- 
cept that  the  horns  of  his  cattle  must  be  drawn 
in  much  shorter. 


JOHN   GOSLING,    KANSAS   CITY,    MO. 
(America's  greatest  expert  judge.) 

Alarmed  at  his  situation,  Mr.  Bates  sent  his 
confidential  man  Friday  disguised  in  his  smock 
frock  on  Sunday,  while  Mr.  Price  was  in  church, 
to  examine  the  cattle  he  had  to  contend  with. 
Friday  went  into  the  stable  under  the  pretense 
that  he  wanted  to  hire  to  Mr.  Price  as  a  stock- 
man. After  looking  them  through  he  left,  with- 
out leaving  his  name.  Soon  after  Friday  re- 
turned home  Mr.  Bates  became  exceedingly  ner- 
vous; raised  the  most  frivolous  quibbles  and 
excuses  amongst  his  neighbors  and  friends;  his 


204 


H  I  S  T  0  K  Y     OF     H  E  K  E  F  0  li  D     CATTLE 


schemes  to  enable  him  to  back  out  made  him 
querulous.  He  wrote  to  the  "Mark  Lane  Ex- 
press" that  he  had  a  great  aversion  to  gambling ; 
advanced  this  as  a  plea,  notwithstanding  he  had 
been  showing  for  money  exactly  on  the  same 
principle. 

Bates'  friends  became  alarmed;  rode  over  to 
Kirklevington  to  inquire  if  that  plea  of  gamb- 
ling was  the  only  reason ;  others  wrote  with  anx- 
ious inquiries.  Bates,  in  his  perplexity,  seemed 
to  be  wandering  about  the  farm  like  a  hen  by 
candle  light,  in  search  of  his  man  Friday,  to 


GRADE   HEREFORD    STEER.    CONQUEROR,    AT   27 

MONTHS. 
(Bred  by  T.  L.  Miller;    the  rightful  champion  of  1879-80.) 

caution  him  to  be  sure  and  keep  his  secret ;  but, 
unfortunately,  Friday  could  not  keep  from  say- 
ing that  Price's  white-faces  was  a  most  excel- 
lent herd,  and  that  his  "master"  would  have 
very  hard  work  to  beat  him.  Friday  was  asked 
many  questions  by  all  comers  to  Kirklevington. 
At  length  one  Shorthorn  breeder  came  who  had 
been  into  Herefordshire  to  buy  steers  for  feed- 
ing.  "Why,  Friday,"  said  he,  "what  were  you 
doing  in  Hereford  a  few  dav>  ago?  I  saw  you 
riding  through  that  city  and  tried  to  hail  you. 
but  yon  seemed  in  a  hurry  as  you  put  the  spurs 
to  your  horse. .  Had  anything  gone  wrong  ?  You 
seemed  to  have  your  India  rubber  rolled  up,  as 
if  you  had  been  a  long  journey."  • 

This  breeder,  in  opposition  to  Mr.  Bates,  be- 
gan to  be  a  little  quizzical,  as  he  had  strong  sus- 
picion of  Friday's  visit  to  Herefordshire,  after 
reading  Bates'  letter  in  the  "Mark  Lane  Ex- 
press." "I  hear  you  have  been  calling  on  Mr. 
Price.  I  understand  his  herd  is  a  very  superior 
one.  How  did  you  like  it  ?"  Friday  was  as  much 
confused  as  Bates.  It  was  the  truth,  but  how 
did  he  know  it?  The  Shorthorn  breeder  tried 
to  look  Friday  in  the  face,  but  he  looked  every 
way  but  his.  He  was  determined  to  sift  him  a 
little  further:  "Now,  Friday,  I  am  as  good  at 
keeping  a  secret  as  Mr.  Bates.  Tell  me  how 


you  liked  Price's  herd  of  Herefords?  I  heard 
you  were  there."  "Who  told  you?"  "What 
made  you  take  your  smock  frock  along,  rolled 
up  in  front  of  you,  to  look  conspicuously  ?  That 
was  not  a  garment  you  usually  wear  on  Sun- 
days. There  is  some  mystery  which  you  ought 
to  explain  to  me,  as  I  am  as  much  interested 
as  Bates;  I  do  not  want  to  see  the  Shorthorns 
defeated.  Why  did  he  deposit  the  forfeit  and 
then  withdraw?  There  is  something  wrong." 
After  this  it^was  generally  known  what  \vas 
the  object  of  Friday's  visit  to  Herefordshire, 
and  for  a  time  Friday  was  made  the  market 
talk,  and  one  of  Bates'  myths  was  made  public, 
much  against  his  secret  wishes.  Friday  had 
kept  the  West  Highland  cross  confidentially  in 
secret,  but  this  one,  so  far  from  home,  was  too 
much  for  him. 

I  have  obtained  these  facts  about  as  I  state 
them  from  a  source  that  can  be  relied  upon, 
and  I  was  familiar  with  the  transaction 
through  the  "Mark  Lane  Express." 

In  his  letter  to  that  paper,  Mr.  Bates  wished 
Mr.  Price  to  call  upon  him.  None  but  a  man 
of  extreme  vanity  could  have  expected  this. 
Mr.  Price,  being  aware  of  Bates'  prominent  pe- 
culiarity of  bribing  the  judges  with  insinua- 
tions, was  the  principal  reason  of  his  making 
the  challenge,  as  he  was  determined  that  such 
a  transaction  should  not  be  allowed  on  either 
side. 

Mr.  Bates  wrote  to  Mr.  Price,  saying  he  de- 
clined to  meet  him  on  account  of  gambling. 
This,  and  more  frivolous  excuses,  he  made  in 
his  letter  to  the  "Mark  Lane  Express."  In  these 
letters  he  wished  Mr.  Price  to  call  upon  him, 
and  he  would  return  the  call.  Here  was  a 
chance  for  more  quibbles  on  etiquette,  but  Mr. 
Bates,  being  a  confirmed  bachelor,  I  suppose 
did  not  study  that  part  of  his  ceremonies,  as  a 
quibble  for  delay  and  a  chance  to  back  out. 
How  they  were  to  settle  between  themselves 
which  was  the  best  herd  was  only  a  schoolboy 
transaction. 

Of  course  each  would  declare  his  own  the 
best,  and  neither  they  nor  the  public  would 
have  been  satisfied.  At  the  same  time  Mr.  Bates 
said  that  he  had  a  pair  of  twin  bull  calves  of 
the  Duchess  tribe,  he  thought  one  of  which 
would  improve  Mr.  Price's  Herefords.  Mr. 
Price  replied,  "If  you  want  to  back  out,  tell  me 
plainly;  then  I  will  listen,  but  I  will  not  have 
any  more  cavil.  The  three  judges  having  been 
agreed  upon,  can  go  to  Kirklevington,  and  I 
will  accompany  them ;  they  can  return  to  my 
place  with  your  escort,  then  neither  herd  can  be 
removed.  I  feel  very  reluctant  in  taking  your 
proposition  as  a  direct  insult,  but  circumstances 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


205 


indicate  it.  I  must  say  that  I  was  much 
surprised  at  such  a  proposition  from  one  who 
professes  so  much  to  be  a  pure  breeder.  1  as- 
sure you  that  no  such  cross  as  that  can  enter  my 
herd." 

Mr.  Price  was  indignant,  and  well  he  might 
be.  Although  Mr.  Price  might  think  that  such 
a  cross  on  the  other  side  might  have  been  made 
wTith  impunity  in  addition  to  Bates'  other  outs, 
he  had  more  sense  than  to  advise  it,  and  eti- 
quette forbade  him  taking  that  liberty.  When 
the  news  came  to  America,  there  was  much  con- 
sternation. The  Bates  organs  modified  it  to  the 
best  of  their  ability.  The  advocates  of  the 
Bates  mania,  supposed  to  be  moral  men,  thought 
the  plea  of  gambling  sufficient,  notwithstand- 
ing more  than  half  of  them  would  buy  pools 
or  bet  on  a  horse  race.  The  trio  of  Bates 
flunkies — Allen,  Stevens,  and  Page — were  silent 
for  a  time,  but  the  other  part  of  the  clan,  like 
Bates,  made  manv  excuses,  and  as  the  mania 


their  nods  as  if  they  were  familiar  acquaint- 
ances. Although  John  had  on  his  best  clothes, 
there  was  something  more  wanting.  It  is  very 
difficult  for  a  plebeian  in  England  to  know 
how  to  act  among  aristocracy.  No  matter  what 
clothes  he  wears,  he  is  easily  detected  under  any 
display  of  "independence";  however,  the  duke, 
lord  or  baronet  in  this  "independent  country" 
has  no  privilege,  where  all  men  are  equal.  Here 
John  had  the  advantage  over  them  "in  "inde- 
pendence" ;  but  dukes  and  duchess  titles  in 
cattle  were  highly  honored  here,  their  money 
value  far  exceeding  those  whose  titles  were  in- 
herited under  the  law  of  primogeniture,  as  they 
knew  not  the  value  of  it. 

Reckless  in  their  "independence,"  the  English 
squandered  it;  consequently  John  had  an  ex- 
cellent opportunity  to  show  himself,  and  his 
tongue  had  no  curb  to  check  it  from  having  its 
full  scope.  John,  fully  aware  the  transactions 
in  England  amongst  Bates  men  would  justify 


AN    AMERICAN   SHOW-RING.     UNDER    THE   MINNESOTA   STATE   FAIR  TENT. 


was  previously  up  to  fever  heat,  and  the  advo- 
cates in  their  glory,  it  was  a  difficult  matter 
for  them  to  form  combined  action,  as  the  indis- 
cretion of  Bates  was  so  glaringly  ridiculous. 
John  R.  Page,  as  he  made  himself  very  con- 
spicuous at  the  Shorthorn  sales,  when  praising 
a  Bates  pedigree  so  highly,  looked  slyly  and 
cautiously  over  his  shoulder  to  see  if  Mr.  Price 
or  any  Hereford  breeder  was  behind  him.  In 
this  connection  I  must  give  you  more  experience 
of  this  "herd  book  in  breeches"  as  an  auctioneer. 
All  who  knew  John  knew  the  frivolous  airs  he 
put  on  to  assume  consequence,  his  call  to  the 
"New  York  Mills  sale"  was  supposed  to  be  of 
such  an  exalted  nature,  and  as  he  had  to  meet 
some  of  the  nobility  and  aristocracy  of  England, 
he  was  compelled  to  put  on  as  much  polish  as 
consistent  with  his  high  calling,  and  to.  receive 


his  case  in  action  and  attitude,  felt  independ- 
ent, his  tongue  moved  as  rapidly  as  was  con- 
sidered discreet  for  him  to  make  it. 

After  being  introduced  to  the  foreigners, 
some  of  whom  we  knew,  John  mounted  the 
rostrum,  and  when  so  elevated,  the  loftiness  was 
of  a  very  exciting  nature.  He  stood  erect  in 
silence;  not  one  of  the  nobility  ventured  to 
say,  "Is  that  a  dagger  I  see  before  me  ?"  "His 
stature  will  not  compare  with  our  old  veteran 
Stafford  in  England,"  said  one.  His  attitude 
was  one  foot  forward,  the  other  its  rear  guard, 
but  he  was  evidently  confused ;  he  pointed  his 
forefinger  towrards  heaven,  and  the  canopy- above 
was  clear.  He  stammered  a  little  and  then  said 
that  he  was  exceedingly  glad  to  see  so  many 
wealthy  and  influential  gentlemen  around  him 
from  both  countries,  "and  you  are  aware  that  I 


HISTORY     OF     H  E  li  E  F  0  it  D     CAT  T  L  E 


have  to  offer  you  to-day  some  oi'  the  most  fash- 
ionable blood  descended  from  Mr.  Bates'  true 
and  unadulterated  original  Dukes  and  Duch- 
esses, well  known  the  wide  world  over,  and  you 
all  well  know  that  I  am  the  gentleman  who 
sold  Mr.  James  0.  Sheldon's  cattle  of  precisely 
the  same  families  at  Windsor,  at  the  very  gate 
of  your  Queen,  and  as  there  are  many  exalted 
Bates  breeders  among  you  I  shall  expect  you  to 
bid  spiritedly." 

Here  was  John  Bull  and  Jonathan   pitted 
against  each  other,  regardless  of  consequences. 


AT  A  COUNTRY  FAIR  IN    MISSOURI. 

After  the  first  bid  John's  flattering  tongue  was 
of  no  use  to  him — nods  were  rapid  and  the 
order  of  the  day.  Fanciful  John  Bull  was  so 
extremely  anxious  to  bid,  and  Jonathan  out- 
numbering them,  nodded  conspicuously  or  gave 
tongue.  The  auctioneer  became  so  confused 
he  did  not  know  which  bid  to  take  first;  he 
almost  fancied  that  it  was  he  that  was  up  for 
sale  instead  of  the  Duchess.  An  automaton 
would  have  answered  the  same  purpose  as  John, 
amid  such  bidders.  The  representatives  of  both 
nations  acted  more  like  lunatics  released  from 
an  asylum  than  breeders  of  discretion,  seeking 
proper  and  profitable  animals,  as  an  example 
to  benefit  mankind. 

When  the  Duchess  sold  for  forty  thousand 
dollars,  the  shouts  from  the  crowd  were  loud 
and  long,  neither  John  Bull  nor  Jonathan  could 
command  themselves;  hats  were  thrown  in  the 
air,  men  were  crazed  in  delight ;  Jonathan  and 
John  Bull  shook  hands  with  each  other,  and 
with  such  a  grip  that  all  supposed  that  the  two 
nations  would  never  be  divided,  and  that  Thos. 
Bates  would  be  king  over  all.  One  would  sup- 
pose that  Bedlam  had  been  let  loose,  or  that  the 
lunatic  asylum  at  Utica  was  on  fire,  and  that 
the  scattered  inmates  were  attracted,  by  the 
hideous  noises,  to  take  a  part. 


When  Page  asked  for  a  bid  on  the  next  ani- 
mal, he  was  overcome;  his  voice  failed,  and 
when  articulation  came,  a  half  dozen  bids  had 
been  offered.  "Go  on,"  said  John,  and  they 
did  go  on  like  men  on  the  high  road  to  ruin. 
When  the  sale  was  ended,  some  of  them  sup- 
posed they  had  been  dreaming;  others  boasted 
of  their  bargains,  and  felt  as  proud  as  "Luci- 
fer." After  the  Englishman  for  whom  the 
Duchess  was  said  to  be  purchased  was  informed 
of  the  transactions  he  preferred  to  pay  $10,000 
forfeit  rather  than  $30,000  more  and  take  the 
Duchess,  which  offer  was  accepted,  and  a  rich 
New  Yorker  agreed  to  take  her,  but  she  died 
before  she  was  delivered.  The  majority  of  the 
Duchesses  were  either  hopelessly  barren  or  fol- 
lowed the  fate  of  the  Duchess,  who  was  buried 
in  utter  silence,  and  in  the  dark  with  her  thin 
skin  on,  in  honor  of  Thos.  Bates,  Esq.,  Kirk- 
levington,  Eng.  I  am  not  posted  as  to  her  hav- 
ing a  marble  tomb  erected  over  her  to  denote  her 
sacred  memory.  I  could  tell  you  much  more; 
L  have  said  so  much  on  Bates  and  his  followers 
to  show  how  much  this  clan  set  against  the 
Herefords.  Now  I  intend  to  show  what  I  and 
my  Herefords  went  through  after  this  bubble 
burst.  All  I  have  told  you  about  it  has  been 
true,  which  I  will  challenge  any  man  of  truth  to 
deny. 

*     *     * 

PART  X. 

You  saw  by  the  letter  from  Mr.  Wm.  Cother, 
Esq.,  that  there  was  no  Herd  Book  for  Here- 
fords when  I  imported;  but  the  breeders  from 
whom  I  purchased  kept  a  reliable  record  of  their 
own.  After  the  present  Herd  Book  was  estab- 
lished, some  of  the  best  breeders  were  very  care- 
less about  entering  their  cattle.  Being  so  well 
satisfied  with  the  pedigrees  kept  by  themselves, 
and  feeling  confident  of  their  practical  judg- 
ment in  selecting  the  sires  to  maintain  the  supe- 
riority of  their  herds,  they  felt  perfectly  safe 
in  keeping  the  sound  doctrine  of  self-preserva- 
tion. 

The  Hereford  breeders  were  principally  prac- 
tical men,  not  easily  led  away  by  novices  or 
theory.  The  profits  of  their  cattle  kept  them 
independent.  Any  one  conversant  with  the 
Hereford  fairs  (j[  106),  and  seeing  the  immense 
number  of  white-faces  that  came  in  on  these 
occasions  (the  money  that  changed  hands 
there,  aside  from  that  paid  to  the  breeders  of 
steers,  at  their  homes),  and  sent  directly  to 
those  graziers  spoken  of  in  Mr.  Cother's  letter, 
could  not  but  see  their  true  value. 

The  graziers,  knowing  the  truth  of  the  supe- 
riority of  Herefords  for  grazing,  purchased 


HISTORY     0  F     H  E  R  E  F  0  R  I)     CAT  T  L  E 


them.  Amongst  them  were  Shorthorn  breeders 
to  my  knowledge.  I  will  give  you  an  instance 
of  one  of  these  of  much  prominence,  which 
came  under  my  observation.  My  brother-in-law, 
Mr.  Marmaduke  Matthews,  lived  a  close  neigh- 
bor to  the  well-known  rich  commoner,  Mr. 
Langston  of  Sarsdon,  Oxfordshire  (whose  only 
daughter  and  heiress  married  Earl  Ducie),  the 
well-known  purchaser  of  the  Bates  Shorthorns, 
at  Earl  Ducie's  sale,  that  were  subsequently  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Jonathan  Thorn  and  Mr.  L.  G. 
Morris,  brought  to  this  country,  and  with  which 
all  breeders  of  Shorthorns  are  familiar. 

While  staying  with  my  brother-in-law  he  pro- 
posed to  'drive  me  over  to  see  Mr.  Langston's 
Shorthorns,  and  as  I  had  frequently  met  Mr. 
Langston  in  the  hunting  field  and  once  sold  him 
one  of  the  best  hunters  he  ever  had  in  his  sta- 
bles, at  a  high  figure,  and  which  proved  a  great 
favorite  with  him,  I  readily  accepted.  We  drove 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Savage,  who  was  Mr.  Lang- 
ston's steward,  which  situation  affords  him  a 
splendid  home,  and  one  of  his  best  farms,  which 
he  rented.  There  was  another  farm  he  managed 
for  Mr.  L.,  which  surrounded  Mr.  L.'s  mansion 
and  pleasure  grounds.  Mr.  Savage  and  myself 
had  previously  met  at  fairs  and  markets  and 
were  pretty  well  known  to  each  other ;  therefore 
etiquette  was  not  called  into  question,  arid  an 
introduction  was  unnecessary. 

We  had  a  good,  hearty  shake,  and  I  was  ten- 
dered a  hearty  welcome.  "I  will  send  over  to 
the  house  and  tell  Mr.  L.  you  are  here,  as  I 
know  he  will  be  glad  to  see  you;  he  has  the 
old  hunter  you  sold  him,  and  although  now  six- 
teen years  old  he  is  about  as  good  as  ever.  He 
often  speaks  of  the  daring  way  you  used  to  ride 
across  the  country  here,  and  that  you  were  as 
close  to  the  tail  of  the  hounds  as  any  of  them.'' 

Here  I  must  digress  a  little,  and  may  be 
considered  a  little  egotistical,  but  never  mind. 
Probably  there  was  not  a  more  daring  rider  in 
the  whole  of  the  Duke  of  Beaufort's  hunt,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five  I  never  knew  what 
fear  was.  I  sold  many  horses  to  the  nobility 
and  gentry,  and  I  was  a  fair  judge  of  a  hunter, 
but  did  not  spare  them  when  under  me  and  the 
saddle.  Bullfinch,  brook,  wall,  or  awa-awa  never 
came  amiss  to  me.  The  horse  had  to  take  them 
if  there  was  the  least  prospect.  By  this  daring 
I  was  as  well  known  to  the  Duke  of  Beaufort's 
hunt  as  any  man.  We  had  just  got  through  our 
"bread,  cheese  and  ale"  when  Mr.  L.  appeared, 
seated  on  the  old  horse.  He  held  out  his  hand 
and  gave  me  a  hearty  shake,  which  was  the 
grip  of  the  true  English  sportsman.  "Do  you 
know  the  old  horse?"  said  he.  "I  do,  and  it 
calls  to  mind  the  happy  days  through  that  win- 


ter in  which  1  rode  him."  "Ah/"  said  he,  "you 
were  enough  for  any  of  them  then,  and  the  old 
horse  was  master  of  your  weight.  My  careful 
riding  has  saved  him  until  now,  and  he  is  good 
yet." 

We  took  a  survey  through  the  Shorthorns, 
which  were  all  of  the  Bates  tribes,  a  draft  in 
the  beginning  from  the  Earl  of  Ducie.  Al- 
though then  considered  in  the  height  of  fashion 
and  petted  by  fancy  men,  I  must  say  I  never 
saw  a  worse  herd.  They  seemed  to  me  longer 
and  coarser  in  the  legs  than  any  of  the  tribes 
I  had  seen  in  America,  or  even  what  I  had 
seen  at  Kirklevington.  I  asked  Mr.  Savage  if 
there  was  any  propriety  in  keeping  such  stock. 
This  brought  out  a  long  argument  between  my- 
self and  Mr.  Savage.  He  held  up  for  style  and 
grandeur,  and  I  went  for  compactness,  sub- 
stance and  quality.  I  condemned  their  thin 
hides  and  blubbery  handling,  at  which  Mr.  Sav- 
age was  a  little  inclined  to  take  offense.  Mr. 
Langston  laughed,  and  Mr.  Matthews  said  but 
little,  as  he  was  breeding  unpedigreed  Short- 
horns to  a  Hereford  bull,  raising  steers  and 
sending  them  to  market  at  two  years  old,  by 
which  he  made  a  handsome  profit.  There  were 
lots  of  young  bulls.  If  I  had  been  a  Shorthorn 
breeder  I  would  not  have  taken  either  as  a  gift. 
"Who  do  you  get  to  buy  these  bulls,  Mr.  Sav- 
age?" said  I.  "Oh!  We  let  our  tenants  have 
them  to  improve  their  stock."  At  this  period  I 


PRACTICING   FOR  THE    SHOW. 

saw  a  lot  of  white-faces  in  a  field  at  a  little 
distance.  "What  are  you  doing  with  those  white- 
faces?"  I  said.  "Oh,  they  are  some  two-year- 
old  Hereford  steers  I  bought  at  Hereford  fair 
to  feed."  We  took  a  survey  through  them; 
they  were  a  very  nice  lot;  probably  not  quite 
so  good  as  those  of  graziers  who  picked  them 
up  of  the  breeders  before  the  fair,  but  they  were 
even,  and  showed  good  breeding.  They  were 


JJ  IS  TORY     OF     HEKE'FOKD     CATTLE 


in  a  good  bite  of  grass;  some  of  them  were 
stretched  out  in  the  sun  sleeping,  others  stand- 
ing chewing  their  cuds  contentedly.-'  If  we  dis- 
turbed one  from  his  lair  he  would  twist  his 
tail  round  and  stretch  himself,  which  satis- 
fied Mr.  Savage  that  they  were  thriving  finely. 
One  of  them  seemed  contented,  and  with  a  mild 
look  in  his  eye  allowed  us  to  handle  him.  His 
hide  was  thick  and  mellow,  his  flesh  firm  and 
ripe;  I  called  Mr.  Savage's  attention  to  this 
steer's  compactness,  symmetry,  quality  and 
weight.  "Have  you  a  Shorthorn  in  your  herd 
that  can  compare  with  him  ?  Is  there  an  ani- 
mal amongst  them  with  such  a  constitution? 
Have  these  and  your  Shorthorns  all  lived 
alike  ?"  He  said  there  was  but  little  difference 
in  their  pastures.  "If  Shorthorns  are  so  su- 
perior to  Herefords,  why  did  you  not  go  to 
Darlington  fair  or  market  and  buy  high-grade 
Shorthorn  steers  and  spayed  heifers,  which 
could  be  bought  in  any  quantity,  and  at  less 
money  than  Herefords?  There  seems  to  be  a 
myth  among  Shorthorn  breeders  that  I  cannot 
understand.  I  think  you  are  more  attached  to 
fashion,  fancy  and  pedigree  than  you  are  to 
a  rent-paying  animal."  "I  tell  you,  Sotham," 
said  Mr.  Savage,  "it  is  of  no  use  disguising  the 
fact.  Those  Hereford  steers  will  go  to  market 


a  month  hence,  without  cake  or  corn,  but  Short- 
horns want  to  be  finished  on  cake,  and. I  am 
free  to  say  they  fetch  the  higher  price  over 
the  Shorthorns.  If  Shorthorns  make  greater 
weight,  the  extra  weight  does  not  compensate 
for  food  consumed."  "I  am  satisfied,  Mr.  Sav- 
age," said  I,  "so  let  us  change  the  subject," 
which  was  converted  to  prospects  of  things  in 
America.  Mr.  Matthews  and  myself  dined  with 
Mr.  Savage,  and  spent  the  afternoon  smoking 
our  long  clay  pipes,  drinking  our  port  and 
sherry  in  moderation,  and  in  the  evening  sat 
down  to  a  game  at  whist,  which  we  kept  up  un- 
til a  late  hour. 

Probably  it  is  one  of  the  greatest  sights  in 
the  world  to  see  at  any  Hereford  fair  so  many 
superior  cattle  with  white  faces,  and  so  uni- 
form in  color,  symmetry,  substance  and  qual- 
ity combined,  as  to  make  that  breed  superior 
to  any  other.  I  was  never  more  amazed  than 
at  my  first  visit.  It  confirmed  my  belief  and 
a  fixture  of  me,  in  favor  of  the  Herefords,  prob- 
ably to  the  end  of  my  life.  I  at  once  felt  satis- 
fied I  was  on  the  right  track  in  cattle  breed- 
ing, however  the  Americans  might  be  preju- 
diced against  them. 

Notwithstanding  they  were  shut  out  of  state 
and  county  shows  and  driven  under  the  lash 


A  "LINE-UP"  AT  WEAVERGHACE,  FARM    OF  T.  F.  B.  SOTHAM. 


HIST  0  R  Y     OF     H  E  R  K  F  ()  H  D     CAT  T  L  E 


209 


of  influenced  judges,  they  could  not  always  be 
robbed  of  their  good  name  and  real  merit ;  the 
reputation  of  the  Herefords  was  too  well  es- 
tablished to  be  forever  injured  by  a  moneyed 
power  or  to  allow  prejudice  to  long  rule  over 
them.  Under  such  a  pressure,  however,  it  was 
impossible  for  Herefords  to  win  prizes,  unless 
their  superiority  was  so  palpable  that  con- 
science, though  seared,  was  compelled  to  give 
way. 

Soon  after  this,  the  Earl  of  Warwick  won 
the  first  prize  at  Smithfield  with  a  Hereford 
ox  of  which  the  editor  of  the  "Mark  Lane  Ex- 
press" spoke  very  highly.  I  wrote  to  the  Earl  of 


no  doubt  the  Herefords  are  the  best  breeds 
for  such  objects.  Notwithstanding  well 
bred  ones  are  bought  very  dear  (a  proof  of  their 
estimation)  1  think  they  pay  best  for  their  keep, 
turning  into  money  faster  for  the  food  they 
eat,  less  liable  to  casualties,  from  the  thriving 
disposition  of  their  constitutions  to  do  well  and 
lay  on  flesh  while  growing.  I  send  into  Here- 
fordshire and  buy  lean,  young  stock,  of  the 
best  breeders,  not  trusting  to  the  fairs.  1  know 
how  all  are  bred.  The  ox*I  won  the  first  prize 
with  at  the  Smithfield  show  last  year,  1840,  and 
the  best  beast  of  any  class  shown  by  the  ninety 
competitors,  I  bought  as  a  three-year-old,  with 


THE  CATTLE  RING  AT  THE  DETROIT  INTERNATIONAL  FAIR  AND  EXPOSITION.    T.  F.  B.  SOTHAM,  SECRETARY. 


Warwick  for  a  little  information  of  the  Here- 
fords  and  received  the  following  letter : 

Warwick  Castle;  Eng. 

Sir:  I  buy  my  stock  in  poor,  at  two  and 
three  years  old ;  fat  them  for  the  butcher ; 
fat  them  on  grass  in  the  summer  and  on 
hay  and  turnips  in  winter,  finishing  them 
on  oil  cake  when  necessary.  To  do  which  it 
would  be  immaterial  to  me  which  breed  I 
bought  or  where,  depending  on  what  would 
grow  or  fat  fastest,  as  good  butchers'  beasts 
— the  butcher  being  my  customer — and  I  have 


many  more  at  seventeen  pounds  each,  lean.  He 
ran  with  the  other  steers,  and  was  put  up  with 
them  to  fat,  and  I  never  thought  of  sending 
him  to  Smithfield  until  two  months  before  the 
show,  never  having  sent  a  beast  there  before. 
After  the  show  I  sold  him  to  a  London  butcher 
to  kill,  for  seventy  pounds.  There  is  a  wretched 
print  of  him  in  the  London  shops.  The  painter 
who  did  his  picture  for  me  is  Mr.  Davis,  animal 
painter  to  the  Queen,  and  lives  at  Chelsea.  He 
made  a  very  good  colored  engraving,  one  of 
which  I  should  be  happy  to  procure  for  you  if 
you  will  have  the  goodness  to  write  to  me  when 


810 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


you  arrive  in  England  next  summer.    My  house 
in  London  is  7  Carlton  Gardens. 

(Signed)     WARWICK. 

I  called  at  Warwick  Castle  in  1842,  and, 
after  sending  in  my  card,  the  Earl  ordered  his 
valet  to  show  me  in.  As  soon  as  he  remem- 
bered my  letter  to  him,  and  the  prize  ox,  he  or- 
dered his  man  to  bring  up  two. saddle  horses 
and  he  would  show  me  the  steers  feeding  in  the 
park.  The  pasture*  was  excellent  on  the  old 
sod.  They  were  a  capital  lot  of  two-year-olds, 
he  purchased  in  Herefordshire  in  the  spring. 
We  talked  of  the  prospects  of  the  Herefords 
in  America,  and  other  different  subjects,  and 
he  gave  me  a  note  to  Mr.  Davis,  to  give  me  one 
of  the  engravings  of  the  ox,  which  I  brought 


STOCK  BARN  AT  T.  L.  MILLER'S  "HIGHLAND  FARM," 
BEECHER,    ILL. 

here  and  presented  to  the  late  Hon.  Erastus 
Corning,  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  it  still  hangs 
up  in  the  residence  in  Albany  now  occupied 
by  his  widow,  whose  age  is  87  years. 

This  letter  to  me  from  so  prominent  a  peer 
in  England  made  quite  a  stir.  Mr.  Francis 
Rotch  felt  quite  indignant.  He  wrote  a  clas- 
sical criticism  upon  it,  in  which  he  hinted  that 
the  letter  could  not  be  genuine.  Luther  Tucker, 
Sr.,  called  upon  me,  and  told  me  what  Mr. 
Rotch  had  written.  He  did  not  publish  it,  but 
wrote  him  that  the  letter  was  certainly  from 
the  Earl  of  Warwick ;  that  his  "coat  of  arms" 
was  on  the  seal,  and  there  was  nothing  relating 
to  the  letter  that  could  be  construed  into  deceit. 
I  immediately  sat  down  and  wrote  Mr.  Rotch 
as  severe  a  letter  as  was  ever  written  to  an- 
other. I  knew  the  circumstances  for  which  he 
left  New  England,  and  I  did  not  scruple  in 
asking  him  if  he  supposed  my  character  was 
like  unto  his,  obliged  to  leave  home  for  evil 
deeds  done  in  the  body.  I  told  Mr.  Tucker 
what  I  had  done,  who  knew  the  circumstances 
of  the  late  banker's  sinning,  notwithstanding  I 
told  him  "that  he  who  was  without  sin,  let  him 
cast  the  first  stone,"  still  I  felt  certain' that  I 


should  never  be  guilty  of  forgery  and  for  this 
broad  insinuation  I  should  chastise  him  the 
first  time  we  met. 

A  few  days  after,  Mr.  Tucker  came  to  me 
and  said  there  was  a  gentleman  in  his  office 
who  wished  to  see  me  very  particularly.  Mr. 
Tucker  had  shown  him  the  original  letter, 
which  he  pronounced  genuine,  and  Mr.  Tucker, 
when  he  told  me  who  it  was,  asked  me  to  keep 
my  temper.  "Why,  Mr.  Tucker,  I  think  you 
know  me  well  enough  that  I  can  always  forgive 
a  man  who  acknowledges  himself  in  error."  Mr. 
Rotch  then  walked  in  out  of  the  back  room,  and 
made  me  a  very  satisfactory  apology,  but  there 
was  much  said  about  this  letter  in  the  "Culti- 
vator," which  can  be  seen  on  investigation,  in 
1841. 

Here  is  another  substantial  evidence  in  favor 
of  Herefords,  and  I  have  never  yet  seen  a  single 
instance  where  Herefords  have  been  fairly  tried 
but  what  they  were  appreciated.  The  following 
is  an  extract  from  a  letter  to  me  from  Mr. 
Fisher  Hobbs,  Marks  Hall,  Essex,  England,  one 
of  the  most  prominent  agriculturists  of  his  day : 
"When  I  commenced  farming  and  breeding  on 
my  own  account,  in  addition  to  my  steward- 
ship to  Lord  Western,  I  purchased  a  Short- 
horn herd,  probably  but  few  better  in  Eng- 
land. I  kept  them  and  had  to  nurse  them  ten- 
derly for  five  years.  Notwithstanding  this,  I 
had  become  almost  wedded  to  them.  The  no- 
bility, with  whom  I  much  associated,  patron- 
ized them,  and  I  followed  their  example.  I 
purchased  a  small  herd  of  Herefords,  because 
they  sold  cheap,  and  to  my  utter  astonishment 
they  could  live  and  -grow  fat,  while  the 
Shorthorns  grew  poor,  all  faring  alike.  Al- 
though much  against  my  wishes,  I  sold  off  the 
Shorthorns  and  took  to  Herefords,  and  have 
kept  to  them  with  much  faith." 

I  sent  the  whole  of  this  letter  to  the  Albany 
"Cultivator"  just  before  the  beginning  of  the 
Bates  mania,  and  when  the  junior  editor  was 
a  boy  playing  marbles  in  the  street.  Mr.  Luther 
Tucker,  Sr.,  published  it  and  was  much  pleased 
with  it.  Mr.  Hobbs  won  the  first  prize  for 
the  best  cow-in-milk,  with  a  Hereford,  against 
numerous  Shorthorns,  and  kept  to  the  Here- 
fords until  his  death.  Wherever  similar  trials 
have  been  impartially  made,  the  Herefords  have 
invariably  been  successful. 

Mr.  Fisher  Hobbs  and  Lord  Western  were 
the  originators  of  the  Essex  hogs,  the  latter 
imported  the  Neapolitan  hog  and  the  former 
crossed  them  with  the  "old  Essex"  breed,  hence 
the  improved  breed. 

When  in  England,  after  my  .second  lot  of 
Herefords,  I  called  upon  Mr.  Hobbs,  at  Essex 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Hall,  and  was  received  most  kindly.  We  rode 
over  his  farm,  viewed  the  battle,  which  con- 
sisted of  Herefords,  and  discussed  the  demand 
for  his  Essex  hogs,  which  at  that  time  was  very 
great.  I  found  in  Mr.  Hobbs  one  of  the  most 
substantial  men  I  ever  met,  and  never  spent  a 
more  pleasant  time  than  while  under  his  roof. 
Many  of  the  nobility  looked  up  'to  him  for  ad- 
vice. No  man  stood  higher  as  a  steward  or  as 
an  agriculturist,  and  he  was  a  leading  man  at 
the  principal  meetings  and  exhibitions  of  the 
country.  I  purchased  a  pair  of  his  pigs,  and 
had  them  sent  to  London  to  be  shipped  with  my 
Herefords. 

The  testimony  of  such  men  is  worth  preserv- 
ing, while  those  who  write  for  the  sake  of  see- 
ing their  names  in  print  copy  from  others,  no 
better  informed  than  themselves,  put  on  airs  un- 
becoming men  of  judgment,  do  a  great  deal  of 
injury,  much  more  than  they  have  any  idea. 
How  many  writers  of  the  past  have  been  prac- 
tical men  ?  Youatt  is  yet  often  quoted  by  edi- 
tors, novices  in  breeding,  such  as  J.  H.  San- 
ders, Judge  T.  C.  Jones  and  many  others  I  have 
named,  who  have  pinned  their  faith  to  him, 
when  all  practical  men  who  have  read  Youatt 
can  plainly  see  that  he  knew  little  more  about 
cattle  than  cattle  knew  of  him,  and  it  was  sheer 
affectation  for  him  even  to  attempt  so  impor- 
tant an  undertaking.  He  was  educated  as  a 
veterinary  surgeon,  which  profession  required  a 
classical  education,  and  upon  which  acquired 
education  such  men  are  apt  to  place  the  founda- 
tion of  their  knowledge  so  that  when  they  write, 
they  study  the  classical  part  more  fully  than  the 
more  practical. 

So  it  was  with  Youatt.  He  looked  more  to 
his  orthography,  etymology,  syntax  and  prosody 
than  he  did  to  the  good  points  and  character  of 
animals,  or  the  true  science  in  breeding  them. 
He  never  studied  good  breeding  practically,  but 
gained  his  information  at  market  ordinaries  of 
those  interested,  and  his  friends  were  princi- 
pally amongst  the  Shorthorn  breeders.  It  was 
mostly  hearsay  without  proper  foundation. 
Any  practical  man  can  discover  this  through 
the  whole  of  his  work,  which  I  have  read  close- 
ly, and  have  frequently  quoted  critically,  which 
can  be  plainly  seen  in  my  former  letters.  He 
decidedly  shows  that  he  listened  attentively 
to  the  dictates  of  Shorthorn  breeders,  because  he 
knew  they  were  rich,  and  by  their  riches  had 
run  themselves  into  a  rapid  current  of  notoriety. 
Such  men  have  done  great  injury  to  the  progress 
of  good  breeding.  There  are  too  many  who  have 
followed  this  example,  feeling  themselves  ex- 
alted because  they  have  written  a  book,  no  mat- 
ter whether  mankind  had  received  any  benefit 


from  it,  or  it  had  inflicted  a  great  and  palpable 
injury. 

All  L.  F.  Allen's  works  are  borrowed  from 
such  men  as  Youatt,  while  the  portion  ema- 
nating from  his  own  brain  rests  upon  a  very 
shallow  foundation,  or  smacks  strongly  toward 
his  own  interest.  You  might  easily  suppose 
that  L.  F.  Allen  was  the  founder  and  self-pre- 
server of  all  the  breeds  in  the  universe,  but  it 
was  this  consummate  vanity  that  prompted  him 
to  borrow  the  plumage  of  others  in  forming 
the  bulk  of  his  books.  Shorthorn  men  them- 
selves saw  the  exaggerations  of  Shorthorns  and 
his  desire  to  depreciate  the  Herefords.  All 
knew  his  motives  and  his  strong  prejudices, 
and  some  of  them  made  allowances  for  some 
of  his  idiosyncrasies.  Although  L.  F.  Allen 
was  exceedingly  anxious  to  become  a  noted 
breeder  of  Shorthorns,  which  was  at  one  time 
partially  supposed,  on  paper,  he  never  bred 
or  owned  a  good  animal  of  the  Shorthorn  breed 
in  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  great  notoriety, 
without  the  necessary  essentials  of  true  merit 
to  back  him.  I  cannot  but  believe  that  his 
book  on  the  different  breeds  of  cattle  has  done 
much  more  harm  to  the  community  than  he 
can  ever  repair.  He  supposed  in  his  vanity  that 
I  was  so  far  inferior  to  him  in  position,  amongst 
the  cattle  men,  that  there  was  no  paper  in  this 


A    MISSOURI    COW   AND    HER    TRIPLETS. 

country  whose  editor  would  allow  me  to  reply 
to  him.  I  am  very  anxious  to  have  him  reply 
to  my  strictures  upon  him,  backed  by  the  other 
flunkies  I  have  named,  so  intimately  connected 
with  him.  I  tell  them  all  that  the  editors  and 
proprietors  of  the  "Drover's  Journal"  are  hon- 
est in  their  purposes,  and  will  publish  anything 
they  choose  to  write.  My  suggestions  to  them 
are,  not  to  change  a  word,  but  give  them  their 
full  force,  and  that  they  will  find  the  "Drover's 
Journal"  impartial  toward  either  breeder  or 
breed,  and  for  which  they  have  be.en  rewarded 
for  their  honesty  and  independence  in  the  sue- 


212 


HISTORY  OF  H  EKE  FOR  I)  CATTLE 


cess  they  have  achieved  in  the  field  of  journal- 
ism. May  they  still  become  more  prosperous  is 
my  sincere  wish. 

My  ohject  is  to  write  the  truth,  and  if  any 
of  my  former  opponents  think  me  in  error,  I  am 
open  to  criticism,  I  care  not  in  what  shape  it 
comes.  If  I  cannot  vindicate  myself  I  will  cry 
peccavi,  and  acknowledge  the  fault.  All  I  ask 
is  a  fair  field  and  no  favor. 


PART  XI. 

The  Bates  ring  is  now  broken  up,  the  Bates 
mania  defunct ;  titles  are  looked  upon  with  sus- 
picion. Men  who  supported  them  did  so  to 
their  hearts'  content,  but  would  now  gladly  re- 
turn them  to  the  country  in  which  they  were 
created. 


GRADE    STEER   CALVES    IN  AN   IOWA   FEED   LOT. 

The  wise  men  at  the  East  have  to  be  fed  with 
roast  beef  by  the  practical  men  at  the  West; 
therefore,  they  have  to  study  the  best  and  most 
economical  way  of  making  it  to  their  own  ad- 
vantage. They  have  found  out  that  the  Here- 
ford has  a  strong  constitution,  has  a  good,  thick, 
mellow  hide  to  protect  it,  under  which  good 
quality  invariably  rests.  Their  meat  being  well 
interlarded  is  put  on  in  the  right  places;  this 
gained  in  their  activity  is"  unchangeable,  which 
enables  them  to  take  it  to  market  in  good  shape. 

The  Bates  tribes  under  their  thin  hides  and 
soft  handling,  so  vehemently  supported  by  their 
breeders,  cannot  stand  the  hardship  they  have 
to  endure,  especially  when  weaned  from  their 
nursing  and  pampering.  The  character  of  their 
soft  flesh  is  bred  in  them,  under  the  absurd 
doctrine  Thomas  Bates  was  constantly  preach- 
ing to  his  followers.  This  flabby  flesh  wasted 
away  in  their  coarseness  from  the  exertion 
which  compelled  them  to  travel  for  their  food, 
and  what  they  did  put  on  was  carried  to  market 


in  had  shape,  which  made  thorn  only  fit  for 
stoekers  to  be  finished  amidst  plenty,  where  they 
could  be  indulged  in  idleness,  then  the  most 
profitable  parts  were  deficient,  not  having  been 
bred  there;  their  pedigree  must  have  been  a 
fraud.  So  goes  the  world  and  the  people  in  it 
are  subject  to  many  changes.  L.  F.  Allen  and 
his  herd  book,  J.  R.  Page  and  his  flattering 
portraits,  even  with  the  assistance  of  Ambrose 
Stevens,  can  never  compensate  for  the  injury 
thev  have  done  to  Shorthorns.  *  *  * 


PART  XII. 


about  in  my  25th  year,  I 
used  to  go  to  visit  my  uncle  in  London, 
who  lived  in  White  Lion  street,  a  close  neighbor 
to  Mr.  William  Gurrier,  who  was  salesman  for 
my  father;  and  being  fond  of  stock,  I  used  to 
get  up  in  the  morning  between  1  and  2  o'clock 
to  ride  with  Mr.  Gurrier  to  market,  as  Smith- 
field  began  at  this  time  by  lamp  light.  He 
kindly  took  me  through  the  cattle  as  he  handled 
them  in  their  pens,  frequently  asking  me  which 
was  the  best  bullock.  If  I  differed  with  his 
judgment  he  explained  it  to  me.  I  was  always 
on  hand  at  my  uncle's  door  when  he  called  for 
me.  Mr.  Giblett  was  one  of  the  best  customers, 
and  we  frequently  went  to  Bond  street  to  view 
the  stall  of  meat  killed  by  this  noted  purveyor. 
We  had  not  much  chance  of  judging  between 
the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns,  as  he  seldom 
killed  any  of  the  latter,  which  were  at  that 
period  very  coarse  and  of  inferior  quality.  Mr. 
Giblett's  principal  purchases  were  Herefords 
and  Scots.  Here  we  had  a  good  chance  to  com- 
pare our  judgments  of  alive  and  dead,'  and  I 
again  say  here  that  no  man  can  be  a  successful 
breeder  of  cattle  of  any  breed  unless  he  can 
discover  true  quality  in  the  live  animal.  To 
do  this,  his  hand  must  be  his  guide. 

The  more  Galloway  and  Highland  blood  they 
introduced  into  the  crossed  Durhams  the  more 
they  improved  them,  hence,  the  name  of  "Im- 
proved Shorthorn."  When  the  passion  for  up- 
standing style  in  Dukes  and  Duchesses  became 
fashionable  and  fanciful,  this  improvement  was 
destroyed,  and  good  breeding  was  lost  sight 
of.  Mr.  Giblett's  establishment  and  his  repu- 
tation for  the  best  stall  of  meat  was  extended 
far  into  the  country,  he  killing  nothing  but 
Herefords  and  Scots.  It  was  a  great  grati- 
fication to  me  to  see  the  display  of  meat  in  this 
well-known  and  extensive  establishment,  and 
I  was  a  frequent  visitor  when  on  a  visit  to  my 
London  friends.  Everything  was  kept  in  the 


HI-STORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


213 


neatest  order,  he  would  not  aiiow  inferior  car- 
casses of  beef,  mutton  or  veal  to  enter  it.  It 
Was  a  pattern  to  all  such  establishments  in  that 
metropolis.  There  was  not  a  breeder  or  farmer 
of  any  note  in  England,  when  visiting  the  city, 
but  took  a  pleasant  survey  of  it  before  they  left. 
1  frequently  talked  to  Mr.  Giblett  and  his  son 
rtbout  the  Herefords.  They  always  spoke  of 
them  in  the  highest  terms,  and  as  being  the 
most  profitable  beasts  for  the  butcher.  I  in- 
quired of  several  of  the  best  butchers  in  sev- 
eral of  the  market  towns  in  the  country;  all 
told  me  the  same  tale,  but  many  of  them  said 
that  they  bought  more  Scots  and  Welsh  cattle 
on  account  of  the  smallness  of  the  joints,  and 
because  they  could  buy  them  cheaper  than  they 
could  Herefords  before  they  reached  London. 

Go  to  Oxford  and  you  find  that  all  the  first- 
class  butchers  say  that  they  buy  none  but  first- 
class  Herefords  to  supply  the  colleges  with  beef, 
and  here  much  of  it  is  consumed.  Go  and  ex- 
amine the  extensive  meadows  rented  by  the 
principal  butchers  in  that  city,  containing  some 
of  the  best  grazing  land  in  the.  world;  there 
you  will  see  none  but  the  best  Hereford  steers 
and  oxen,  all  belonging  to  butchers,  placed  in 
ilic  different  lots,  as  a  supply  when  wanted. 


It  is  highly  gratifying  to  the  lover  of  good 
stock  and  well-fed  beef  to  go  and  examine  the 
carcasses  behind  these  white-faces,  every 
meadow  containing  from  twenty  to  forty  head. 
I  remember  Mr.  A.  B.  Allen,  when  in  England, 
then  editor  of  the  "American  Agriculturist," 
being  struck  with  this  display  of  Herefords, 
could  not  refrain  from  writing  a  paragraph  of 
high  praise  as  he  viewed  them  from  the  terrace 
of  Christ  Church  College. 

This  was  the  principal  market  to  which  the 
noted  and  most  worthy  supporter  of  Herefords, 
Mr.  Westcar  of  Creslow,  Buckinghamshire,  sent- 
his  well-fed  Herefords.  Mr.  Richard  Rowland, 
his  successor,  taking  all  things  into  considera- 
tion, found  this  his  best  market;  he  still  holds 
to  the  Herefords  as  most  profitable.  Having 
become,  like  his  uncle,  thoroughly  disgusted 
with  the  way  the  shows  were  conducted,  he  de- 
clined ever  again  showing  an  animal,  notwith- 
standing he  feeds  the  very  best.  In  a  letter 
to  me,  which  I  published  in  the  Albany  "Culti- 
vator" of  1842,  he  said  he  never  would  allow 
another  animal  of  his  under  such  treatment  as 
the  Herefords  had  at  their  shows. 


TEXAS   2-YEAR-OLD    STEERS   IN    AN   OHIO    PASTURE. 
(Champions  at  Chicago  Live  Stock  Exposition,  1901.     Property  of  D.  W.  Black,  Lyndon,  O.) 


a  14 


H  1  S  T  O  R  Y     OF     H  E  E  E  F 0  E  D     C  A T  T  L  E 


PART  X11I. 

As  many  of  the  Herefords  conn1,  when  calved, 
with  spots  on  their  faces,  let  me  tell  those  con- 
cerned that  it  is  no  disparagement  to  the  breed. 
1  have  seen  some  of  the  best  with  mottled  faces. 
Tomkins  was  a  prominent  breeder  of  the  best, 
and  preferred  the  mottled  face,  and  many  are 
descended  to  his  favorite  mottled  faced  cow, 
which,  at  that  day,  was  considered  as  good  as 
any,  and  those  that  run  back  to  the  Tomkins 
sort  in  this  respect  are  generally  good  animals. 

The  defeat  the  Bates  Shorthorns  have  ex- 
perienced at  the  Bath  and  West  of  England 


A  BUNCH   OF  MISSOURI  YEARLING  HEIFERS. 
(Bred  by  T.  F.  B.   Sotham.) 

show,  by  the  Herefords,  has  had  a  tendency  to 
check  their  breeders'  vanity.  1  will  here  give 
extracts  from  the  leading  papers  of  England. 

The  following  is  from  the  "Mark  Lane  Ex- 
press" of  June  17th,  1878,  on  the  Royal  Show 
of  that  year: 

"We  consider  the  Shorthorn  cow  class  to  be 
a  disgrace  to  that  breed,  and  therefore  to  the 
breeders.  We  are  quite  unable  to  discover  the 
'grandeur'  and  'superb  character,'  and  the  'mag- 
nificent character'  of  these  old  crocks,  which 
some  of  the  Shorthorn  fanciers  appear  to  have 
the  faculty  of  discovering,  and  do  not  hesitate 
to  record  them  as  being  just  a  rough  lot  of  cows. 
If  their  blood  is  of  the  bluest,  their  carcasses 
nre  of  the  ugliest,  and  are  not  worth  anything 
beyond  contractor's  price  when  they  come  at 
last  to  the  shambles.  We  can't  help  thinking 
that  to  a  really  unprejudiced  mind  there  must 
be  an  evidence  of  a  something  outside  agri- 
culture, and  quite  useless  to  the  rent-paying 
farmer,  in  this  Shorthorn  'fancy.'  We  are  sen- 
sible of  the  improvement  that  has  been  effected 
already  in  the  rank  and  file  of  our  cattle 
throughout  the  country  by  the  use  of  this  Short- 


horn blood.  We  do  not  wish  to  detract  one  iota 
from  its  legitimate  merits,  but  simply  to  point 
out  wherein  it  becomes  sometimes  a  matter  of 
ridicule  to  non-believers.  We  see  prizes 
awarded  systematically  which  are  not  calcu- 
lated to  improve  the  production  of  either  meat 
or  milk  in  their  descendants,  and  we  are  told 
that  there  is  some  marvelous  power  and  virtue 
stowed  up  in  their  veins,  and  that  although 
their  bodies — the  casket — are  unsightly,  their 
blood — the  jewel — is  pure,  potent  and  almost 
priceless.  Well,  we  simply  do  not  believe  it 
as  they  put  it.  We  are  perfectly  well  aware  that 
any  'terribly  in-bred  weed,"  a  wretch  to  look  at, 
but  having  an  exceptional  pedigree,  will,  if 
matched  with  mongrel-bred  stock,  produce  a 
result  which  is  far,  very  far,  in  advance  of  the 
mongrel-bred  dams.  So  would  any  absolutely 
purely  bred  animal.  Therefore,  we  think  that 
farmers,  those  who  have  the  production  of  beef 
and  milk  in  view,  have  a  right  to  expect  some- 
thing which  is  calculated  to  effect  their  object  in 
a  direct  manner;  no  breeder  of  bullocks  would 
give  herd  room,  much  more  a  high  price,  for 
the  bluest  blood  bull  which  did  not  carry  a 
frame  the  character  of  which  it  was  desirable 
to  transmit.  When  a  lot  of  highly  bred,  but 
not  correctly  fashionable,  young  bulls,  are  to  be 
bought  for  about  thirty  pounds  apiece,  and 
here  and  there  one  that  has  been  bred  correctly 
to"  fashion  fetches  three  thousand  pounds  and 
would  not  be  worth  one  shilling  more  to  the 
food  producer,  then  we  think  we  are  justified 
in  saying  that  rent-paying  farmers  have  already 
drawn  the  line  between  business  and  fancy  by 
refusing  to  give  more  than  a  business  price  for 
a  fancy  article.  We  should  be  glad  to  see  every 
young  Shorthorn  bull  now  in  the  breeders' 
hands  sold  to  tenant  farmers,  who  would  use 
them  for  meat  or  milk,  as  their  requirements 
might  decide,  and  are  firm  believers  in  the  gen- 
eral usefulness  and  superior  adaptability  of  the 
breed  to  any  other;  but  we  feel  it  a  duty  to  point 
out  the  ridiculous  position  the  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers seem  content  to  occupy  at  our  great  shows, 
by  the  mixed  qualities  and  low  status  of  many 
of  the  animals  exhibited,  which  gives  oppor- 
tunity for  pointing  the  finger  of  scorn,  and 
leads  to  such  questions  as  'when  is  the  bottom 
of  this  Shorthorn  humbug  likely  to  drop  out?' 
We  hear  a  great  deal  about  the  'alloy,'  and  if 
correctly  informed,  it  means  an  infusion  of 
Scotch  blood  of  some  kind,  and  to  our  mind  the 
very  thing  these  Shorthorns  are  now  needing 
is  another  infusion — a  strong  one  of  some  al- 
loy which  will  give  them  the  thickness  of  flesh, 
the  wealth  of  hair,  and  the  butchers'  form  they 
so  seldom  possess,  and  then  we  should  be  pre- 


HISTORY  OF  H EKE FORD  CATTLE 


5J15 


pared  to  expect  great  things  from  the  renovated 
blood." 

The  same  paper,  speaking  of  the  Herefords 
at  this  same  show,  says : 

"They  are  not  so  numerous  as  the  more  fash- 
ionable breed,  but  the  quality  throughout  is  ex- 
cellent. In  the  aged  bull  class  there  are  five 
animals  of  which  the  Hereford  men  need  not 
be  ashamed.  The  heifers  in  milk  numbered 
only  three,  but  two  of  them  were  such  animals 
as  it  was  worth  while  coming  to  Oxford  on 
purpose  to  see.  Mrs.  Sarah  Edwards  of  Win- 
tercott  took  first  and  second,  leaving  Mr.  Lutly 
the  reserve,  but  Mrs.  Sarah  Edwards'  Leonora 
(||  107)  is  one  of  the  most  perfect  animals  that 
has  been  shown  for  years.  It  was  first  last  year 
as  a  yearling  at  Liverpool,  and  will  likely  be 
first  wherever  it  goes.  The  Champion  prize 
given  by  the  Oxfordshire  Agricultural  Society 
was  also  awarded  to  this  heifer,  as  the  best  fe- 
male horned  animal  in  the  yard.  The  champion 
heifer,  Beatrice  (fl  108),  is  also  very  handsome, 
and  took  second  to  Leonora's  first  at  the  Royal 
last  year,  as  it  did  last  week  at  Oxford.  Mrs. 
Edwards  may  well  be  proud  of  such  stock  as 
that.  If  Leonora  had  been  a  Grand  Duchess, 
Shorthorn,  a  poem  would  have  been  composed 
in  her  honor,  and  translated  in  several  lan- 
guages by  this  time,  but  no  Shorthorn  that  we 
have  ever  seen  was  cast  in  such  a  mold  as  this 
Hereford  heifer." 

Of  the  award  of  the  champion  prize,  the  same 
authority  gives  the  following  account : 

"One  of  the  most  attractive  features  of  the 
opening  judging  was  the  awarding  of  the  cham- 
pion prizes  given  by  the  Oxford  Agricultural 
Association,  and  a  great  deal  of  interest  cen- 
tered in  it.  For  the  best  Shorthorn  animal  in 
the"  yard' the  award  was  given  by  the  Shorthorn 
judges,  of  whom  there  were  but  two,  Mr.  Drew^ 
ery  and  Mr.  Trindall,  and  the  contest  was  be- 
tween Mr.  Ljnton's  Sir  Arthur  Ingram  and  Mr. 
Marche's  heifer  Diana,  and  after  some  little 
time  the  bull  took  the  prize  card.  To  our  minds 
the  white  bull  calf  Prince  Victor  was  a  better 
Shorthorn  than  either  of  them.  He  would  be 
a  bold  man  who  would  stake  his  reputation  on 
a  calf,  as  it  may  not  realize  the  expectation 
formed  of  it,  but  taking  the  animals  as  they 
stood  simply  as  merit  actually  possessed  at  the 
time,  we  thought  the  calf  the  best,  nor  were  we 
singular  in  that  opinion.  Then  the  whole  con- 
claves of  judges  came  into  the  ring  to  decide 
which  was  the  best  male  horned  animal  in  the 
yard,  and  here  the  Shorthorn  men  were  hope- 
lessly in  the  minority,  cornered  in  a  manner  that 
does  not  often  happen  in  a  show  yard.  In  vain 
Mr.  Brewery  contrasted  the  strong  points  of 


Sir  Arthur  Ingram  with  the  weak  ones  of  Mr. 
Roger's  Hereford  bull  Grateful  (fl  109)  ;  it 
was  all  to  no  purpose;  the  rest  could  not  get 
away  from  the  Hereford,  whose  wonderful  rib 
and  forehand  was  too  much  for  the  Shorthorn, 
and  the  show  of  hands  showed  an  overwhelm- 
ing majority  for  the  Hereford.  There  is  no 
doubt  but  that,  had  the  Shorthorn  judges  been 
of  sufficient  numerical  strength,  they  would  not 
only  have  prevented  this  Hereford  triumph,  but 
also  that  which  followed  when  the  best  female 
horned  animal  had  to  be  decided  upon,  for  if 
went  sadly  against  the  grain  to  award  even  such 
a  heifer  as  Mrs.  Sarah  Edwards'  Leonora  the 
championship  over  the  Shorthorn  Diana,  but  it 
had  to  be  done,  and  we  think  there  were  few 
outsiders  who  were  not  thoroughly  satisfied. 
These  champion  awards  were  an  unquestionable 
streak  of  lean  for  the  'fancy,'  and  we  may  de- 
pend on  their  not  allowing  such  a  thing  to  occur 
again  if  they,  can  help  it.  This,  coming  after 
Paris,  is  about  as  much  as  they  will  be  able  to 
bear  with  patience.  We  should  be  glad  to  see 
sweepstakes  judging  of  this  kind  more  fre- 
quently." 

The  Shorthorn  men,  gaining  full  control  of 
the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  and  the  Smith- 
field  Club,  forbade  the  contest  between  the 
Shorthorns  and  Herefords  thereafter,  well 
knowing  the  consequence,  should  it  again  occur 
under  impartial  and  sound  judgment.  The  edi- 


NBBRASKA    RANGE    CALVES    IN    THE    KANSAS    CITY 

STOCK    YARDS. 
(En   route  to   Eastern   feed   lots.) 

tonal  in  the  "Mark  Lane  Express"  instituting 
comparison  is  true  and  was  written  by  an  im- 
partial scribe,  shows  plainly  how  others  see  it. 
The  "Mark  Lane  Express"  supported  the  Short- 
horns above  any  other  breed,  until  they  saw 
their  error.  The  interest  in  that  paper  was 
supported  by  the  aristocracy  of  the  country. 

I  will  conclude  with  a  short  sketch  of  Cap- 
tain Morgan's  visit  to  Mr.  Hewer's  in  Glouces- 
tershire. As  1  had  crossed  the  ocean  with  him 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


in  the  old  Philadelphia  and  Hendrick  Hudson 
seven  times  and  return,  we  became  thoroughly 
acquainted,  were  never  more  happy  than  when 
we  could  get  a  good  joke  on  each  other.  The 
Captain's  laugh  was  so  hearty  that  it  cheered 
everyone  who  heard  it,  and  this  being  my  third 
trip  for  cattle,  I  engaged  the  steerage  in  New 
York  to  bring  them  in.  Going  out  Captain 
Morgan  agreed  to  go  with  me  into  the  country, 
to  see  some  of  my  friends. 

We  went  into  Oxfordshire  and  tarried  all  night 
a't  the  house  of  an  old  acquaintance,  who  was 
exceedingly  glad  to  see  us,  to  talk  about  the  old 
country  and  the  new,  and,  being  early  spring, 
the  young  rooks  were  fully  fledged  and  ready 
to  depart  from  their  nests,  a  rook-shooting  party 
was  expected  the  next  day.  The  host,  the  Cap- 
tain and  myself  went  out  to  view  the  young  ones, 
perched  by  the  side  of  their  nests  ready  to  take 
their  flight  when  confident  of  the  strength  of 
their  wings.  The  host  asked  the  Captain  if  he 
was  a  good  shot.  "I  used  to  be  a  good  shot 
with  a  rifle  when  young,  and  I  think  I  could 
hit  one  of  those  chaps  on  the  highest  tree  with 
one."  The  host  fetched  his  gun  and  loaded 
both  barrels;  the  Captain  brought  down  his 
bird.  "Try  again,"  said  the  host;  he  did,  and 
was  equally  successful.  "You  may  as  well  kill 
enough  for  a  rook  pie  for  dinner  to-morrow, 
before  the  shooters  come  in  the  afternoon." 


RANGE   CALVES   BOUGHT   BY   T.    F.    B.    SOTHAM    FOR 
EASTERN  FEEDERS. 

"Why,  do  you  eat  crow  in  England?"  said 
the  Captain,  and  he  gave  the  American  defi- 
nition, with  one  of  his  hearty  laughs. 

"We  consider  young  rook  quite  a  favorite 
dish  with  us,  and  I  do  not  think  you  will  de- 
spise it  to-morrow,  after  tasting  it."  So  the 
Captain  went  on  shooting  until  he  killed  a 
dozen,  only  missing  two  shots. 

"Why,  you  will  do  to  compete  with  the  best 
of  them  to-morrow."  The  uproarious  noise  the 
old  and  young  rooks  made  in  the  rookery  at- 
tracted a  great  deal  of  the  Captain's  attention ; 


it  amused  him  much.  We  strolled  round  the 
farm  until  tea  time,  looking  at  the  Cotswolds, 
all  of  which  were  very  good. 

-After,  the  neighbors  called  in,  to  whom  I 
was  principally  known,  and  the  Captain  soon 
became  acquainted,  as  he  prided  himself  on  be- 
ing a  "full  blooded  Connecticut  Yankee,"  and 
knew  how  to  ask  a  few  questions.  We  smoked 
our  long  pipes,  and  drank  our  ale,  or  brandy 
and  water,  as  tastes  differed.  The  Captain  told 
some  good  yarns  about  land  and  sea  that  amused 
the  whole  party.  He  almost  made  them  be- 
lieve that  roast  pigs  were  in  every  shop  window. 
with  a  fork  stuck  in  their  backs,  inviting  emi- 
grants to  come  in  and  eat  them  free  of  cost. 
One  old  gentleman  said  he  thought  it  must  be 
a  great  country,  but  that  he  thought  he  was  too 
old  to  emigrate. 

The  next  day  at  1  o'clock  we  sat  down  to  the 
rook  pie.  The  Captain  could  not  help  thinking 
of  crow.  He  said  to  me,  "Do  you  eat  crow?" 
"Certainly,"  said  I,  "and  I  bet  you  praise  the 
crow  as  much  as  you  did  the  gun  with  which 
you  killed  them."  The  top  crust  was  short  and 
flaky,  the  under  crust  savory;  the  crow  tender 
and  of  very  nice  flavor.  The  Captain  looked 
at  me  and  said  "crow  pie,"  as  soon  as  he  tasted 
it.  I  said,  "How  do  you  like  it  ?"  "It  is  good, 
so  far,  anyway."  All  were  helped,  and  all  en- 
joyed it.  The  Captain  began  to  think  it  ex- 
cellent. 

"I  challenge  you  to  a  glass  of  wine,"  said 
the  host.  "Which  will  you  have — port  or 
sherry?"  and  after  he  washed  the  first  serving 
down,  he  was  ready  to  be  served  to  a  second. 
Who  would  have  thought  a  Yankee  could  have 
supposed  crow  so  good  as  this?  The  Captain 
said  he  never  before  enjoyed  a  dinner  so  much. 
The  host  loaned  the  Captain  his  gun,  and  nearly 
every  one  of  his  shots  brought  a  "crow."  The 
guests  thought  the  Captain  a  dead  shot,  and 
there  was  about  a  wagon-load  of  young  rooks 
in  a  pile  from  all  the  guns.  All  were  anxious 
for  a  rook  pie,  and  each  took  his  share,  the  best 
shots  having  no  more  than  those  less  successful. 
The  Captain  asked  the  hostess  how  she  mado 
that  "crow  pie."  She  told  him  that  she  took 
out  the  backbone,  which  was  considered  bitter, 
arid  jointed  the  rest,  which  was  finer  than  even 
partridge  or  pigeon,  and  the  rooks  being  young 
were  always  tender  and  of  fine  flavor.  The 
Captain  said  he  wished  they  could  convert  the 
crows  into  rooks  in  America. 

It  was  now  time  to  leave  for  Northleach, 
Gloucestershire,  to  visit  Mr.  William  Hewer. 
William  and  myself  being  intimate  friends  from 
school -fellows,  I  Avas  as  much  at  home  as  if  I 
had  been  in  mv  own  house.  William  knew  we 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


217 


were  coming  and  met  us  at  the  station.  1  said 
to  him  that  "this  is  a  Yankee  Captain  from 
New  England,  and  1  advise  you  to  look  out  for 
him."  "All  right,"  said  he,  "and  we  will  make 
a  Hereford  man  of  him."  We  got  there  just  in 
time  for  supper,  which  was  a  cold  leg  of  mutton, 
bread,  cheese  and  water-cresses.  The  Captain 
said  that  he  had  eaten  so  much  "crow  pie"  that 
he  did  not  feel  like  eating  any  supper.  The 
Captain  liked  water-cresses  fresh  from  the 
spring,  and  that,  with  the  Stilton  cheese,  re- 
freshed his  appetite,  and  we  supped  together 
in  merry  mood,  notwithstanding  we  had  eaten 
crow. 

After  supper  we  took  our  long  pipes,  and 
Miss  Hewer  brought  in  some  mulled  elder  wine 
for  a  night  cap.  The  next  morning  after  break- 
fast William  ordered  his  hunter,  a  mare  four- 
teen years  old  I  had  sold  him  before  I  left  Eng- 
land, as  good  a  hunter  as  was  ever  under  a 
saddle,  and  as  good  a  pony  that  he  rode  around 
the  farm,  as  ever  was  crossed  by  a  man,  and 
who  knew  as  much  as  half  of  them.  The  grey- 
hounds came  jumping  round,  and  we  were  off 
for  a  course.  Hares  were  plentiful.  "Which 
will  you  take,  the  old  mare  or  the  bay  ?  Sotham. 
can  ride  either,  and  I  will  ride  the  pony,"  but 
the  Captain  chose  the  pony.  We  joked  the  Cap- 
tain on  his  seat  in  the  saddle,  and  asked  him  if 
we  should  tie  h.is  legs.  The  first  field  produced 
a  hare,  and  the  greyhounds  killed  her  before  she 
got  out  of  it.  The  pony  became  a  little  excited, 
but'  the  Captain  stuck  to  the  saddle,  and  was 
highly  delighted  with  the  course,  the  first  he 
had  even  seen.  The  next  field  William  saw 
a  hare  in  her  form.  "jSTow,  Captain,"  said 
William,  "go  start  for  that  tree  and  you  will 
see  her,  whip  her  up;  a  hare  will  always  lie 
very  close  when  the  dogs  are  round.  We  will 
give  her  plenty  of  law."  The  Captain  could  not 
see  the  hare  in  her  form,  but  he  supposed  he 
must  be  near  her,  so  he  popped  his  whip.  Up 
jumped  the  hare  and  the  pony  jumped  from 
under  the  Captain.  He  lay  upon  his  back  and 
the  pony  kicked  up  his  heels  at  his  leisure.  The 
course  lay  in  the  adjoining  field.  Our  horses 
took  the  wall  in  good  style  (j[  110).  The  Cap- 
tain was  soon  on  the  top  of  it  in  great  excite- 
ment. It  was  a  capital  course  and  our  mutual 
friend  was  highly  delighted ;  the  wall  gave  him 
the  advantage  of  seeing  the  whole  of  it.  We 
afterwards  killed  a  brace  more  hares  and  re- 
turned home  to  eat  a  coursed  hare  that  had 
been  hanging  in  the  larder  until  ripe.  It  was 
fine,  with  the  port  wine  gravy  and  currant 
jelly.  "I  tell  you,  Sotham,"  said  the  Captain, 
"this  is  about  as  good  as  crow.  Why,"  said  the 
Captain,  as  we  joined  in  a  glass  of  wine,  "you 


English  fellows  live  well.  A  fine  boiled  leg  of 
Cotswold  mutton  and  turnips,  a  roast  hare,  and 
an  English  plum  pudding." 

The  Captain  was  as  much  at  home  as  if  he 
had  known  Mr.  Hewer  his  whole  life,  as  they 
were  two  hearty,  good  fellows,  well  met. 

The  next  day  we  proposed  to  go  and  look  at 
the  cattle  and  Cotswolds  that  were  to  be 
shipped.  As  it  was  only  half  a  mile  to  where 
the  stock  were,  we  agreed  to  walk  and  take  the 
greyhounds  with  us.  We  walked  about  twenty 
yards  apart.  "So-ho !"  said  William,  "there 
she  sits  just  before  you,  Captain;  put  her  up." 
The  hare  being  so  near  the  color  of  the  ground, 
and  she  crouching  into  it  so  closely,  the  Cap- 
tain could  not  see  her  until  she  jumped  up.  It 
was  a  good,  strong  hare,  and  the  turnings  were 


A    ROW    OP    STOCK    BULLS.    AT    SHADELAND    FARM, 
LAFAYETTE,    IND. 

numerous.  The  hare  got  a  little  law,  and  went 
straight  for  the  Captain.  A  hare,  when  pur- 
sued by  greyhounds,  never  sees  anything  before 
her,  as  her  eyes  are  always  back  upon  her  pur- 
suers. The  Captain  took  off  his  new  beaver, 
and  as  she  was  coming  straight  to  him,  put  it 
between  his  legs  to  catch  her.  She  went  right 
straight  into  it,  knocking  the  crown' partly  out, 
and  the  greyhounds  being  so  close,  came  in  con- 
tact with  the  Captain,  nearly  upsetting  him. 
The  Captain,  gaining  his  equilibrium,  gave  one 
of  his  most  hearty  laughs,  which  echoed  over 
the  hills  and  through  the  vales.  Such  a  burst 
of  laughter  issued  from  this,  our  trio,  that  will 
be  remembered  to  our  latter  end.  The  Cap- 
tain was  highly  delighted^  and  at  her  death,  ran 
to  take  the  hare  from  the  dogs,  forgetting  his 
hat,  which  lay  at  a  short  distance  from  him. 

"By  Jupiter,"  said  the  Captain,  "did  you  ever 
see  anything  like  that  ?  It  will  do  for  me  to  tell 
the  Connecticut  Yankees."  We  examined  the 
hat,  and  the  crown  was  about,  half  circled. 
"Never  mind,"  said  the  Captain,  "I  suppose 
there  is  a  hat  store  in  Northleach." 

We  then  went  to  see  the  cargo  destined  for 
America.  The  Herefords  were  in  one  yard, 
the  Cotswold  rams,  seventeen  in  number,  in  one 


218 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


pen,  the  ewes,  eight,  in  another.  1  never  saw  a 
man  enjoy  anything  more  than  the  Captain  did 
in  viewing  this  stock.  "Remember,  Mr.  Hewer," 
said  he,  "I  am  a  Connecticut  Yankee,  and  like 
to  ask  questions.  How  do  you  manage  to  raise 
such  stock  as  this,  and  keep  them  in  such  fine 
condition?  Why,  the  cattle  look  all  alike,  and 
the  sheep  all  alike;  how  can  you  tell  them 
apart?" 

"I  know  every  sheep  in  my  flock  by  its  face, 
as  you  know  your  children.  The  cattle  are  also 
familiar  to  me  from  calves.  I  like  all  of  them 
as  I  do  my  family.  I  do  not  like  to  sell  any  of 


SOME   SHADELAND    MATRONS. 
(Herd  of  the  late  Adams  Earl,   Lafayette,  Ind.) 

my  best,  but  as  my  old  friend  and  I  have  been 
attached  to  each  other  from  school  boys  to- 
gether, I  could  not  do  less  than  let  him  have 
some  of  them.  He  bought  the  Cotswold  rams 
at  my  sale  and  I  think  they  are  a  good  lot. 
Five  of  the  ewes  took  first  prize  at  the  Royal 
Show  at  Oxford,  1839.  I  should  be  very  sorry 
to  have  my  culls  go  to  America  under  such  cir- 
cumstances." 

"There  is  something  in  that,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain, and  we  all  agreed  it  was  an  amicable 
trade,  and  no  man  could  feel  more  proper  pride 
than  the  Captain  that  he  was  going  to  convey 
such  stock  to  his  country. 

As  the  Captain  had  to  leave  in  the  4  o'clock 
coach,  we  made  for  home,  and  on  our  way  had 
another  course.  This  made  the  fifth  hare. 
"Now,"  said  the  Captain,  "Mr.  Charles  Dickens, 
of  Pickwick  fame,  is  going  out  in  my  vessel  this 
trip,  and  if  you  will  say  which  day  you  will  be 
in  London,  I  will  invite  him  to  dine  with  us 
on  the  vessel."  So  we  agreed  to  be  there  three 
days  before  sailing  day.  The  five  hares  were 
packed  in  a  flag  basket,  and  checked  to  Captain 
Morgan's  quarters  in  London,  and  the  Captain 
departed,  saying  that  he  never  had  such  a  pleas- 
ant time  in  his  life. 


At  the  entrance  of  the  dock  we  met  the  Cap- 
tain. As  soon  as  he  caught  sight  of  us  he 
hailed  us  with  his  new  JSforthleach  hat  in  hand, 
and  with  a  laugh  bearing  no  deceit,  a  most 
hearty  grip  was  exchanged.  On  our  way  along 
the  dock  (|f  111)  there  was  one  o-f  the  greatest 
old  hags  that  could  possibly  be  beheld.  The  Cap- 
tain gave  me  a  flat-handed  slap  on  the  back. 
"Do  you  see  that  beautiful  female?"  said  he. 
"What  would  you  do  if  there  was  no  other  in  the 
world?"  "Well,  Captain,"  said  I,  "I  am  at  a 
loss  to  decide  in  haste.  What  would  you  do?" 
"I  would  wash  her  up  and  take  her." 

We  entered  the  cabin  of  the  Hendrick  Hud- 
son, full  of  merriment  on  our  past  actions.  "We 
dine  at  five,"  said  the  Captain,  "and  Mr.  Dick- 
ens will  be  on  hand." 

Mr.  Griswold,  then  the  senior  proprietor  of 
the  firm  of  the  London  Packets,  was  in  Lon- 
don, and  was  invited  to  meet  us.  About  half 
an  hour  before  dinner  we  all  met  on  deck.  I 
had  met  Mr.  Griswold  before,  in  Xew  York,  and 
after  a  formal  introduction  to  Mr.  Dickens,  the 
Captain  began  to  give  a  sketch  of  his  visit  in 
the  country,  and  his  merry  way  of  telling  it  was 
.  capital.  "I  ate  crow  there,"  said  he,  "and  it 
was  magnificent;"'  he  explained  why  it  was  so. 
Mr.  G.  understood  what  was  meant  by  "eating 
crow"  in  America,  but  Mr.  Dickens  did  not  un- 
til he  heard  the  Captain's  explanation. 

The  bell  rang  for  dinner  in  the  cabin;  there 
was  a  nice  boiled  leg  of  mutton  and  turnips. 
To  this  we  did  justice.  Then  came  one  of  the 
coursed  hares.  Had  her  head  been  put  in  a 
crouching  position  instead  of  up,  she  would  have 
resembled  one  sitting  in  her  form.  "So-ho," 
said  the  Captain,  "shall  I  cut  her  up,  Mr. 
Hewer?"  "I  suppose  that  is  what  you  mean 
to  do,"  said  he,  "and  that  will  be  the  end  of 
her." 

"Is  that  the  hare  that  went  through  the  Cap- 
tain's hat?"  said  Mr.  Griswold.  The  port, 
sherry  and  champagne  was  ordered  in  to  wasli 
her  down,  and  the  steward  had  cooked  her  to 
a  charm;  the  port  wine  sauce  and  the  currant 
jelly  to  encourage  the  appetite  were  all  that 
could  be  desired. 

The  Captain's  peculiar  history  of  his  visit 
was  highly  interesting,  as  he  told  it  with  such 
glee.  When  we  came  upon  deck  the  tide  had 
come  in,  and  the  vessel  was  far  above  the  dock. 
Mr.  Hewer  said,  "How  are  you  going  to  get  the 
cattle  into  this  vessel?"  The  Captain  looked 
at  me  as  much  as  to  say,  "we  have  the  joke  on 
Hewer  now."  He  called  the  first  mate.  "Mr. 
Starks,"  said  he,  "take  Mr.  Hewer  down  below 
and  show  him  where  you  are  going  to  cut  the 
hole  by  the  side  of  the  ship  for  the  cattle  to 


H  1  S  T  0  II  Y     OF     HEBEFOBD     C  A  T  T  L  E 


enter."  The  sailors,  with  tools  in  hand,  could 
not  keep  straight  countenances,  and  Mr.  Hewer 
began  to  suspect,  and  with  one  of  his  most 
hearty  laughs  the  Captain  said,  "So-ho,  Mr. 
Hewer,  you  are  floating  now."  "Sold,"  said 
William.  "I'll  pay  the  fine,"  so  he  handed  out 
a  half  sovereign  to  the  mate  to  treat  the  sailors. 

Mr.  Dickens  invited  all  to  dine  with  him  the 
next  day,  which  we  did,  and  had  a  very  merry 
time.  All  through  the  trip,  not  one  of  us  ex- 
ceeded what  Englishmen  call  "market  merry," 
which  is  just  enough  to  become  pleasant  to 
each  other. 

When  the  cattle  came  in  Mr.  Hewer  came  to 
the  vessel  to  see  them  loaded,  and  as  the  bull 
Major  was  dangling  in  the  air  in  a  sling,  be- 
tween heaven  and  the  decks,  a  tear  came  into 
his  eye.  When  he  was  landed  in  the  steerage  he 
went  down  and  caressed  his  old  favorite  for  the 
last  time,  and  so  with  all  the  others.  He  al- 
ways disliked  to  see  any  of  his  favorites  go 
away. 

The  vessel  was  hauled  out  into  the  river,  Mr. 
Hewer  returned  home,  and  the  Captain  and 
myself  took  train  to  Portsmouth.  Here  the  Cap- 
tain was  informed  that  Mr.  Dickens  could  not 
leave  until  the  next  packet,  so  we  were  deprived 

of  his  company. 

*     *     * 

The  old  gentleman  (Mr.  Sotham)  has  gone  to 
his  rest,  but  not  until  he  saw  the  triumph  of 
the  Herefords,  and  the  breeding  of  Shorthorns 
started  safely  on  the  road  to  improvement,  by 


rational  breeding  for  practical  results.  The 
Scotch,  which  but  recently  was  rated  plebeian 
by  Shorthorn  breeders,  and  therefore  utterly  un- 
fashionable, bids  fair  to  revolutionize  Short- 
horn breeding,  and  is  destined  to  do  the  breed 
great  good,  if  the  breeders  do  not  overdo  it  and 
replace  the  "Bates  mania''  with  a  "craze  for 
Scotch." 

Mr.  Sotham  would  rejoice  to  see  the  present 
state  of  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle.  Coming 
into  their  own  has  not  addled  the  brains  of 
Hereford  breeders ;  they  remain  aloof  from  fads 
and  fashion  in  pedigrees ;  they  insist  ever  upon 
a  superior  individual  with  a  good  pedigree,  and 
for  such  animals  as  embody  a  large  degree  of 
perfection  in  this  desired  combination,  splen- 
did prices  are  readily  paid.  Like  the  veteran 
champion  and  father  of  the  breed,  all  influential 
Hereford  breeders  ever  bear  in  mind  that  the 
end  of  every  Hereford  is  the  block,  and  they 
deprecate  any  Hereford  that  would  fail  to  give 
a  good  account  of  itself  in  the  butchers'  hands. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Sotham  was  a  half  century  ahead 
of  his  time;  he  made  every  sacrifice  for  the 
Hereford  breed,  because  he  knew  their  true 
value.  His  work  must  be  deemed  successful,  for 
he  blazed  the  path  that  is  essential  to  pioneer 
work  in  every  important  movement.  He  laid 
the  foundation  upon  which  the  Hereford  struc- 
ture rests  (ff  112)  and  he  laid  that  foundation 
so  soundly  that,  built  up  upon  the  same  prin- 
ciple of  truth  and  merit,  it  will  endure  so  long 
as  beef  cattle  are  bred. 


OUT   FOR  AN   AIRING. 
(Scene   at   Shadeland    Farm,    Lafayette,    Ind.) 


HISTORY     OF     H  E  K  E F  0  S D    CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


EARLY  CATTLE  IN  KENTUCKY — THE  "SEVENTEEN* 


The  following  letter,  written  by  Lewis  San- 
ders and  published  in  March,  18-i9,  in  the  "Cul- 
tivator," gives  a  full  and  exhaustive  account  of 
the  early  cattle  interests  of  Kentucky : 

The  first  emigration  to  Kentucky — "the 
dark  and  bloody  ground,"  the  hunting  grounds 
of  the  Southern  and  of  the  Northern  Indians, 
with  the  view  of  permanent  occupancy,  of  hold- 
ing the  country  at  all  hazards,  by  men  deter- 
mined to  overcome  the  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife  by  the  use  of  the  rifle,  took  place  in 
1775-6.  The  country  then  belonged  to  Vir- 
ginia. A  large  proportion  of  the  settlers  were 
from  that  state,  next  from  Pennsylvania,  then 
North  Carolina,  Maryland,  New  Jersey,  etc.  It 
is  presumed  that  the  emigrants  brought  with 
them  domestic  animals,  such  as  were  then  in 
use.  H.  Marshall,  speaking  of  General  Ben 
Logan,  in  his  history  of  Kentucky,  Vol.  I,  says : 
"In  the  fall  of  the  year  1775,  Colonel  Logan 
removed  his  cattle  and  the  remainder  of  his 
slaves  to  his  camp  (near  where  Danville  now 
stands).  Horses  and  cattle  subsisted  in  the 
summer  on  the  range,  consisting  of  a  great 
variety  of  nutritive  grasses,  including  the  buf- 
falo, clover  and  pea  vines,  luxuriant  beyond 
description,  and  in  the  winter  in  the  cane 
brakes." 

It  seems  to  me  that  the  general  characteris- 
tics of  the  cattle  of  the  United  States  at  the 
commencement  of  the  present  century  were  very 
similar  to  those  of  Devonshire,  Dorsetshire  and 
Somersetshire,  in  England,  as  represented  in 
prints  of  cattle  in  those  counties  in  the  last  cen- 
tury. I  have  observed  the  cattle  of  Virginia, 
Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  New 
York,  and  the  New  England  States;  they  seem 
to  have  had  a  common  origin. 

The  first  improvement  of  cattle  in  Kentucky 
was  made  by  Mr.  Matthew  Patton  and  his  fam- 
ily, to  whom  the  country  is  much  indebted,  for 
the  introduction  of  several  animals.  An  his- 
torical account  is  given  by  Dr.  S.  B.  Martin,  a 
highly  respected  and  spirited  agriculturist  of 


Clarke  County,  in  this  state,  which  is  herewith 
forwarded  as  a  part  of  this  communication. 
Judge  Beatty,  in  his  very  valuable  "Essays  on 
Practical  Agriculture"  (a  book  I  recommend 
to  all  beginners  to  own),  treats  on  this  subject. 
These  two  papers  combine  all  the  evidence  it 
is  thought  that  can  now  be  obtained  relative  to 
the  Patton  cattle.  I  have  heard  it  intimated 
that  the  introduction  of  the  Patton  cattle  in- 
creased the  weight  of  the  four-year-old  bullocks 
25  to  30  per  cent.,  besides  improving  the  quan- 
tity and  quality  of  the  milk.  This  was  a  great 
gain. 

The  next  marked  improvement  in  the  breed 
of  cattle  was  brought  about  by  the  importa- 
tion of  some  animals  direct  from  England  in 
1817.  At  that  period  and  for  many  years 
previous,  I  lived  in  Lexington.  My  pursuits 
were  otherwise  directed  than  to  agriculture,  but 
I  had  early  imbibed  a  fondness  for  fine  stock, 
particularly  horses  and  cattle.  I  admired  good 
fruits  and  gave  some  attention  to  their  culture. 
For  several  years  I  was  in  receipt  of  a  variety 
of  English  publications  on  agricultural  subjects 
and  agricultural  improvements,  from  which  I 
got  a  glance  of  what  was  going  on,  in  some 
respects,  in  the  old  country.  It  astonished  me 
greatly  to  see  the  enormous  prices  paid  for  par- 
ticular breeds.  First,  the  Longhorns  brought 
to  a  high  state  of  perfection  by  the  justly  cele- 
brated Bakewell,  Princep,  Munday  and  Fowler. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  last  century  they  were 
at  the  height  of  their  popularity.  Mr.  Prince]) 
refused  500  guineas  ($2,500)  for  a  two-year- 
old  bull  of  his  breed.  He  was  offered  £100  each 
for  twenty  dairy  cows.  He  refused  to  let  his 
best  bulls  go  to  his  neighbors' cows  for  thirty 
guineas  ($150)  the  cow.  At  this  period  (1789) 
the  circulating  medium  was  gold.  The  bank 
did  not  suspend  specie  payments  until  1797. 
Mr.  Fowler  refused  500  guineas  ($2,500)  for 
ten  bull  calves  of  the  same  breed,  and  let  his 
bulls  go  out  for  the  season  (April  1st  to  August 
1st)  for  from  £60  to  £80  ($300  to  $400). 


HISTORY     OF     HERE  F  0  R  1)     C  A  T  T  L  E 


Much  time  was  required,  combining  capital, 
skill  and  untiring  perseverance,  to  bring  this 
breed  to  such  a  high  state  of  perfection.  Not- 
withstanding all  this,  it  was  suffered  to  run  out, 
almost  to  disappear,  in  the  course  of  a  few 
years.  About  the  time  the  Longhorns  were  held 
in  such  high  estimation  commenced  the  im- 
provement of  the  Shorthorns.  Skillful  breed- 
ers, with  Charles  Colling  at  their  head,  brought 
this  breed  to  a  very  high  state  of  perfection. 
Their  value  was  at  its  height  in  181 0.  In  this 
year  a  public  sale  took  place.  The  list  of  ani- 
mals sold  and  the  very  high  prices  paid  for 
each  has  been  often  published.  Countess,  out 
of  Lady,  four  years  old,  brought  four  hundred 
guineas  ($2,000)  ;  Comet,  six  years  old,  brought 
1,000  guineas  ($5,000).  He  was  bought  by 
four  farmers. 

It  seemed  to  me  that  if  four  farmers  were 
willing  to  pay  $0,000  for  a  bull,  there  was  a 
value  in  that  breed  that  we  were  unapprised  of, 
and  that  I  would  endeavor  to  procure  it.  I 
made  up  an  order  for  six  bulls  and  six  cows. 
My  views  were  then  more  inclined  for  good 
milking  than  for  a  beef  breed.  The  weight  of 
the  authorities,  given  by  the  writers  on  the  sub- 
ject of  cattle  at  the  close  of  the  last,  and  the 
commencement  of  the  present  century  was  in 
favor  of  the  llolderness  breed  as  the  best  for 
milking  and  the  Teeswater  and  Durham  as  hav- 
ing the  handsomest  and  most  perfect  forms.  I 
settled  on  these  breeds.  In  frequent  conversa- 
tions with  Captain  William  Smith  about  the 
contemplated  importation,  he  strongly  urged  me 
to  include  the  Longhorns.  He  had  witnessed 
the  marked  improvement  made  by  the  use  of  old 
Mr.  Patton's  first  Longhorned  bull,  and  he  was 
extremely  anxious  to  have  a  bull  of  that  breed. 
I  had  some  respect  for  him  as  a  man,  and  con- 
fiding in  his  judgment,  two  pairs  of  Longhorns 
were  added  to  the  list.  The  order  was  for- 
warded in  the  fall  of  the  year  1816  to 
Buchanan,  Smith  &  Co.,  Liverpool,  with  in- 
structions to  cause  selections  to  be  made  of  the 
best  young  animals  for  breeders.  All  to  be 
two  years  old  in  the  following  spring. 

First  a  bull  and  heifer  of  the  Holderness 
breed,  to  be  procured  from  that  district  in 
Yorkshire.  Next  two  bulls  and  two  heifers  of 
the  Teeswater  breed,  to  be  procured  on  the 
river  Tees,  in  the  county  of  Durham.  Then  a 
bull  and  heifer  of  the  Durham  breed  and  two 
bulls  and  two  heifers  of  the  Longhorn  breed, 
no  limit  as  to  price.  If  the  money  sent  was 
not  sufficient  to  put  that  number  on  board  ship, 
they  were  to  be  reduced  so  as  to  have  the  best 
animals  that  could  be  had  for  breeders. 

Buchanan,  Smith  &  Co.  employed  Mr.  Etches 


of  Liverpool  to  go  into  the  different  districts  to 
make  the  selections  and  purchases,  and  he  seems 
to  have  executed  the  orders  with  much  ability. 
The  following  is  the  invoice :  Cattle  shipped 
on  board  the  Mohawk  for  Baltimore,  consigned 
to  Messrs.  Rollins  &  McBlair,  merchants  there: 

1.  A  bull  from  Mr.  Clement,  Winston,  on 
the   river   Tees,  got  by   Mr.    Constable's   bull, 
brother  to  Comet. 

2.  A  bull  of  the  Holderness  breed,  of  Mr: 
Scott,  out  of  the  cow   that    gave    thirty-four 
quarts  of  milk  per  day — large  breed. 

3.  A  bull  from  Mr.  Reed,  Westholm,  by  his 
own  old  bull. 

4.  A  bull  of  the  Holderness  breed  from  Mr. 
Humphreys,  got  by  Mr.  Wase's  bull,  of  Ingle- 
ton. 

5.  A  bull  of  the  Longhorn  breed,  from  Mr. 
Jackson  Kendall,  out  of  a  cow  that  won  the 
premium. 

6.  A  bull  from  the  Longhorn  breed,  from 
Mr.  Ewartson,  of  Crosby  Hall — is  of  a  very  fat 
breed. 


SOME   SHADELAND   YEARLINGS. 

7.  A   heifer  from   Mr.  Wilson,    Staindrop, 
Durham  breed. 

8,  9,  10.     Three  heifers  from  Mr.  Shipman, 
on  the  river  Tees — his  own  breed. 

11,  12.  Two  heifers  of  the  Longhorn  breed, 
from  Mr.  Ewartson,  Crosby  Hall — of  Westmore. 

The  Mohawk  arrived  in  Baltimore  in  May, 
1817.  The  cattle  were  safely  landed,  in  good 
condition  ;  great  pains  had  been  taken  in  pro- 
curing comfortable  accommodations  for  them 
in  the  ship,  and  an  experienced  herdsman  was 
employed  to  feed  and  take  care  of  them  on  the 
voyage.  On  arrival  they  were  taken  in  charge 
by  my  friend,  Mr.  John  Rollins,  who  caused 
them  to  be  put  into  the  pasture  and  particu- 
larly cared  for. 

After  the  cattle  had  been   shipped  and  be- 


HIST  0 R Y     OF     HEREFORD     C  A  T  T  L  E 


fore  their  arrival  in  Baltimore,  I  sold  to  Cap- 
tain William  Smith,  one-third  of  the  concern, 
and  to  Dr.  William  H.  Tegarden  another  third ; 
reserving  to  myself  one-third  only.  A  suitable 
agent  was  sent  to  Baltimore  for  them  and  they 
would  be  brought  to  Kentucky  at  the  joint  risk 
and  expense  of  the  three  parties.  On  their  ar- 
rival at  Lexington  they  were  divided.  There 
fell  to  my  lot :  No.  1,  which  I  named  Tecum- 
seh;  No.  2,  named  Sam  Martin;  No.  8,  named 
Mrs.  Motte;  No.  10,  named  Georgiana. 

Captain  Smith's  lot:     Bull  No.  5,  which  he 
named  Bright;  No.   7,  cow,  which  he  named 


YOUNG   BULLS    AT    SHADELAND    STOCK    FARM. 

The  Durham  Cow;  No.  9,  cow,  named  Tees- 
water  Cow. 

Dr.  Tegarden's  lot:  Bull,  No.  4,  which  he 
named  Comet;  No.  6,  which  he  named  Rising 
Sun;  No.  12,  Longhorn  Cow. 

No.  10  died  in  Maryland ;  No.  3,  bull,  became 
lame  on  the  travel  out  to  Kentucky  and  was 
left  on  the  way;  he  was  afterwards  received 
and  sold  by  the  company  to  Captain  Fowler, 
who  sold  him  to  General  Fletcher  of  Bath 
County,  Ky.,  where  he  died. 

When  the  division  took  place,  Captain  Smith 
evinced  great  anxiety  to  own  the  largest  Long- 
horn  bull.  Dr.  Tegarden  preferred  No.  4,  and, 
as  neither  of  them  were  my  favorites,  I  cheer- 
fully yielded,  and  in  consequence  they  gave  me 
the  choice  of  the  cows.  I  selected  one  of  the 
Teeswater  heifers  and  named  her  Mrs.  Motte. 
It  was  a  very  pleasing  occurrence  to  have  each 
highly  gratified  with  receiving  the  very  ani- 
mals he  preferred. 

The  narrative  of  a  pertinent  coincident  will 
not,  I  think,  be  deemed  ill-placed. 

Mr.  H.  Clay  being  in  England  in  1816,  hav- 
ing always  had  a  fondness  for  other  fine  stock, 
concluded  to  send  home  some  fine  cattle.  At 
this  time  the  Herefords  were  great  favorites 


at  Smithfield.  Either  from  Mr.  Clay's  own 
taste,  or  from  the  recommendation  of  others, 
he  selected  that  stock,  purchased  a  cow,  a  young 
bull,  and  heifer  of  that  breed,  and  sent  them  to 
Liverpool  to  be  shipped  to  the  United  States. 
It  so  happened  that  they  were  put  on  board  the 
Mohawk,  the  same  ship  with  my  cattle,  and  they 
arrived  together  at  Baltimore,  where  they  were 
placed  in  the  same  pasture,  and  the  agent  that 
was  sent  for  my  cattle  brought  out  Mr.  Clay's 
to  Kentucky. 

Although  Mr.  C.  and  myself  at  that  period 
resided  in  the  same  city,  and  had  always  been 
personal  and  political  friends  from  the  time  of 
his  coming  to  Kentucky,  in  1789,  till  March, 
1825,  and  our  social  and  personal  relations  have 
been  unchanged  for  fifty  years,  yet,  neither  Mr. 
C.  or  myself  had  the  slightest  knowledge  or 
intimation  of  the  intention  or  views  of  the  other 
in  regard  to  importing  foreign  cattle. 

Mr.  Clay  at  one  time  had  a  good  stock  of 
horses.  He  bred  the  dam  of  Woodpecker,  one 
of  our  best  race  horses,  and  he  proved  to  be  a 
good  stallion.  His  flock  of  sheep  were  cele- 
brated for  the  fineness  of  their  fleece. 

Having  introduced  the  Herefords,  I  might 
as  well  finish  them. 

At  this  time,  1817,  Mr.  Isaac  Cunningham 
owned  the  largest  and  best  grass  farm  in  Ken- 
tucky— the  identical  farm  settled  by  old  Mr. 
Matthew  Patton,  the  father  of  the  Patton  fam- 
ily, who  introduced  the  Patton  cattle.  Mr. 
Cunningham  was  wealthy,  had  a  good  stock  of 
.  Patton  cows,  and  had  been  in  the  habit  of  sell- 
ing his  young  ones  for  breeders.  Mr.  Clay's 
good  judgment  led  him  to  place  the  Herefords 
in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Cunningham ;  notwithstand- 
ing all  these  advantages,  the  Herefords  made 
no  impressions.  In  a  very  few  years  they  were 
unknown  as  a  breed  in  Kentucky,  and  at  this 
day  a  part  blooded  one  is  rarely  to  be  met 
with. 

As  to  the  Longhorns  (fl  113),  although  there 
were  two  bulls  imported,  the  breed  was  nearly 
run  out.  Captain  Smith  kept  them  for  a  while, 
but  he  died  soon  after  they  were  introduced; 
his  stock  was  neglected.  The  Rising  Sun  left 
a  good  stock  in  Clarke  and  Bourbon  Counties, 
and  for  a  while  they  were  very  popular  with  the 
feeders  in  these  counties,  but  they  have  gradu- 
ally yielded  to  the  Shorthorns.  A  mixture  of 
Longhorn  blood  in  a  remote  degree  is  deemed 
by  many  feeders  of  great  value  (and  that  is 
my  opinion).  •  The  hide  is  thick,  the  hair  is 
long  and  very  closely  set;  they  are  of  very 
hardy  constitution,  well  adapting  them  to  our 
mode  of  feeding.  Cattle  are  not  housed  or 
sheltered,  but  fed  out  in  the  fields,  taking  the 


H  I  S  T  0  K  Y     OF     H  E  H  E  F  O  K  D     0 A  T  T  L  E 


weather  as  it  comes.  The  Shorthorns  have  thin 
hides,  fine,  short  hair,  and  do  not  stand  ex- 
posure to  the  weather  so  well. 

The  importation  of  1817  (alluding  to  which 
it  seems  that  the  Longhorns  are  to  be  omitted) 
gradually  gained  favor  with  the  breeders  and 
feeders.  The  young  ones  were  very  much 
sought  after  throughout  Kentucky  and  parts  of 
Ohio,  and  were  all  sold  for  breeders.  The  Te- 
cuinseh  and  Sam  Martin  were  the  principal  in- 
struments used  in  effecting  this  great  improve- 
ment. Mrs.  Motte,  the  Durham  cow,  and  the 
Teeswater  cow  were  excellent  breeders.  The 
Durham  cow  was  equal  to  the  best  milk  cow  I 
ever  saw.  Napoleon  was  her  best  bull  calf.  Mrs. 
Motte  was  the  neatest,  the  finest  animal  of  the 
importation. 

A  year  or  two  previous  to  1831  I  observed 
that  my  young  cattle  were  not  up  to  the  mark 
of  improvement  that  I  wished  to  see  progress- 
ing, but  were  rather  falling  back.  The  only 
remedy  that  I  then  thought,  and  still  believe 
necessary,  to  arrest  this  downward  tendency 
and  to  give  a  fair  prospect  of  improvement, 
was  the  introduction  of  remote  blood. 

Col.  John  Hare  Powell  of  Philadelphia  im- 
ported a  number  of  animals  of  the  improved 
Shorthorn  breed,  several  years  subsequent  to 
1817.  He  ordered  his  selections  from  the  best 
herds  in  England,  with  great  particularity  as 
to  pedigree  from  the  milking  qualities,  and 
without  stint  as  to  price. 

My  attention  was  directed  to  this  stock  to 
procure  a  cross  on  the  Shorthorns  of  1817. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1831  I  procured  of 
Mr.  Barnitz  of  York,  Pennsylvania,  a  young 
bull  and  three  young  cows  of  Col.  Powell's 
stock.  In  several  points  their  forms  were  bet- 
ter than  those  of  1817.  The  cross  was  very 
beneficial  to  me. 

Some  few  years  afterwards  David  Sutton  of 
Lexington  introduced  several  animals  of  Mr. 
Powell's  stock. 

Then  other  gentlemen  imported  cattle  from 
Philadelphia,  and  from  other  parts  of  the 
United  States  and  from  England,  so  that  we 
had  a  number  of  bulls  and  cows  from  the  best 
known  breeds  in  England  and  in  the  United 
States.  From  this  basis  intelligent  gentlemen, 
with  abundant  capital  and  great  skill,  have 
continued  to  improve  by  judicious  crossing  un- 
til we  have  arrived  at  a  high  state  of  perfec- 
tion, as  to  form  and  early  disposition  to  take 
on  fat,  points  most  desired  of  all  others  by  the 
grazier  and  the  feeder. 

Notwithstanding  that  Col.  Powell's  stock 
were  drawn  from  the  best  milking  families  in 
England,  their  descendants  did  not  prove  with 


us  to  be  as  good  milkers  as  the  su/ek  in  1817, 
nor  were  they  so  healthy. 

The  dairy  is  but  a  secondary  consideration 
with  a  Kentucky  farmer — beef  is  more  profit- 
able, and,  as  the  great  object  of  all  pursuits  is 
money,  the  one  putting  most  in  the  purse  will  be 
pursued.  For  a  dairy  of  cows  where  there  is  a  de- 
mand, selling  milk  is  most  profitable,  next  cheese, 
if  the  climate  suits ;  last,  making  butter.  Cheese 
can  be  made  here  as  well  as  anywhere  else,  but 
it  costs  too  much  labor  to  save  it.  Some  writers 
say  that  it  ought  not  to  be  relied  on  as  a  busi- 
ness south  of  40  degrees.  Butter  could  be  made 
of  the  best  quality,  and  in  quantities,  but  it 
seems  that  the  farmers  prefer  taking  only  as 
much  milk  from  their  cows  as  supplies  their 
families  with  milk  and  butter,  giving  the  re- 
mainder to  the  calves.  From  these  considera- 
tions it  would  seem  that  the  breed  of  cattle 
bringing  most  money  from  the  butcher  at  two 
and  three  years  old  will  give  the  preference  with 
the  grazier  and  the  feeder,  they  using  nine- 
tenths  of  the  cattle  bred  in  the  State. 

It  will  be  seen  from  what  has  been  stated 
that  great  attention  has  been  given  to  the  breed- 
ing of  cattle  in  this  State  for  more  than  fifty 
years,  and  the  course  pursued  has  been  to  pro- 
cure the  best  breeds  to  cross  with,  so  that  we 
now  have  an  excellent  breed  for  the  grazier  and 
feeder — forms  approaching  near  and  nearer  to 


IMPORTED    BULL  DIPLOMAT   (18328)   81537. 
(Sold  for  $8,000;    property  of  C.   A.  Jamison,  Hamlet,  Ind.) 

perfection,  and  an  aptitude  to  take  on  fat  at  an 
early  age,  but  in  obtaining  these  grand  obj-ects, 
perfect  form  and  early  maturity,  so  much  de- 
sired by  the  grazier  and  the  feeder,  we  have 
sacrificed  mainly  the  milking  qualities. 

Whatever  be  the  breed,  there  are  certain  con- 
formations which  are  indispensable  to  the 
thriving  and  valuable  ox  or  cow.  If  there  is  one 
part  of  the  frame  the  form  of  which,  more  than 


HISTORY     OF     HEUEFOKD     CATTLE 


tmother,  renders  the  animal  valuable,  it  is  the 
chest.  There  must  be  room  enough  for  the 
heart  to  beat  and  the  lungs  to  play,  or  suffi- 
cient blood  for  the  purposes  of  nutriment  and 
of  strength  will  not  be  circulated — nor  will  it 
thoroughly  undergo  that  vital  change  which  is 
essential  to  the  proper  discharge  of  every  func- 
tion. Look,  therefore,  first  of  all,  to  the  wide 
and  deep  girth  around  the  heart  and  lungs — we 
must  have  both.  The  proportion  in  which  the 
one  or  the  other  is  preponderate  may  depend 
on  the  service  we  require  from  the  animal ;  we 
can  excuse  a  slight  degree  of  flatness  of  the 


THE    FOUNDATION    OF    AN    OHIO    HERD. 

sides,  for  he  will  be  lighter  in  the  forehand 
and  more  active,  but  the  grazier  must  have 
breadth  as  well  as  depth.  And  not  only  about 
the  heart  and  lungs,  but  over  the  whole  of  the 
ribs  must  we  have  both  length  and  roundness 
— the  hooped  as  well  as  the  deep  barrel  is  essen- 
tial. There  must  be  room  for  the  capacious 
paunch,  room  for  the  materials  from  which  the 
blood  is  to  be  provided.  The  beast  should  also 
be  ribbed  home.  There  should  be  little  space 
between  the  ribs  and  the  hips.  This  seems  to 
be  indispensable  in  the  ox,  as  it  regards  a  good, 
healthy  constitution  and  a  propensity  to  fat- 
ten; but  a  largeness  and  drooping  of  the  belly 
is  excusable  in  a  cow,  or,  rather,  notwithstand- 
ing it  diminishes  the  beauty  of  the  animal,  it 
leaves  room  for  the  udder,  and  if  it  is  also  ac- 
companied by  swelling  milk  veins  it  generally 
indicates  her  value  in  the  dairy. 

The  introduction  of  the  Patton  stock  into 
Kentucky  effected  as  much  benefit  to  us  in  the 
improvement  of  our  cattle  in  a  little  more  than 
twenty  years  as  was  effected  in  England  in  more 
than  sixty  years. 

A  printed  report  of  a  select  committee  of  the 
House  of  Commons,  in  1795,  stated  that  cattle, 


and  sheep  had  increased  on  an  average,  in  size 
and  weight,  about  a  fourth  since  1732. 

The  average  weight  of  cattle  slaughtered  for 
the  London  market  in  1830  was  656  pounds. 
(McCullough's  Dictionary  of  Com.)  [Un- 
doubtedly dressed  weight  of  82  stone,  which 
would  be  equivalent  to  1,148  pounds  live  weight. 
T.  L.  M.] 

At  Liverpool,  about  the  same  period,  600 
Irish  beasts  averaged  720  pounds;  140  English 
beasts  averaged  730  pounds;  60  Scotch  beasts 
averaged  810  pounds.  [These  being  dressed 
weights  would  make  the  live  weights  1,148 
pounds,  1,277  pounds  and  1,417  pounds  respec- 
tively. T.  L.  M.J 

It  would  seem  that  our  improved  breeds  ex- 
ceed these  weights.  Twenty  fat  cows  were  sold 
in  the  early  part  of  this  month  by  one  drover 
at  Cincinnati,  the  average  weight  of  which  was 
over  1,000  pounds  the  four  quarters  [or  by  the 
English  system  of  calculation  1,750  pounds 
live  weight.  T.  L.  M.]  These  cows  were  Ken- 
tucky bred.  All  but  three  had  produced  calves. 

I  expected  to  receive  authentic  data  to  state 
the  average  age  and  weight  of  the  four  quarters 
of  cattle  slaughtered  at  Louisville  and  Cincin- 
nati, for  three  periods.  Though  promised,  the 
paper  has  not  yet  come  to  hand. 

In  1833  I  took  to  New  Orleans  three  bullocks, 
produced  by  a  cross  of  the  cows  of  the  Patton 
and  Miller  stock  by  bulls  of  the  importation  of 
1817. 

Xo.  1,  red,  six  years  old,  live  weight,  3,448 
pounds;  No..  2,  red,  six  years  old,  live  weight, 
3,274  pounds;  No.  3,  brindle,  four  years  old, 
live  weight,  2,868  pounds. 

I  sold  these  three  animals  together  at  auction 
for  the  sum  of  $925.  I  was  at  the  New  York 
State  Agricultural  Exhibiton  at  Saratoga  in 
September,  1847.  I  very  attentively  examined 
the  cattle  stock  there  shown. 

The  oxen  were  better  than  are  generally  to  be 
met  with  in  Kentucky,  all  others  not  so  good. 

The  Ayrshire  cattle  may  be  classed  with  our 
half-blood  Durhams,  from  common  cows.  \V<- 
can  derive  no  benefit  from  a  cross  of  Devon 
blood.  The  diminutive  size  and  ill  forms  of 
the  Alderneys  would  exclude  them  from  our 
pastures.  Our  climate  is  favorable  for  breed- 
ing and  rearing  cattle.  They  are  free  from  any 
marked  disease.  I  have  never  known  an  epi- 
demic among  them. 

It  is  the  custom  with  some  farmers  as  soon 
as  the  corn  is  in  the  roasting  ear  to  cut  it  up, 
giving  stalk  and  all  to  the  hogs.  The  hogs 
masticate  the  stalk — suck  and  swallow  all  the 
juice,  throwing  out  the  remaining  fibrous  mat- 
ter, which  soon  becomes  dry.  Cattle  are  very 


te  o  a 

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MAID  OF 

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OF  THE 

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VG 


HISTOEY     OF     HEKEFOKD     CATTLE 


225 


fond  of  this  refuse  stuff,  but  when  taken  in 
quantities  it  causes  a  derangement  of  the  mani- 
folds, for  which  no  remedy  has  as  yet  been  dis- 
covered. At  first  the  animal  becomes  restless, 
and  is  feverish;  soon  after  it  begins  to  rub  its 
head  down  and  up  a  post,  or  anything  it  can 
rub  against,  manifesting  the  greatest  pain  and 
misery.  It  continues  rubbing  until  it  dies.  I 
have  seen  several  so  affected  with  it  and  after 
rubbing  commenced  I  knew  of  none  to  be  cured. 
Upon  opening  the  animal  it  is  found  that  the 
manifold  is  entirely  deranged,  dry  and  hard, 
mortification  having  in  some  instances  already 
commenced.  The  only  remedy  is  to  keep  your 
cattle  from  the  place  where  green  corn  stalks 
have  been  fed  to  hogs. 

Cattle  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  are  not  so  healthy 
as  are  the  cattle  of  Kentucky.  I  was  told  by  a 
Cincinnati  butcher  who  supplied  with  beef  a 
portion  of  the  Jews  of  the  city  that  he  was  com- 
pelled to  procure  his  cattle  for  these  people  from 
Kentucky.  The  priest  sticks  the  animal,  which 
is  dressed  in  his  presence  by  the  butcher.  Upon 
opening  the  animal  if  any  imperfection  of  the 
intestines  is  visible,  such  as  blisters  on  the  liver, 
etc.,  the  priest  remarks :  "This  one  may  do  for 
the  Christians,  but  will  not  do  for  the  Jews — you 
must  bring  up  another."  The  cattle  of  Ken- 
tucky have  no  blemish;  the  intestines  are  in  a 
perfectly  healthy  condition;  so,  we  only  can 
supply  the  Cincinnati  Jews  with  beef. 

I  was  informed  by  Dr.  Watts  of  Chillicothe, 
a  gentleman  of  intelligence  and  great  enter- 
prise, who  feeds  and  grazes  on  a  large  scale, 
that  he  would  pay  five  per  cent  more  for  Ken- 
tucky raised  cattle  for  either  purpose  than  he 
would  for  Ohio  or  Indiana  cattle.  He  consid- 
ered the  risk  of  life  this  per  cent  in  favor  of 
the  cattle  of  Kentucky. 

There  are  three  epochs  in  the  history  of  Ken- 
tucky cattle;  first,  the  introduction  of  the  Pat- 
ton  cattle,  say  in  the  year  1790,  and  some  years 
afterwards  the  Miller  stock  of  the  like.  These 
are  generally  diffused  throughout  the  State,  im- 
proving our  stock  twenty-five  to  thirty  per  cent 
in  a  period  of  twenty-five  years. 

Second,  the  importation  of  1817,  which  gave 
us  finer  forms  and  an  aptitude  to  take  on  fat  at 
an  earlier  age,  adding  twenty-five  to  thirty  per 
cent  upon  the  Patton  improvement,  in  a  period 
of  less  than  twenty  years. 

Third,  the  numerous  importations  made  into 
Kentucky  and  into  Ohio,  from  1831  to  1836, 
from  which  has  arisen  the  superior  breed.  To 
keep  up  this  breed  as  it  now  is  requires  sound 
judgment  and  unceasing  vigilance,  or  a  decline 
must  follow. 

I  recommend  to  the  breeders  in  Kentucky  to 


import  at  least  half  a  dozen  bulls  from  the 
Netherlands,  Holland,  or  Northern  Germany,  at 
once,  and  renew  such  an  importation  every  five 
or  six  years,  for  twenty  years,  rather  than  to 
draw  their  bulls  from  the  best  stock  to  be  found 
in  England.  I  do  not  think  it  is  desirable  to 
have  a  very  large  breed,  but  form  and  early  ma- 
turity are  not  for  a  moment  to  be  lost  sight  of. 
A  skillful  breeder  endeavors  to  shape  the  ani- 
mal so  as  to  carry  most  flesh  on  the  valuable 
points,  to  have  the  loin  and  hind  quarters  much 
the  heaviest,  as  these  parts  bring  to  the  butcher 
the  most  money. 

LEWIS  SANDERS. 

Grass  Hills,  Ky.,  December,  1848. 

Dr.  Martin,  to  whom  Mr.  Sanders  refers, 
gives  the  following  information: 

Dear  Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  25th  ult.  is 
just  received,  and  I  will  try  to  answer  your  in- 
quiries. Your  first  question  is,  What  breed, 
cross  or  variety  (of  cattle)  has  been  found  most 
profitable  in  your  region  for  beef;  and  what 
for  the  dairy?  The  improved  Shorthorns  and 


THE  EXPOSITION  BUILDING,  CHICAGO. 
(Home  of  the  American  Fat  Stock  Show.) 

their  crosses  are  most  profitable  for  beef.  They 
are  of  large  size  and  fatten  easily  at /any  age, 
so  as  to  come  to  early  maturity,  and  they  carry 
a  large  portion  of  their  flesh  upon  the  best  parts 
and  their  beef  is  of  an  excellent  quality.  They 
pay  better  for  food  consumed  than  any  other 
cattle  that  I  have  fattened  or  grazed. 

In  regard  to  the  milking  qualities  of  the  im- 
proved Shorthorns  there  appears  to  be  much 
diversity  of  opinion,  some  contending  that 
they  are  the  best  milkers  had  in  the  country, 
and  others  that  they  are  worthless.  The  truth 
is,  that  some  tribes  of  Shorthorns  are  remark- 
able for  the  quantity  of  milk  they  give  and 
other  tribes  are  equally  so  for  their  small  yield. 

I  purchased  two  cows  at  Col.  Powell's  sale  in 
1836.  One  of  them,  a  cow  of  the  Daisy  tribe, 
was  a  steady  milker,  giving  from  twenty-eight 
to  thirty-two  quarts  of  milk  daily.  The  other  was 
scarcely  able  to  raise  her  calf.  And  the  quali- 
ties of  each  have  been  transmitted  to  their  de- 
scendants for  several  generations.  The  cows  that 


226 


I  imported  from  England  were  all  fine  milkers, 
and  so  are  their  descendants.  The  cows  of  these 
milking  tribes  are  generally  thin  whilst  giving 
milk,  but  fatten  very  quickly  when  dry.  The 
steers  of  the  milking  tribes  are  equal  and  gener- 
ally superior  as  grazier's  stock  to  the  others. 
Mine  has  been  superior,  which  I  attributed  to 
having  been  better  nourished  by  their  mothers. 
Second.  Which  of  the  breeds  imported  in 
1817,  the  Longhorns  or  Shorthorns,  have  suc- 
ceeded best? 

There  was  a  close  contest,  for  many  years,  be- 
tween the  Longhorns  and  Shorthorns  and  Here- 
fords.  Each  had 
their  advocates 
and  each  pro- 
duced a  stock  that 
was  a  great  im- 
provement as 
grazing  stock 
upon  the  native 
and  "Patton 
stock"  (as  the  old 
unimproved  Short- 
horns introduced 
by  Mr.  Patton 
were  called ) .  This 
contest  was  kept 
up  until  about 
1830,  when  the 
advocates  of  the 
Shorthorns  became  most  numerous.  The  Long- 
horns  and  Herefords  were  gradually  bred  to 
Shorthorn  bulls,  until  the  pure  breed  of  the 
former  are  nearly  extinct,  (fl  114) 

Third.  How  do  the  Longhorns  of  that  im- 
portation (1817)  or  their  descendants  compare 
with  the  Patton  Longhorns  ? 
:Mr.  Patton  was  one  of  the  original  importers 
in  1783  of  two  breeds  of  cattle.  They  were  then 
called  the  milk  and  beef  breed.  The  milk  breed 
was  Shorthorns.  The  beef  breed  had  longer 
horns;  but  /  have  always  supposed  they  were 
the  unimproved  Herefords.  I  am  not  aware 
that  there  were  ever  brought  into  Kentucky 
any  of  the  full-bred  beef  breeds,  so  that  my 
opinion  that  they  were  Herefords  is  based  upon 
the  appearance  of  the  half-bloods  that  I  have 
seen.  Mr.  Patton  brought  to  Kentucky  the  full- 
bred  milk  breed  and  half-blood  cows  of  the  beef 
breed,  and  Mr.  Smith  brought  also  a  bull  which 
was  half  beef  and  half  milk  breed,  called  Buz- 
zard. Mr.  Patton's  Shorthorns  were  very  fine 
animals.  They  were  fine-boned,  heavy-fleshed 
and  came  early  to  maturity  and  fattened  kindly 
and  were  extraordinary  milkers.  They  were 
much  larger  than  cattle  that  we  had  in  the 
State  previously.  Mr.  Patton  brought  only  one 


JOHN   P.   REYNOLDS,   CHICAGO. 


cow  of  this  breed,  and  she  had  no  female  de- 
scendants. The  produce  of  these  fine  cattle 
were  very  much  injured  by  breeding  them  to 
bulls  which  were  descendants  of  the  beef  breed, 
such  as  Inskeeps,  Brindle  and  Smith's  Buzzard. 
These  cattle  produced  large,  coarse,  big- jointed 
stock  that  came  slowly  to  maturity,  difficult  to 
fatten,  and  when  fully  grown  were  of  enormous 
dimensions.  This  was  the  state  of  things  in 
1817  when  your  importation  of  Shorthorns  and 
Longhorns  was  made.  I  remember  well  exam- 
ining the  Longhorn  bull  Rising  Sun,  soon  after 
Messrs.  Cunningham  &  Co.  bought  him,  and  I 
then  thought  him  the  finest  animal  of  the  ox 
kind  I  had  ever  seen.  His  stock  was  very  fine 
— vastly  superior  to  the  coarse  stock  above  de- 
scribed. I  sold  a  cow  (got  by  Rising  Sun)  to 
a  butcher  who  paid  me  for  a  thousand  pounds, 
net  meat  [about  1,750  Ibs.  live  weight.  T.  L. 
M.],  a  very  unusual  size  for  a  cow  in  those 
days. 

Fourth.  How  do  the  Shorthorns  imported 
in  1817,  or  their  descendants,  compare  with 
those  that  have  since  been  introduced,  includ- 
ing those  of  the  Ohio  Importing  Co.  ? 

The  Shorthorns  of  1817  were  fine-boned, 
heavy-fleshed  animals  that  came  early  to  ma- 
turity and  fattened  much  easier  than  the  Patton 
stock  (especially  after  the  latter  had  been  mixed 
with  the  beef  breed).  They  fattened  mostly  on 
the  outside,  so  that  they  always  showed  their 
fat  to  the  best  advantage.  Their  flesh  was  rather 
inclined  to  hardness,  which  was  a  considerable 
drawback  upon  their  excellence. 

The  best  of  the  improved  Shorthorns,  intro- 
duced within  the  last  twenty  years,  have  all  the 
good  qualities  that  the  stock  of  1817  had,  and 
have  these  additional  advantages:  Their  flesh 
is  soft  (tender),  and  they  throw  a  portion  of 
their  fat  among  the  lean  so  as  to  marble  it. 
The  beef  is  of  a  better  quality  and  they  take  on 
fat  much  easier.  They  are  as  forward  at  three 
years  old  as  the  stock  of  1817  were  at  four,  or 
as  the  Patton  stock  were  at  six.  But 
the  later  importations  have  had  greatly  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  stock  of  1817  in  having  the  im- 
provement made  by  the  latter  to  start  with. 
Some  of  the  finest  animals  I  have  ever  seen  fat- 
tened were  a  mixture  of  the  two  breeds.  I  think 
there  was  some  of  the  importation  of  1817  that 
did  not  have  that  hardness  of  flesh,  but  they 
soon  became  so  mixed  in  their  descendants  that 
it  was  a  general  characteristic,  (fl  115) 

Fifth.  If  you  were  now  to  choose  a  stock  for 
general  grazing  purposes  in  your  State,  what 
breed  or  breeds  would  you  select  from  ? 

I  should  have  no  hesitation  in  preferring  the 
improved  Shorthorns  to  every  other  kind  of 


HISTOEY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


227 


stock  that  I  have  ever  seen,  for  the  grazing  in 
this  region  of  country. 

Sixth.  Give  as  full  a  description  as  you  can 
of  the  qualities  of  each  breed,  as  they  have  been 
developed  with  you,  embracing  remarks  on  com- 
parative size,  form,  activity,  hardiness  and  ten- 
dency to  disease  of  the  different  breeds. 

The  original  breed  of  cattle  in  Kentucky 
strongly  resembled  the  old  unimproved  Devon- 
shire cattle.  They  were  small,  thin  and  diffi- 
cult to  fatten  —  cow  weighing  when  fat  from 
three  to  four  hundred  pounds.  [This  undoubt- 
edly means  dressed  weight,  the  corresponding 
live  weight  being  525  to  700  Ibs.  T.  L.  M.] 
These  cows  were  good  milkers,  giving  a  moder- 
ate quantity  of  rich  milk.  I  do  not  know  that 
they  were  subject  to  any  other  disease  but  the 
hollow  horn,  a  disease  brought  on  by  poor  keep 
in  winter,  so  that  the  pith  of  the  horn  is  frozen. 
It  was  cured  by  boring  a  hole  in  the  horn. 

The  introduction  of  the  Patton  stock  in  1785 
and  subsequently  made  a  considerable  improve- 
ment in  these  cattle.  Cows  of  the  Patton  cross 
would  weigh  when  fat  from  6  to  7  cwt.  [Mean- 
ing dressed  weight,  or  1,050  to  1,225  Ibs.  alive. 
T.  L.  M.]  There  was  such  a  general  disposition 
to  increase  the  size  that  the  coarse-  jointed, 
large-boned  animals  were  selected  and  saved  as 
breeders  generally,  from  1785  to  1817,  and  the 
consequence  was  at  the  latter  period  the  Patton 
stock  (as  all  these  cattle  were  called)  were 
very  coarse.  The  size  of  some  of  these  cattle 
was  enormous  ;  but  they  did  not  weigh,  net,  near 
equal  to  their  size.  The  graziers  at  that  period 
did  not  like  to  attempt  to  fatten  cattle  until 
they  were  four  years  old.  The  importation  of 
1817  improved  the  coarse  cattle  very  much,  in- 
creasing their  disposition  to  fatten.  They  came 
earlier  to  maturity,  were  gentler,  better  dis- 
posed and  had  much  less  offal.  Whatever  repu- 
tation the  Shorthorns  acquired  in  Kentucky 
prior  to  1830  was  owing  to  the  importation  of 
Shorthorns,  and  they  had  great  reputation. 


The  improved  Shorthorns  introduced  within 
the  last  twenty  years  has  been  a  great  improve- 
ment upon  those  imported  in  1817,  and  those 
of  Mr.  James  Prentice  of  Lexington  in  1818. 
At  the  last  cattle  show  that  we  had  in  Win- 
chester I  showed  a  three-year-old  steer,  a  mix- 
ture of  the  stock  of  1817  and  the  improved 
Shorthorns  since  introduced;  and  the  judges 
put  his  weight  at  750  pounds.  Shortly  after 
the  fair  I  sold  this  steer  to  Mr.  Brinegar,  who 
took  him  to  New  Orleans,  and  when  butchered 
he  weighed  1,242  pounds.  I  mention  this  cir- 
cumstance to  show  how  much  more  weight  is 
contained  in  the  same  bulk  ;  for  if  this  bull  had 


been  of  the  Patton  stock  his  bulk  would  have 
given  him  about  the  weight  the  judges  laid  him 
at.  A  few  months  before  I  had  sold  to  a 
butcher  in  Lexington  a  steer  two  years  and  eight 
months  old  that  weighed  1,025  pounds.  I  sold 
a  heifer  six  years  old  to  B.  Roberts,  that  weighed 
when  driven  to  Cincinnati  1,487  pounds.  Last 
year  I  sold  to  Mr.  Horn  a  five-year-old  heifer 
that  weighed  1,116  pounds.  Both  of  these  were 
mixtures  of  the  stock  of  1817  and  later  impor- 
tations, and  the  last  was  uncommonly  small  for 
her  weight.  I  regret  that  this  last  was  not 
weighed  before  she  was  slaughtered  that  I  might 
know  the  difference  between  her  gro'ss  and  net 
weight.  However,  I  can  give  you  the  gross  and 
net  weight  of  a  four-year-old  steer  sold  to  the 
same  gentleman.  His  gross  weight  was  2,000 
pounds  and  his  net  weight  1,280  pounds.  All 
these  net  weights  are  exclusive  of  hide  and  in- 
side tallow,  taken  out  with  entrails. 

As  regards  the  diseases  of  all  the  above, 
they  are  very  few,  if  bred  from  healthy  stock. 
The  most  formidable  disease  of  the  improved 
Shorthorns  with  me  has  been  the  milk  fever. 
I  lost  two  of  my  imported  cows  and  one  that  I 
purchased  at  Col.  Powell's  sale  with  it.  It 
chiefly  attacks  cows  that  are  fat  and  have  their 
calves  in  very  warm  weather — the  attack  being 
in  a  few  days  after  calving.  I  never  knew  any 
but  fine  milkers  to 
have  it,  and  not 
until  they  have 
had  several  calves. 
The  udder  be- 
comes very  large, 
hard  and  hot. 
They  soon  appear 
to  lose  the  use  of 
their  hind  legs 
so  that  they  can- 
not stand.  I  have 
cured  some  by 
large  bleeding 
and  purging 
freely  with  Ep- 
som salts.  But 
prevention  is  far 
better,  which  may  be  generally  accomplished 
by  preventing  the  cows  from  having  calves  in 
warm  weather.  Healthy  parents  generally 
produce  healthy  offspring  in  this  region.  You 
are  aware  that  cattle  in  most  of  the  adjoining 
States  are  diseased,  particularly  in  the  liver. 
These  cattle  produce  sickly  progeny,  which 
seldom  look  as  well  as  stock  from  more 
healthy  parents.  And  I  have  noticed  calves 
from  them  to  be  very  subject  to  bowel 
complaints. 


H.    D.    EMERY,    CHICAGO. 


228 


Seventh.  What  breed  of  cattle  is  best  for 
driving  long  distances  ? 

This  question  is  more  difficult  for  me  to 
answer  than  any  of  the  others,  as  I  have  very 
little  experience  in  driving  cattle ;  but  I  am  told 
by  persons  who  have  been  engaged  in  this  busi- 
ness that  the  improved  Shorthorns,  when  fat- 
tened young,  do  not  stand  long  journeys  well. 
I  should  suppose  from  their  make  that  the 
Herefords  would  be  the  best  travelers.  The  im- 
proved Shorthorns  make  excellent  oxen,  as  they 
never  get  overburdened  with  flesh  while  they 
have  plenty  of  hard  work  to  do.  The  breed  is 
more  gentle  and  docile  than  any  others  that  we 
have  had.  Yours  respectfully, 

SAM'L  D.  MAKTIN. 

Near  Colbyville,  Ky.,  Dec.  4,  1848. 

We  present  these  complete  and  authoritative 
statements  to  show  that  while  the  "seventeen" 
importations  included  Herefords  and  that  these 
were  not  by  any  means  first-class  specimens  of 
the  Hereford  breed,  yet  they  had  enough  of 
the  naturally  inherent  thrift  of  the  breed,  so 


that  the  "seventeens"  owed  considerable  (to  say 
the  least)  to  the  Hereford  for  the  thrift  and 
quality  they  became  particularly  noted  for.  The 
"seventeens,"  as  a  family  of  Shorthorns,  were 
never  fashionable  because  of  this  Hereford  al- 
loy. But  at  the  same  time  no  Shorthorn  fam- 
ily surpassed,  if  any  equaled,  them  in  real 
merit. 

Evidence  of  this  Hereford  blood  crops  out 
frequently  in  the  descendants  of  the  "seventeen" 
importations  to  this  day,  as  witness  the  steer 
John  Sherman,  whose  portrait  we  give,  (ft  11(5) 
Mr.  Gillette,  who  bred  this  steer,  reports  the 
dam  a  "white-faced  cow"  of  unknown  breeding, 
descended,  as  are  all  his  herd  (Shorthorns), 
from  the  earlier  Kentucky  stocks.  The  so- 
called  "seventeen"  families  being  given  the 
greatest  credit  for  excellence  of  the  Gillette 
herd. 

The  presence  of  this  old  grazing  blood  un- 
doubtedly has  had  a  most  favorable  influence 
in  making  the  reputation  of  "Gillette  Short- 
horns" for  superiority  above  the  pure-bred 
Shorthorn  for  range  purposes. 


WILLIAM  WATSON 
(UNCLE  WILLIE). 
(Father  of  the  Angus  cattle 
in  America.) 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


229. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


REVIVAL  OF  HEREFORD  INTEREST  IN  AMERICA 


From  1850  to  1871,  although  Hereford  cattle 
in  America  were  making  friends  for  themselves 
in  their  immediate  vicinity  and  had  very 
staunch  friends  in  all  who  bred  and  handled 
them,  they  were  not  so  widely  known  as  their 
merits  deserved. 

This,  possibly,  was  owing  to  the  tremendous 
upheaval  in  the  political  world  of  America,  ter- 
minating in  the  Civil  War  that  occupied  the 
entire  attention  of  the  people  from  April,  1861, 
to  1865.  There  were  very  few  families  either 
Xorth  or  South  but  what  sent  their  contribution 
of  father,  son  or  brother  to  the  armies.  The 
price  of  all  produce  of  the  farm  was  high.  The 
price  of  meat  was  correspondingly  high.  The 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  all  made  money  with 
such  stock  as  they  had,  and  did  not  feel  that 
urgent  need  of  improvement  that  came  later. 

In  1871  I  determined  to  spend  the  balance 
of  my  life  upon  the  farm  if  we  could  find  a 
way  to  make  it  profitable;  and  in  view  of  this 
determination  we  gave  two  years  to  careful  in- 
vestigation as  to  the  best  methods  and  practices 
for  obtaining  this  result,  and  this  investigation 
brought  us  to  the  adoption  of  the  Hereford 
breed  of  cattle.  We  were  familiar  with  Mr. 
Sotham's  fight  for  Hereford  cattle  through  the 
files  of  the  Albany  "Cultivator,"  etc.,  which  we 
had  preserved,  and  these  cattle  were  again  urged 
upon  our  notice  by  Mr.  William  Powell  (ft  117), 
who  was  then  acting  as  our  foreman.  As  a  re- 
sult of  our  investigations  early  in  February, 
1872,  we  made  our  first  purchase  of  six  or  eight 
head  of  Hereford  cattle. 

In  March  or  April  following  we  bought  three 
more  at  the  sale  of  W.  W.  Aldrich,  Elyria,  Ohio; 
two  or  three  months  afterwards  we  bought  of 
Dyke  and  Creed,  in  Ohio,  some  twelve  or  thir- 
teen head.  Soon  after  we  purchased  six  heifers 
from  John  Humphries,  Elyria,  Ohio,  and  about 
the  same  time  we  bought  for  $1,000  gold  the 
Hereford  bull  Sir  Charles  (3434)  543  from  F. 
W.  Stone  of  Canada. 

From  time  to  time  as  opportunity  presented 
itself,  we  purchased  from  others;  from  D.  K. 
Shaw  of  Chautauqua  his  entire  herd,  and  later 
the  herd  of  H.  C.  Burleigh  of  Maine,  excepting 


one  cow  and  calf;  from  H.  Woodward's  estate 
in  Kansas,  the  entire  herd,  and  quite  a  number 
at  different  times  from  Mr.  Parsons  of  Pitts- 
field,  Ohio;  several  from  Mr.  Thomas  Clark, 
then  of  Elyria,  Ohio;  several  from  the  Hon. 
John  Merryman,  Cockeysville,  Md.  (ft  118)  ; 
and  in  1873  imported  from  England  Dolly 
Varden  (Vol.  9,  p.  279)  5,  and  her  bull  calf 
Success  (5031)  2. 

When  we  had  become  satisfied  of  the  value  of 
the  breed  we  undertook  to  make  it  known 
through  the  advertising  columns  of  the  agricul- 
tural and  live  stock  journals  of  the  country. 
We  found  a  very  warm  opposition  from  the 
Shorthorn  interest  as  against  their  introduction, 
and  ceased  to  make  any  strenuous  efforts  to  in- 
troduce them  among  farmers  in  the  States. 

In  the  meantime  quite  an  extensive  corre- 
spondence had  grown  up  with  the  ranchmen  at 
the  West.  There  seemed  to  be  a  demand  from 
that  quarter  that  promised  success,  but  it  proved 
difficult  to  bring  out  of  that  correspondence  any 
results. 

The  plains  of  Colorado  (ft  120)  were,  in 
1874,  still  the  home  of  the  buffalo,  but  cattle 
were  being  rapidly  brought  north  from  the 
great  breeding  grounds  in  Texas  to  stock  them 
with  beef  animals.  Denver,  at  that  time,  was 
the  center  for  cattle  men,  they  coming  here  for 
their  supplies  and  making  it  their  headquarters 
when  not  off  on  the  range. 

We  took  our  first  shipment  of  Herefords  that 
went  away  from  home  to  be  sold,  to  Denver, 
Col.  This  consisted  of  five  Hereford  bulls. 
Three  of  these  were  sold  in  the  spring  of  1874 
to  Mr.  Geo.  Zweck  of  Longmont,  Col.  They 
were  Plato  (4843)  590,  Duke  of  Beaufort 
(4527)  744  and  Hervey  (4644)  815.  The  first 
was  four  years  old,  the  second  was  two  years 
old,  the  third  one  year  old.  These  bulls  were 
put  upon  the  range.  Plato,  the  four-year-old, 
had  been  a  show  bull,  and  kept  in  high  condi- 
tion. He  held  this  condition  when  on  the  range 
and  continued  a  vigorous  stock-getter  for  eight 
years.  The  other  two  bulls  were  reported  eleven 
years  later  as  still  in  fine  condition  and  yet  in 
service  in  Wyoming,  in  the  herd  belonging  to 


330 


HISTORY     OF     H  E  11  E  F  0  R  D     CATTLE 


Mr.  Zweck  and  his  nephew.  Mr.  Zweck  paid 
in  1874  for  the  three  bulls  named  $1,250.  Hav- 
ing had  eight  and  eleven  years'  service,  we 
would  like  to  ask  ranchmen  whether  such  pur- 
chase would  seem  to  them  to  have  been  a  good 
investment?  It  is  simply  a  representative  one 
that  may  be  repeated  with  Hereford  bulls  in 


A   CARTOON   OF   1882,    BREEDERS'   JOURNAL. 
("The   Shorthorn  committee   discover  the  dam  of  Mr.    Mil- 
ler's   grade    Hereford    steer    Kansas.") 

the  experience  and  practice  of  any  ranchman. 
Long  prices  may  be,  as  in  this  case,  the  best 
investment. 

Two  other  bulls  taken  at  this  time  we  sold  to 
Mr.  Powell  at  Canon  City,  Col.,  for  $900.  We 
followed  this  shipment  by  another  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  that  were  sold  to  the  honorable 
P.  P.  Wilcox,  Geo.  F.  Lord  and  others. 

In  1875  we  took  a  carload  of  Hereford  bulls 
to  Denver,  and  they  were  sold  to  Mr.  John  Hit- 
son  at  Deer  Trail,  Col.,  about  fifty  miles  east 
of  Denver,  on  the  Bijou.  The  grass  was  fine 
there,  the  country  not  being  overstocked.  These 
bulls,  although  in  high  condition  when  turned 
out  on  the  ranges,  not  only  held  it,  but  next 
spring  after  running  out  all  winter,  never  see- 
ing a  shed  or  a  barn,  or  any  feed  except  what 
they  got  from  the  plains  themselves,  had  round- 
ed out,  and  thickened  up,  and  had  such  splendid 
rough,  curly  coats  of  hair  that  they  had  proved 
their  fitness  for  range  conditions. 

We  took  two  carloads  of  Hereford  bulls  to 
West  Las  Animas,  on  the  Arkansas  Eiver,  Col., 
in  the  spring  of  1876,  all  thoroughbreds  and 
good  ones.  After  five  months  of  work,  we  sold 
them  to  cattle  men  as  far  west  as  Pueblo,  on 
the  river,  and  south  to  the  Cimarron  River  in 
New  Mexico.  The  Hall  Bros.,  John  W.  Prow- 
ers  (fl  121),  Abe  Cronk,  the  Reynolds  Bros. 
(fl  122)  and  the  Jones  Bros,  being  among  the 
purchasers.  These  shipments  were  followed  by 
others  up  to  1877,  or  until  a  demand  was  cre- 
ated that  reached  back  to  the  States  for  grade 
Hereford  bulls.  And  this  demand  from  the 
plains  for  grades  made  a  demand  for  the  pure- 
breds  to  cross  upon  Shorthorns  and  other  cows 


to  produce  bulls  for  this  trade;  and  from  that 
time  there  has  been  a  steady  and  increasing  de- 
mand for  Herefords  that  has  more  than  kept 
pace  with  the  supply. 

While  at  work  among  the  great  cattle  herds 
of  the  West  to  create  a  demand  for  the  Here- 
ford cattle  by  taking  the  cattle  out  to  these 
gentlemen  and  showing  them  what  superior 
beef  animals  they  were,  we  were  not  idle  in  ex- 
hibiting o^r  cattle  at  the  various  shows  in  the 
East,  and  doing  all  that  lay  in  our  power  to 
secure  fair  play  for  the  Herefords. 

This  was  a  gigantic  undertaking,  as  the  fairs 
were,  as  we  shall  show,  under  the  control  of 
Shorthorn  men.  The  judges  were  all  appointed 
by  them.  We  trust  we  shall  be  pardoned  if  it 
shall  appear  to  any  of  our  readers  that  we  have 
gone  too  much  into  detail  in  showing  up  the 
frauds  that  were  practiced ;  also  the  opposition 
that  was  encountered  by  the  Hereford  cattle  and 
their  breeders. 

It  was  a  matter  of  great  expense  to  fit  show 
herds,  and  a  further  great  expense  to  ship  them 
over  the  country  for  the  purpose  of  educating 
the  people  as  to  the  great  merit  of  the  breed. 
This  was  particularly  so  in  1876  when  we  took 
our  show  herd  to  the  World's  Fair,  the  Centen- 
nial Exposition,  held  at  Philadelphia.  This 
trip  cost  $1,200  for  expenses  only,  we  being 
there  two  weeks.  There  were  no  money  prizes, 
but  we  have  a  bronze  medal  (fl  123)  in  our  pos- 
session that  was  awarded  to  us  as  first  prize, 
the  cattle  being  spoken  of  in  the  following  lan- 
•  guage: 

"Their  exceedingly  fine  character,  form  and 
quality  entitle  us  to  consider  them  to  be  first- 
class  specimens  of  the  Hereford  breed  and 
worthy  of  our  highest  commendation."  Suc- 
cess (5031)  2  was  at  the  head  of  this  sweep- 
stake herd.  This  herd  at  the  Northern  Ohio 
Fair,  held  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  won  first  sweep- 
stakes for  best  bull  and  four  cows  or  heifers, 
owned  and  bred  by  exhibitor  ($150),  and  first 
sweepstakes  for  bull,  Success  (5031)  2,  and 
five  of  his  get,  $75.  This  was  in  competition 
with  the  best  Shorthorns  in  the  United  States. 

We  visited  Lafayette,  Ind.,  with  our  herd  in 
1877,  at  which  time  there  was  no  class  for  Here- 
fords, they  not  being  recognized  in  their  pre- 
mium lists.  The  society,  however,  awarded  the 
following  certificate: 

"Office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Tippecanoe 
County  Agricultural  Association,  Lafayette, 
Ind.,  Oct.  9th,  1877.  On  Saturday,  the  8th 
day  of  September,  1877,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Directors  of  this  Association,  on  the  fair 
grounds,  the  following  proceedings  were  had. 
to-wit :  On  motion,  the  following  preamble  and 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


231 


resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  by  the 
Board : 

"Whereas,  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  Will  County, 
Illinois,  breeder  of  thoroughbred  Hereford  cat- 
tle, has  exhibited  his  herd  of  thoroughbred 
Heref ords  at  the  annual  fair  for  the  Tippecanoe 
County  Agricultural  Association  for  1877,  at 
which  there  had  been  no  ring  or  class  of  individ- 
ual entries  provided  in  which  he  could  show  his 
stock,  which,  of  necessity,  compelled  him  to  ex- 
hibit at  great  disadvantage,  and 

"Whereas,  The  said  herd  were  very  generally 
admired  by  the  visitors  attending  the  fair,  in- 
cluding gentlemen  conceded  to  be  experts  in  the 
matter  of  breeding  and  handling  beef  cattle,  for 
their  great  uniformity  of  marking  and  their 
general  feeding  and  fattening  qualities;  be  it 
therefore 

"Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Associa- 
tion are  due  and  are  hereby  extended  to  Mr. 
Miller  for  affording  the  visitors  at  said  fair,  in 
so  substantial  a  manner,  with  a  pleasing  variety 
in  the  show  of  thoroughbred  cattle,  and  that 
he  has  the  best  wishes  of  the  Association  for 
his  future  success  in  an  enterprise  which  has 
the  laudable  purpose  of  improving  the  breeds 
of  beef  cattle. 

"And  the  secretary  is  ordered  to  make  out  a 
certificate  of  this  action  of  the  Board  and  for- 
ward same  to  Mr.  Miller. 

"(Signed)     DANIEL  ROYSE,  Secretary." 

Among  those  who  examined  the  Herefords 
here  were  Messrs.  C.  M.  Culbertson,  Moses 
Fowler,  W.  S.  Van  Natta,  Adams  Earl,  A.  D. 
Raub,  Robt.  W.  Sample,  Chas.  B.  Stuart  and 
others,  whose  attention  for  the  first  time  was 
then  drawn  to  the  great  value  of  Hereford 
cattle,  and  all  of  whom  afterward  became  breed- 
ers of  Herefords,  in  most  instances  getting  their 
start  from  our  herd. 

Two  weeks  later  Mr.  Culbertson  bought  five 
head  that  were  in  this  exhibit.  Five  years  later 
the  show  of  Herefords  at  Lafayette  in  1882  was 
very  gratifying  and  encouraging  to  the  Here- 
ford interest,  and  it  seems  hardly  possible  that 
such  a  change  could  be  wrought  in  five  years, 
and  thus,  what  had  at  the  time  seemed  a  some- 
what discouraging  exhibit,  really  proved  one  of 
the  most  successful  ever  made  by  an  exhibitor. 

In  the  year  1879  Mr.  C.  M.  Culbertson  sent 
Mr.  Geo.  Morgan  (who  was  then  my  superin- 
tendent) to  England  to  purchase  as  good  a  herd 
of  cattle  as  could  be  found.  The  result  was. 
if  we  remember  rightly,  the  importation  of 
thirteen  head.  In  1880  we  imported  109  head 
from  England,  .and  Mr.  Morgan  imported  for 
Mr.  Culbertson  and  Mr.  Hershey  of  Muscatine. 
la.,  something  over  200  head.  From  that  time 


the  importations  have  increased,  in  some  years 
amounting  to  over  1,000  head.  Public  sales 
were  held  in  this  country  at  which  the  higher 
range  of  prices  has  been  from  four  hundred  to 
fifteen  hundred  and  odd  dollars  per  head. 

Our  beginning  with  Herefords,  like  Mr.  So- 
tham's,  was  up-hill  work,  and  had  we  depended 
upon  the  farmers'  trade  of  the  agricultural 
States  we  should,  like  him,  have  been  over- 
powered by  the  hostile  Shorthorn  interest,  but 
on  the  plains  we  were  enabled  to  promptly  show 
results,  so  plain  by  comparison,  that  the  Here- 
ford was  victorious  from  his  first  introduction. 
But  we  are  convinced  that  the  Herefords  are 
the  best  "general  purpose"  or  farmers'  cattle, 
and  believe  Hereford  breeders  should  never  be 
content  till  their  merits  are  well  known  by 
every  farming  community  of  the  whole  country. 
On  the  range,  when  known,  they  have  the  field 
alone  without  a  rival,  but  until  every  bovine  has 
assimilated  the  true  Hereford  thrift  his  all- 


SHORTHORN  COW  CONQUEROR.   A  BREEDERS' 

JOURNAL.  CARTOON  OF  1882. 

("While  the  Shorthorn  breeders  claim  the  virtue  of  grade 
Hereford  steers  due  to  Shorthorn  dams,  the  farmer 
looking  on  decides  that  the  credit  is  due  to  Hereford 
bull.") 

conquering  work  of  improvement  must  be  vigor- 
ously continued. 

It  is  easier  for  some  Hereford  breeders  to  "let 
well  enough  alone;"  to  be  satisfied  with  exist- 
ing conditions;  to  curry  favor  with  the  opposi- 
tion, and  at  the  same  time  reap  where  they  have 
not  sown  from  the  active  sowing  of  others ;  and 
while  the  herd  of  an  active  advocate  of  Here- 
fords should  not  be  patronized  more  than  these, 
unless  he  really  has  a  breed  of  Herefords  equal- 
ly good  or  superior,  if  equal,  the  great  body  of 
Hereford  breeders  always  will,  as  they  always 
have,  yield  a  loyal  support  to  those  whose  cat- 
tle, pen  and  voice  are  ever  doing  honest,  intelli- 
gent and  meritorious  service  for  the  Hereford 
cause,  and  therefore  for  the  betterment  of  the 
chief  product  of  American  agriculture, — good 
beef. 


232 


HISTOBY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  AN  EARLY  CHICAGO  FAT  STOCK  SHOW 


The  Hereford  breeders  considered  that  if 
they  could  only  have  a  fair  contest  with  other 
breeds  on  the  butcher's  block  they  would 
win  a  victory  over  all  other  breeds  that  could 
not  be  gainsaid.  They  estimated  that  a  re- 
liable and  accurate  record  of  every  part  of  the 
slaughtered  animal  would  be  kept,  and  facts  as 
to  the  percentage  of  dressed  meat  to  the  live 
weight,  and  also  the  weight,  both  live  and 
dressed,  would  be  something  that  could  not  be 
talked  down  or  hid. 

We  are  very  glad  that  these  records  of  the 
Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1879  are  available. 
At  that  show  a  Hereford,  a  Devon  and  Short- 
horn were  dressed  in  competition.  We  present 
here  an  engraving  (fl  124)  taken  from  a  photo- 
graph of  the  rib  roast  cuts  from  the  Hereford 
and  Shorthorn  steers.  Both  show  well-marbled 
meat,  but  neither  show  as  well  as  they  would 
have,  had  the  weather  been  cooler.  Neither  of 
the  beeves  ought  to  have  been  cut;  the  meat 
of  either  not  being  as  good  for  being  cut  so 
warm  as  it  would  have  been  had  it  had  time  to 
cool.  The  Hereford  suffered  the  most  in  this 
respect,  from  being  the  thicker-fleshed — nearly, 
or  quite,  40  per  cent.  Both  show  marbling  and 
well-marbled.  Another  point  is  that  the  beef 
was  too  fat.  This  is  perhaps  true.  True  for 
economy  in  making  and  economy  in  use;  but 
the  breeder  who  came  before  this  show  or  Smith- 
field  with  lean  steers  would  have  gone  away 
with  little  credit  and  no  honors. 

If  these  steers  were  made  over-fat,  there  was 
a  point  where  they  could  have  stopped,  and 
their  meat  shows  them  to  have  had  good  feeding 
qualities. 

Thus  much  in  common ;  but  it  is  fair  to  give 
somewhat  of  a  comparison  of  the  two.  The 
Hereford  steer  was  one  of  fourteen  steers,  all 
that  there  was  of  the  lot,  and  was  from  a  com- 
mon native  cow  and  by  a  Hereford  bull. 

The  Shorthorn  steer  was  one  of  sixty,  selected 
from  600,  and  from  a  herd  that  has  had  an 
American  and  English  reputation  for  years  as 
the  best  steer  herd  in  America,  if  not  in  the 


world,  and  probably  no  breeder  in  the  two  coun- 
tries stood  higher  as  a  breeder  of  steers  than 
did  Mr.  John  D.  Gillette,  (ff  125) 

Probably  no  man  understood  better  the  char- 
acter and  merits  of  a  bullock  than  did  Mr.  Gil- 
lette. There  was  no  man  that  was  more  familiar 
with  the  individuals  of  his  herd  than  was  Mr. 
G.  Under  all  of  these  advantages  the  Short- 
horns came  to  this  test  with  the  prestige  of  be- 
ing from  the  most  noted  herd  in  this  country. 
A  selection  of  one  from  sixty  and  sixty  from  six 
hundred — the  one  of  six  hundred  selected  by 
the  most  experienced  breeder  in  America. 

It  must  therefore  be  conceded  that  the  Short- 
horn came  to  this  test  with  all  the  advantages 
that  an  animal  of  the  breed  could  claim  or  wish. 

Mr.  G.  entered  two  steers  for  dressing — 
Snowflake  and  Drake,  both  three  and  under  four 
years,  and  selected  from  these  the  steer  Drake 
— said  to  be  three  years  old  May  15,  1879,  out 
of  a  three-quarter  Shorthorn  cow  and  by  a  thor- 
oughbred Shorthorn  bull. 

The  Hereford  steer  was  three  years  old  May 
15th,  1879,  and  it  is  well  to  state  that  the  exact 
age  of  the  two  steers  was  not  a  matter  of  rec- 
ord, but  were  claimed  to  be  three  years  old,  and 
dropped  as  near  as  could  be  ascertained  in  May, 
and  called  the  15th. 

On  the  record  the  two  steers  stood  as  to  age 
alike. 

For  some  reason  the  Gillette  steer  was  not 
measured,  and  therefore  the  measurements  of 
the  Hereford  are  not  used,  as  there  is  no  means 
of  comparison  on  these  points. 

The  age  alike,  the  gross  weight  of  the  Here- 
ford 1,963  pounds,  and  the  gross  weight  of  the 
Shorthorn  1,795  pounds.  Stating  these  facts, 
we  will  give  the  official  statement  of  the  society, 
made  up  by  the  secretary : 

LOT  9.     DRESSED  BULLOCKS. 

Not  less  than  two  entries  will  be  considered. 

The  bullocks  to  be  killed,  dressed  and  weighed 

under  directions  of  the  awarding  committee. 


HIST  Oil  Y  OF  HEEEFOKD  CATTLE 


233 


The  dressed  carcasses  to  remain  the  property 
of  the  exhibitor.  Bullock  dressing  the  largest 
percentage  of  meat  in  proportion  to  the  live 
weight,  $50. 


This  is  perhaps  enough  to  say  on  this  sub- 
ject here,  as  we  have  treated  the  subject  else- 
where, but  there  are  some  few  points  of  com- 
parison that  the  report  does  not  bring  out.  The 


o 

M 

CD 

32. 

x  • 

a 

ST 

KTO 

EXHIBITOR. 

c*. 

** 

0  8» 

BREED. 

NAME  OF  STEER. 

I 

o 

CD  H 

M 

S-CD 

#• 

r3""1 

1 

T  L  Miller  Beecher       

1274 

1963 

1.56 

Grade  Hereford  

"  Barney." 

2 

1254 

1614 

1  31 

Grade  Devon  

"Jim  Lockwood  " 

3 

J  D  Gillette  Elkhart 

1274 

1795 

1  41 

Grade  Shorthorn  

"  Drake." 

Average  

1267 

1790 

1.42 

Premium :  $50,  to  grade  Hereford  steer  Bar- 
ney, exhibited  by  T.  L.  Miller  of  Beecher,  Will 
County,  Illinois. 


steers  being  of  the  same  age,  the  Hereford  had 
made  1.56  Ibs.  per  day.  The  Shorthorn  had 
made  1.41  Ibs.  per  day,  a  difference  of  .15  in 


REPORT   OF   COMMITTEE. 


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: 

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"  Barney  "  

Grade  Hereford.. 

1963 

1317 

67.09 

371 

354 

305 

287 

55 

106 

113 

178 

194 

"  Jim  Lockwood  "  . 

Grade  Devon  

1614 

1055 

65.36 

277 

275 

256 

247 

49 

95 

95 

145 

175 

"Drake"  

Grade  Shorthorn. 

1795 

1179 

65.73 

308 

303 

285 

283 

47 

90 

97 

155 

227 

Average  

1790 

1183 

66.06 

318 

310 

282 

272 

50 

97 

101 

159 

198 

The  superintendent  of  the  Cattle  Department 
made  up  on  all  classes  a  report  of  the  reasons 
as  given  by  the  committee  for  their  judgment. 
And  such  a  report  was  commenced  on  this  class 
and  started  off  by  stating  the  Hereford  steer  to 
be  the  oldest  by  three  or  four  months.  We  have 
sought  from  the  records  of  the  society  a  copy  of 
his  report  on  dressed  steers,  but  are  informed 
that  no  report  was  filed. 

Learning  of  his  claim,  or  that  of  the  com- 
mittee as  to  age,  the  Hereford  men  called  the 
superintendent's  attention  to  the  heads  of  the 
two  steers,  which  hung  near  by.  The  Shorthorn 
with  a  full  four-year-old  mouth  and  the  Here- 
ford with  a  three-year-old  mouth. 

To  explain  more  satisfactorily  as  to  the  ages 
by  the  teeth,  we  had  engravings  made  of  a  three 
and  four-year-old  mouth.  (^  126) 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  three-year-old 
shows  for  the  corner  teeth  the  two  calf-teeth; 
these  were  gone  in  the  Hereford  steer,  one  of 
the  cavities  still  empty,  and  the  other  showed 
the  new  tooth  just  above  the  gum. 

The  four-year-old  teeth  represent  the  mouth 
of  the  Shorthorn  (Drake)  that  was  dressed. 


favor  of  the  Hereford.  The  reader,  from  the 
teeth  statement,  may  add  to  this  as  per  his  judg- 
ment. 

The  Hereford  head,  paunch,  stomach,  etc., 
weighed  362  pounds. 

The  Shorthorn  head,  paunch,  stomach,  etc., 
weighed  371  pounds,  or,  for  the  Hereford  18.4 
per  cent;  for  the  Shorthorn  20.8  per  cent.  The 
Shorthorn  2.4  per  cent  more  waste  offal  than 
the  Hereford. 

The  Hereford  shows  hide  and  tallow,  284 
pounds;  the  Shorthorn  shows  hide  and  tallow, 
245  pounds,  giving  the  Hereford  14.46  per  cent 
valuable  offal  and  the  Shorthorn  13.65  per  cent 
valuable  offal,  being  .81  per  cent  more  for  the 
Hereford;  and  of  net  to  gross  weight  1.36  per 
cent  in  favor  of  the  Hereford. 

Thus,  in  every  point  of  comparison  the  Here- 
ford shows  the  best  record. 

The  reader  must  not  forget  that  the  Hereford 
was  one  of  eight  three-year-olds,  and  that 
five  of  the  eight  were  selected  to  show  in  St. 
Louis  in  October  and  contracted  then  to 
be  delivered  in  December.  It  was  intended 
to  take  the  best  five,  and  hence  five  of  the 


234 


HISTORY     OP     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


eight  were  drawn  before  this  selection  was 
made. 

That  the  Shorthorn  was  one  of  six  hundred. 

And  another  point  to  keep  in  mind  is  the  two 
sets  of  teeth. 

With  these  facts  accessible  to  each  reporter  of 
this  test,  the  impression  attempted  to  be  carried 
out  was  that  the  Hereford  won  by  main 
strength ;  that  is,  because  of  greater  net  weight, 
seeking  erroneously  to  convey  that  if  the  quality 


should  have  been  taken  into  account  the  victory 
would  have  been  with  the  Shorthorns.  This  at- 
tempt to  detract  from  the  value  of  the  award 
we  endeavored  to  make  fruitless.  It  might 
have  been  stated  that  had  the  superintendent 
had  the  selection  of  a  committee  to  pass  on  the 
merits  of  the  steers,  it  would  have  gone  as  the 
awards  on  the  three-year-olds,  the  one-year-olds 
and  the  cows. 


u    C*x\e\. 

A    BREEDERS'    JOURNAL   CARTOON    OF   1885. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


OPPOSITION  ENCOUNTERED  BY  HEREFORD  EXHIBITORS,  1877-8-9 


It  must  be  remembered  that  during  the  years 
immediately  preceding  the  first  strictly  beef 
show  that  was  inaugurated  by  the  Chicago  Fat 
Stock  Show  in  1879,  the  Hereford  cattle  were 
handicapped  at -the  different  State  and  district 
fairs,  by  having  no  class  provided  for  them, 
or,  if  there  was,  small  and  insignificant  pre- 
miums were  offered  for  them  in  comparison 
with  those  offered  for  the  Shorthorns;  and  at 
the  best  it  was  a  one-sided  affair  and  it  was 
intended  to  be  so.  Shorthorn  breeders  or  their 
friends  were  made  judges  in  each  competition 
and  the  programme  was  made  up  for  them  to 
win. 

We  are  aware  that  the  charges  of  manipulat- 
ing judges  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  any  in- 
terest is  quite  a  serious  charge.  We  would  not 
make  it  did  we  not  believe  it  to  be  true;  and 
with  the  fullest  evidence  to  support  the  charge ; 
or  if  we  believed  the  practice  would  be  discon- 
tinued without  it.  We  will  not  be  tedious  in 
bringing  up  a  large  number  of  cases,  but  will 
touch  on  a  few  of  the  prominent  ones. 

First,  we  will  name  what  occurred  at  Ottawa 
in  1877.  The  Hereford  exhibitors  asked  for  an 
impartial  and  able  committee  when  they  should 
come  in  competition  with  the  Shorthorns.  This 
appeal  was  made  to  the  president  and  several 
of  the  vice-presidents.  It  was  granted  that 
the  Hereford  breeders  had  a  right  to  an  impar- 
tial committee.  And  it  is  possible  that  the  su- 
perintendent had  instructions  on  this  point; 
at  any  rate,  he  gave  the  Hereford  exhibitors  the 
assurance  that  they  should  have  his  best  en- 
deavor to  get  an  impartial  committee  or  judges. 
He  advised  the  Hereford  exhibitors  that  he  had 
finally  selected  a  referee  to  complete  the  com- 
mittee, who  he  believed  would  be  impartial  and 
competent.  That  referee  was  Mr.  J.  H.  Spear, 
one  of  the  leading  Shorthorn  men  of  the  State. 
It  is  well,  however,  to  state  that  both  the  super- 
intendent and  the  marshal  of  the  ring  who  offi- 
ciously assisted  him  were  and  had  been  promi- 
nent Shorthorn  breeders  for  years;  and  the 
marshal  had  been  the  salesman  for  the  Short- 
horn herds  of  the  entire  West. 


Again,  at  Freeport  in  1878,  the  Hereford  ex- 
hibitors asked  of  the  board  that  they  would  take 
special  pains  to  see  that  fair  and  impartial 
judges  should  be  selected  for  herd  and  sweep- 
stakes premiums,  and  proposed  that  President 
Gilham  and  ex-President  Reynolds  should  select 
these  judges.  This  was -agreed  to.  They  were 
so  selected  and  the  Herefords-in  the  first  contest 
took  the  first  premium.  The  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers made  a  row  and  would  not  submit  their 
claims  to  this  committee  for  further  contest, 
whereupon  the  aforesaid  Chief  Marshal  was 
delegated  to  form  and  select  the  committee,  and 
did  select  them  in  the  interest  of  the  Short- 
horns, when  the  Hereford  exhibitors  withdrew 
from  competition. 

Again,  at  the  fat  stock  show  in  1879,  when 
the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns  came  into  com- 
petition, the  Hereford  four-year-old  steer,  be- 
longing to  T.  L.  Miller,  took  the  first  premium 
over  all  the  breeds.  This  was  the  signal  for 
another  row,  the  result  of  which  was  a  partisan 
contest. 

We  have  before  called  attention  to  this  ex- 
hibit, and  we  now  repeat  some  of  the  figures  to 
show  the  character  of  the  animals  in  compe- 
tition, and  the  challenge  given  to  dress  the  bul- 
locks and  cows  from  the  Hereford  exhibits 
against  the  winning  Shorthorn  steers. 

Our  State  Board  had  for  many  years,  perhaps 
always,  brought  all  the  beef  breeds  into  com- 
petition at  the  State  Fair  until  this  year  they 
followed  the  practice  of  the  Northern  Ohio, 
Michigan  and  other  State-  societies  in  excluding 
competition  between  breeds.  This  and  other 
instances  positively  indicate  that  when  Short- 
horn breeders  cannot  control  the  decisions  they 
use  their  influence  to  prevent  competition.  It 
is  perhaps  only  another  evidence  that  the  Short- 
horn men  had  influence  enough  to  say  what 
should  be  and  what  should  not  be  at  fairs  and 
fat  stock  shows. 

In  the  first  class  of  steers  in  the  Chicago  Fat 
Stock  Show  in  1879,  four  years  old  and  over, 
the  winning  steers  were  a  grade  Hereford  first 
and  a  grade  Shorthorn  second,  the  former  be- 


236 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


longing  to  T.  L.  Miller  and  the  latter  to  J.  D. 
Gillette. 

For  steers  three  and  under  four  there  was  a 
large  number  of  entries.  The  steers  taking  the 
awards  were  first  a  Shorthorn  and  second  a 
Devon : 


a 

cz 

•a 

ja 

£&. 

3 

Name  of  Animal. 

Date  of  Birth. 

JH 

a 

o!  oj 

1 

0) 

60  -o 

1 

60 
O 

| 

•<  ft 

1. 

T.  Stevens,  G.  S.  H. 

Apr.  25,  '76 

12!>4 

1986 

1.53 

2. 

Jim  Lockwood,  D'n. 

June  4,  '76 

1284 

1649 

1.28 

0. 

Barney,  G.  Hereford 

May  15,  '76 

1275 

1991 

1.56 

There  were  other  Hereford  steers  before  the 
judges,  perhaps  better  than  this,  but  this  is  well 
enough. 

For  stee'rs,  two  and  under  three  years,  both 
awards  went  to  Shorthorns ;  there  was  only  one 
Hereford  entry.  We  give  below  the  age,  weight 
and  gain  per  day  of  the  winning  steers  and  of 
the  Hereford  steer: 


.2     Name  of  Animal. 

a 


Date  of  Birth. 


•_.    W 

<!  a 


1.  Victoria  Duke,  G.S.H.      Apr.  22,  '77 

2.  P.  Cooper,  G.  S.  H.  Dec.  14,  '76 
0.    Alex.,  G.  Hereford  Aug.  15,  '77 


932  1532  1.64 
1059  1534  1.44 
820  1474  1.80 


This  record  needs  no  comment. 

For  steers  one  and  under  two  years  old  there 
were  fourteen  entries — three  or  four  of  those 
were  Herefords.  The  first  and  second  premiums 
went  to  Shorthorns.  We  give  the  following  fig- 
ures in  reference  to  the  winning  steers  and  one 
of  the  Herefords: 


Premium. 

Name  of  Animal.  Date  of  Birth. 

Age  in  da 

£> 

_ri 

a  ^ 

rt  cd 

MrQ 

>  tl 

•<  p, 

1. 
2. 
0. 

McMullen,  G.  S.  H.  Mar.  5.  '76 
C.  S.  Reed,  G.  S.  H.  May  15,  '78 
Putnam,  G.  Hereford  July  12,  '78 

605 
644 
483 

1196 
1300 
1152 

1.97 
2.38 
2.39 

This  review  of  the  four  classes  of  grade  steers 
where  the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns  were  in 
competition  with  the  tables  showing  ages, 
weights  and  average  gain  per  day  from  birth, 
is  in  each  class  in  favor  of  the  Herefords.  The 
only  question  remaining  open  is  the  one  of 
quality.  To  test  this  Mr.  Miller,  the  owner  and 
exhibitor  of  the  Hereford  steers,  made  a  propo- 
sition to  test  these  awards  by  dressing  the  bul- 
locks as  follows: 

Chicago,  111.,  Nov.  14,  '79. 
Hon.  J.  R.  Scott,  President  of  the  State  Board 

of  Agriculture  of  Illinois: 
The  object  of  your  Board  is  to  determine, 


among  other  things,  the  comparative  value  of 
th.i  different  breeds  of  beef  animals.  Among 
other  ways,  expert  judges  of  beef  animals  are 
called  upon  to  pass  upon  the  merits  of  such 
.animals  as  are  brought  before  you.  This  will 
determine  the  merits — excepting  the  errors  of 
judgment  and  prejudices  in  favor  of  different 
breeds. 

To  correct  such  errors  and  prejudices,  if  any 
exist,  I  will  submit  my  cattle  that  have  come  in 
competition  with  other  breeds  to  the  direction 
of  your  Board,  to  be  slaughtered  as  follows : 

My  grade  Hereford  steer  "Ben,"  four  years 
old,  which  took  the  first  (1st)  premium  in  Lot 
5,  against  the  four-year-old  steer  that  took  first 
(1st)  premium  in  Lot  6. 

My  three  (3)  year-old  steer  Barney  against 
the  first  (1st)  premium  steer  in  Lot  5. 

My  yearling  steer  Putnam  against  the  first 
(1st)  premium  yearling  steer  in  Lot  5. 
.     My  yearling  steer  General  against  the  year- 
ling steer  that  took  first  premium  in  Lot  6. 

My  cow  Jennie  against  the  cow  that  took  first 
premium  in  Lot  6. 

The  best  of  each  of  these  animals  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  quality  of  the  meat  of  each  ani- 
mal, and  the  greatest  amount  of  dressed  meat 
to  the  gross  weight  of  each. 

Very  respectfully  yours,        * 

T.  L.  MILLER. 

In  reply  to  this  proposition  the  following  en- 
dorsement was  made,  and  the  papers  returned 
to  me: 

Illinois  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
Chicago,  Nov.  15,  1879. 

Respectfully  returned  with  the  statement  that 
the  matter  contained  herein  has  been  duly  con- 
sidered by  the  Board,  and  that  the  Board  has 
decided  not  to  depart  from  the  published  pro- 
gramme for  the  Fat  Stock  Show  in  this  request 
at  this  late  date. 

Jos.  R.  SCOTT,  President. 

The  following  entries  were  made  for  the 
premiums  for  dressed  bullocks : 


Name  of  Animal. 


Date  of  Birth. 


3 

ca    £ 


Boynton,   S.   H. 

Dec.  13,  '77 

697 

1338 

1.92 

Snowflake,  G.  S.  H. 

June  1,  '76 

1257 

1978 

1.57 

Drake,  G.  S.  H. 

May  15,  '76 

1274 

1799 

1.41 

Barney,  G.  Hereford 

May  15,  '76 

1274 

1991 

1.56 

Putnam,  G.  Hereford 

July  12,  '76 

483 

1152 

2.39 

Jim  Lockwood,  Devon 

June  4,  '76 

1254 

1619 

1.31 

The  above  entries  were  made  by  parties  as 
follows:  Boynton,  by  J.  M.  Brown  &  Sons, 
Berlin,  111. ;  Snowflake  and  Drake,  by  J.  D.  Gil- 
lette, Elkhart,  111. ;  Barney  and  Putnam,  by  T. 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


237 


L.  Miller,  Beecher,  111. ;  Jim  Lockwood,  by  L. 
F.  Ross,  Avon,  111.  Besides,  our  Hereford  cow 
Jennie  was  entered  for  dressing.  We  offered 
the  owner  of  the  cow  taking  the  premium  to 
dress  his  cow  against  ours,  which  was  declined. 
We  then  offered  ten  cents  a  pound  for  the  cow. 
This  was  refused.  The  dressing  would  have 
been  a  fitting  and  proper  test  by  which  to  have 
tried  these  verdicts. 

In  the  above  table  there  is  evidence  to  show 
in  the  three-year-old  classes  that  the  Hereford 
was  certainly  a  better  steer  than  the  Devon,  and 
the  dressing  of  these  steers  proved  this  con- 
clusively, as  between  the  first  premium  steer 
and  the  Hereford  the  difference  is  so  light  that 
only  the  dressing  would  determine  the  fact — the 
difference  is,  however,  in  favor  of  the  Here- 
ford. 

In  the  two-year-old  class  the  Hereford  shows 
.16  pounds  per  day  from  birth  the  largest  gain; 
and  he  was  certainly  the  ripest  and  smoothest 
steer  of  the  lot. 

In  the  one-year-old  class  the  Hereford  shows 
a  trifle  the  largest  gain  per  day,  and  for  quality 
and  thickness  of  flesh  the  Shorthorns  could  not 
compare  with  him,  and  he  would  have  dressed 
ten  pounds  to  the  hundred  more  than  either  the 
first  or  the  second  premium  steer. 

The  large  exhibits  of  Hereford  cattle  that 
we  have  had  made  at  many  of  the  prominent 
fairs  were  found  to  be  a  desirable  feature  by 
the  several  managers,  and  we  had  many  cordial 
invitations  to  show  over  the  West.  We  were 
promised  fair  play  and  a  classification  for  the 
Hcrefords.  To  these  invitations  we  gave  in  Au- 
gust, 1880,  the  following  reply: 

"Your  favor  inviting  me  to  exhibit  at  your 
fair  this  fall  is  at  hand.  While  I  should  be 
glad  to  exhibit  on  your  grounds,  if  I  were  ex- 
hibiting at  all,  I  have  to  reply  that  I  deter- 
mined last  fall  that  I  would  not  exhibit  breed- 
ing stock  in'  the  future,  and  for  these  reasons: 
that  the  condition  in  which  stock  must  be  put, 
if  success  in  taking  premiums  is  secured,  endan- 
gers the  breeding  quality  of  the  animals  ex- 
hibited, and,  beyond  this,  is  wasteful  and  ille- 
gitimate, and  the  fact  that  this  custom  has  been 
followed  for  years  is  no  reason  why  it  should  be 
continued. 

"There  are  none  that  realize  these  facts  more 
fully  than  the  exhibitors  themselves.  I  fol- 
lowed the  exhibitions  for  years,  with  some  suc- 
cess as  an  exhibitor.  I  have  had  large  numbers 
on  exhibition  and  in  good  condition.  If  it  has 
not  resulted  in  as  much  loss  of  good  breeding 
animals  as  some  others,  it  has  been  because  the 
feeding  has  not  been  pushed  to  such  an  extent 
as  others  have  done,  and  the  feeding  has  been 


conducted  with  good  judgment  and  my  breed  of 
cattle  has  more  constitution  to  stand  the  strain. 

"Our  showing  brought  the  Herefords  into 
notice  and  gave  them  a  credit  they  might  not 
have  obtained  without  it.  We  followed  this 
showing,  not  that  I  might  prove  my  cattle  better 
than  other  Herefords,  but  that  we  might  prove 
the  Herefords  better  than  any  other  breed,  and 
this  showing  of  breeding  stock  has  been  the  only 
opportunity  that  we  have  had  of  bringing  them 
in  competition  with  other  breeds.  We  were 
obliged  to  show  under  the  great  disadvantage  of 
having  Shorthorn  breeders  make  our  rules  and 
our  judges.  We,  however,  won  substantial  hon- 
ors, even  under  these  conditions,  over  the  Short- 
horns, their  breeders  themselves  being  our 
judges. 

"This  is  not  all.  Nearly  all  the  societies  that 
have  been  prominent  at  the  West  exclude  this 
competition  as  between  the  Herefords  and 
Shorthorns.  Ohio,  Michigan,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  St.  Louis  offer  no  compe- 
tition between  breeds. 


A    TYPICAL    BULL'S    HEAD,    CORRECTOR    48976. 
(Photograph  from  life.) 

"The  Minneapolis  Fair  Association,  con- 
ducted by  Col.  King,  does  offer  open  competi- 
tion between  breeds,  and  he  offers  liberal  pre- 
miums, and  I  should  be  glad  to  go  there  and 
give  that  association  such  help  as  my  herd  and 
flock  could,  to  make  his  fair  the  greatest  success 
of  any  show  this  fall,  and  I  will  give  all  the  aid 
I  can  to  see  that  the  Herefords  are  well  repre- 
sented there,  and  should  he  another  year  give 
the  competition  he  offers  now  to  breeding  stock 
and  fat  steers  I  will  agree  that  the  Herefords 
shall  have  a  representation  that  will  be  credit-, 
able  to  his  show  and  to  the  breed. 

"The  societies  that  I  have  named  as  having 
shut  off  competition  as  to  breeds  are  run  by 
Shorthorn  breeders  and  in  the  interest  of  Short- 
horn cattle.  Some  of  the  officers  of  these  socie- 


238 


HISTOEY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


ties  say  I  cannot  afford  to  keep  my  cattle  off 
their  show  grounds.  Perhaps  not.  The  future 
will  determine  this.  There  is  one  thing  about 
this:  these  societies  cannot  afford  to  run  them 
in  the  interest  of  the  Shorthorn  breed  of  cattle. 
The  people  are  inquiring  for  the  best  breed  and 
they  are  looking  for  the  proper  tests  of  merit  as 
between  the  different  breeds,  and  they  would 
look  to  the  State  and  district  societies  for  a 
solution  of  this  question.  They  have  done  so 
in  the  past,  supposing  that  societies  taking  the 
names  of  our  great  commonwealths  to  designate 
their  special  organization,  conducted  by  men 
selected  from  the  different  congressional  dis- 
tricts, and  holding  office  under  official  seal,  in 
the  name  of  the  people,  for  the  purpose  of  se- 
lecting the  best  kind,  and  the  best  of  the  best 
kind:  I  say,  it  has  been  supposed  that  men 
acting  thus  under  the  great  seals  of  the  dif- 
ferent States,  and  ostensibly  for  the  public 


THOS.    ASTON,    ELYRIA,    O. 

benefit,  were  doing  what  they  professed,  and  not 
for  their  individual  benefit ;  and  when  they,  the 
people,  shall  recognize  that  all  this  machinery 
has  been  used  to  advance  the  Shorthorn  inter- 
est, there  will  be  as  much  use  for  them  as  there 
is  for  the  old  ruined  castles  and  monasteries  of 
the  Old  World. 

"I  have  shown  under  these  managements,  un- 
der this  order.  I  have  known  when  on  these 
grounds  that  there  was  as  much  chance  of  win- 
ning against  Shorthorns  as  there  was  to  be 


struck  by  lightning;  still,  I  have  gone  on,  hop- 
ing there  might  be  a  time  in  the  future  when 
this  partialism  should  pass  away.  But  this  hope 
has  never  passed.  When  these  men  could  no 
longer  carry  their  ends,  they  say  they  will  not 
permit  competition  as  between  breeds.  Having 
decided  on  this,  there  is  no  further  object  in 
visiting  these  show  grounds. 

"This  work  of  Shorthorn  breeders  was  fairly 
illustrated  at  Ottawa  (Illinois  State  Fair)  when 
Mr. was  superintendent  of  the  cattle  de- 
partment. I  was  making  a  very  good  show, 
and  I  asked  of  the  president  and  ex-president 
and  several  of  the  vice-presidents  that  they 
would  see  that  fair  and  impartial  men  were  se- 
lected as  judges  to  pass  on  the  herd  and  sweep- 
stakes premiums.  I  claimed  I  had  a  right  to 

this.  It  was  admitted,  and  Mr. admitted 

the  right,  and  after  great  protestations  of  try- 
ing, said  to  me  he  thought  he  had  a  good  com- 
mittee, and  the  last  men  selected  had  been  se- 
lected after  a  very  careful  and  laborious  search, 
a  search  that  had  been  so  burdensome  that  he 
was  obliged  to  get  the  aid  of  that  other  impar- 
tial and  disinterested  vice-president  and  offi- 
cial, Col.  ,  and  the  combined  efforts  of 

these  officials — one  the  cattle  superinten- 
dent, the  other  the  marshal  of  the  ring,  and, 
after  a  laborious  and  painstaking  search  of  the 
State  they  found  Mr.  Spears,  another  disinter- 
ested and  impartial  man,  to  place  as  one  of  the 
judges  to  pass  on  the  merits  of  the  Herefords 
and  Shorthorns.  Mr. (the  superintend- 
ent) is  and  was  a  prominent  Shorthorn  breed- 
er. Col. is  and  was  all  this  and,  besides, 

was  the  salesman  that  sold  all  the  Shorthorns 
of  the  great  West;  and  the  judge  selected  was 
one  of  the  leading,  and  perhaps  at  his  best,  the 
leading  Shorthorn  breeder  in  Illinois. 

"These  are  the  kind  of  men  that  have  run  the 
cattle  department  of  the  great  Board  of  Agri- 
culture of  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  farmers 
of  Illinois  and  the  West  wish  to  know  the  best 
breeds  for  a  given  purpose,  and  they  will  find 
a  way  by  which  to  determine  it.  I  am  not  pre- 
pared to  say  that  the  showing  on  the  fair 
grounds  of  Illinois  has  not  been  a  benefit  to 
the  Herefords.  I  think  it  has ;  but  there  may  be 
ways  and  means  by  which  the  Herefords  can  be 
brought  before  the  public.  We  may  find  one  of 
these  ways,  and  find  it  by  bringing  breeding 
stock  in  breeding  condition  and  fat  stock  in  fat 
condition. 

"The  steer  is  the  legitimate  product  of  any 
beef  breed.  I  will  endeavor  to  show  to  a  rea- 
sonable extent  this  product,  and  will  take  the 
liberty  of  using  the  public  shows  or  find  some 
other  way.  For  the  present  I  will  not  show  breed- 


HISTOEY     OF     HEEEFOED     CATTLE 


239 


ing  stock  in  fat  stock  condition,  and  will  not,  if 
I  can  avoid  it,  show  Herefords  against  Short- 
horns with  Shorthorn  men  for  judges.  A  prom- 
inent Shorthorn  advocate  calls  my  attention  to 
the  premiums  offered  at  Minneapolis — $825  in 
class  and  for  best  herd — and  asks  if  Herefords 
are  not  in  full  force  what  will  be  the  reason? 
Well,  for  myself,  I  have  decided  not  to  show 
breeding  stock;  but  it  is  somewhat  singular  that 
this  Shorthorn  advocate  is  anxious  for  the  repu- 
tation of  the  Herefords. 

"Very  respectfully, 

"T.  L.  MILLER." 

FIRST  WESTERN  SHOWING  FAT  STEERS. — 
The  end  and  profit  of  all  beef  herds  of  cattle 
is  the  butcher's  block;  but  previous  to  the  de- 


termined effort  made  by  Hereford  cattle  breed- 
ers to  show  to  the  public  that  their  cattle  were 
by  far  the  best  beef  cattle,  both  in  economy  of 
production  and  dressed  carcasses,  no  effort  had 
been  made  at  the  several  State  and  Agricultural 
Shows,  to  bring  out  a  beef  exhibit  in  the  way  of 
fat  steers. 

The  St.  Louis  (Mo.)  Fair  always  had,  in 
those  days,  much  the  best  attended  and  success- 
ful show  in  the  West.  That  fair  in  1879  made 
a  move  in  the  right  direction,  by  offering  a  large 
and  remunerative  premium  for  the  five  best 
fat  steers.  This  was  a  new  feature  in  their  fair 
and  the  premium  was  awarded  to  five  Hereford 
steers,  shipped  from  within  forty  miles  of  Chi- 
cago and  owned  by  the  writer. 


PURE  HEREFORD  COW  JENNY. 

(Champion   Chicago   Fat  Stock  Show,   1878,   bred   by  T.   L. 
Miller.) 


240 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


IMPARTIAL  JUDGES  NEEDED 


It  had  been  remarked  upon  several  occasions, 
"the  enormity  of  Miller,  that  insignificant 
Hereford  cattle  breeder",  charging  a  conspiracy 
upon  a  large  number  of  Shorthorn  men,  mem- 
bers of  State  Agricultural  Associations  and  di- 
rectors of  Fat  Stock  Shows,  to  suppress  and  de- 
fraud the  Hereford  cattle  of  their  rightful  hon- 
ors. To  meet  this,  as  well  as  to  show  what 
Herefords  have  had  to  contend  with,  we  have 
gone  quite  fully  into  the  facts,  and  presented 
the  evidence  tending  to  prove  our  position  and 
say  what  we  think  that  it  proves,  thus  giving  all 
a  means  of  judging  whether  we  were  right  -or 
not. 

That  impartial  judges  were  needed,  and  also 
men  of  intelligence  and  fairness,  to  award  the 
prizes  at  the  several  fairs,  was  so  conspicuous 
a  fact  that  the  leading  daily  paper  at  Chicago, 
"The  Tribune/'  had  the  following  to  say,  after 
the  Fat  Stock  Show  in  November,  1881 : 

"Nothing  is  plainer  to  the  average  observer 
than  the  necessity  for  improvement  in  the  mat- 
ter of  selecting  judges  to  act  in  the  various  cat- 
tle rings  at  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show,  and 
unless  radical  changes  for  the  better  are  made 
before  another  year  rolls  round,  the  great  show 
will  lose  caste,  and  become,  in  the  eyes  of  the 
people,  simply  a  place  where  a  certain  class  of 
breeders  are  given  preference  over  all  others, 
without  reference  to  merit. 

"The  members  of  the  State  Board  are  gentle- 
men of  excellent  reputation,  who,  of  course, 
would  not  countenance  anything  which  had  the 
appearance  of  unfairness. 

"Several  of  the  committee  awards  of  last 
week  were  the  subject  of  unfavorable  comment, 
and  the  grounds  for  complaint  and  adverse, 
criticism  were  perfectly  well  grounded.  It  is 
to  be  deplored  that  charges  of  unfairness  were 
made  under  any  circumstances,  but  in  the  cases 
referred  to,  there  was  a  palpable  lack  of  discre- 
tion, at  least,  on  the  part  of  the  management  in 
allowing  the  same  set  of  judges  to  act  in  more 
than  one  sweepstake  ring.  The  judges  could 
take  but  one  course,  and  that  was  to  simply  en- 


dorse their  own  decisions,  as  to  do  otherwise 
would  have  amounted  -virtually  to  stultifica- 
tion. 

"In  several  cases  it  was  unnecessary  to  take 
the  cattle  into  the  ring  to  undergo  the  farce  of 
an  examination  by  the  judges,  and  it  would 
have  been  just  as  well  to  have  tied  the  blue  rib- 
bon onto  the  winning  cattle  while  in  their  stalls. 

"The  force  of  this  proposition  may  be  readily 
shown  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Gillette's  steer  McMul- 
len.  (j[  127)  This  animal,  which,  by  the  way, 
is  fairly  entitled  to  rank  among  the  very  best  of 
high  grade  stock,  was  shown  in  a  ring  of 
twenty-one  steers,  composed  largely  of  Short- 
horns, for  the  prize  offered  for  the  best  steer  in 
the  show  three  years  old  and  under  four.  It  may 
be  presumed  that  the  judges  were  governed  en- 
tirely by  the  question  of  merit,  and  after  a  crit- 
ical examination  the  prize  was  awarded  to  Mc- 
Mullen.  This  occurred  on  Wednesday.  On  the 
following  day  in  the  sweepstakes  ring  for  the 
best  steer  or  cow  in  the  show  the  same  animals 
were  entered  and  the  judges  were  called  upon 
to  act.  The  decision  of  the  men  who  had  al- 
ready decided  in  a  ring  composed  of  identically 
the  same  cattle  was  of  course  a  foregone  conclu- 
sion, and  the  examination  of  the  cattle  under  the 
circumstances  closely  resembled  a  farce.  The 
judges  were  handicapped  by  their  own  previous 
action,  and  were  absolutely  compelled  to  again 
award  the  premium  to  the  steer  McMullen. 

"When  it  is  remembered  that  this  animal  was 
overlooked  entirely  in  a  ring  where  the  Here- 
ford men  were  victorious,  and  did  not  even  re- 
ceive second  or  third  place  at  that  time,  it 
looks  very  much  to  a  man  up  a  tree  as  though  a 
change  was  necessary.  It  is  not  proposed  to 
criticise  the  men,  but  the  idea  of  allowing  the 
same  judges  to  be  placed  in  a  position  to  pass 
upon  their  own  previous  judgment  is  a  great 
mistake,  to  say  the  least. 

"In  the  interest  of  harmony  among  exhibitors 
of  the  different  breeds  of  cattle,  it  is  hoped  that 
some  better  method  of  selecting  judges  will  be 
adopted  ere  another  year  has  passed.  It  has 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


241 


been  openly  charged  that  the  Shorthorn  ring, 
so  called,  has  secured  control  of  the  show,  and 
that  other  breeders  are  denied  certain  rights  and 
privileges  to  which  they  are  entitled.  'The 
Tribune'  does  not  believe  that  any  ring  exists 
who  can  control  the  management  of  these 
shows,  but  it  does  insist  upon  a  better  system  of 
judging,  to  the  end  that  exact  and  impartial 
justice  may  be  the  rule  hereafter. 

"In  this  connection  the  following  plan  is  sug- 
gested, by  which,  at  least,  disinterested  men 
might  be  secured  for  these  trying  and  impor- 
tant positions :  the  Board  should  select  the  best 
butchers  from  eastern  cities  and  pay  them  for 
their  services,  and  thus  avoid  the  scandal  that 
yearly  crops  out  because  judges  and  exhibitors 
are  from  the  same  localities.  Having  good 
judges,  the  rule  should  be,  that  no  man  who 
owns  an  animal  shall  be  allowed  to  hold  it  while 
in  the  ring,  or  to  enter  the  ring  under  any  pre- 
text while  the  judges  are  at  work.  The  adop- 
tion of  some  such  rules  as  the  above,  or  some- 
thing of  that  character  guaranteeing  a  better 
state  of  things,  must  be  adopted  at  once,  or  the 
greatest  of  American  shows  will  become  a  by- 
word and  reproach." 

Those  who  read  our  great  daily  papers  know 
that  they  are  too  apt  to  leave  the  beef  interests 
and  agricultural  necessities  of  our  stock  breed- 
ers and  farmers  out  in  the  cold,  by  saying  noth- 
ing about  them  and  leaving  them  severely  alone. 
But  this  matter  of  showing  beef  cattle,  and  hav- 
ing justice  done  to  the  deserving  ones,  was  of 
such  moment  that  "The  Tribune"  in  January, 
1882,  again  came  out  in  the  following  editorial : 
"During  the  past  year  much  has  been  said 
and  written  upon  the  subject  of  choosing  judges 
to  act  at  fairs,  and  the  matter  of  these  selections 
has  become  one  which  must  attract  still  greater 
attention  before  another  season.  There  has 
grown  up  in  the  minds  of  farmers,  a  pretty  well 
grounded  opinion  that  in  nearly  all  exhibition 
rings  there  is  a  lack  of  judgment  displayed,  as 
well  in  the  selection  of  judges  as  in  the  method 
in  which  their  awards  are  given,  and  last  year's 
experience  has  not  had  a  tendency  to  change 
their  views  very  materially.  During  the  next 
three  months  many  State  Boards  of  Agriculture 
will  hold  their  annual  meetings,  at  which  ar- 
rangements for  this  year's  fairs  will  be  per- 
fected, and  it  is  certain  that  no  single  subject 
in  connection  with  their  work  demands  more 
thoughtful  consideration  than  that  of  an  im- 
proved method  of  selecting  and  working  judges. 
There  will  of  course  be  many  suggestions 
offered,  all  havmg^n  view  the  employment  of 
men  whose  integrity  cannot  be  questioned,  and 
who,  from  experience,  are  competent  to  pass  in- 


telligent judgment  and  discover  merit  where  it 
exists,  without  regard  to  who  may,  or  may  not, 
be  pleased  or  benefited.  It  has  been  openly 
charged,  particularly  by  cattle  exhibitors,  that 
no  one  but  a  Shorthorn  breeder  or  feeder  can 
hope  for  justice  at  the  hands  of  Western  fair 
associations,  and  breeders  of  other  families 
claim  that  at  these  fairs  the  judges  are  invari- 
ably chosen  from  localities  where  Shorthorn 
cattle  are  raised  almost  exclusively.  Protests 
against  this  manner  of  choosing  awarding  com- 
mittees have  been  repeatedly  made,  especially 
by  Hereford  breeders,  not  a  few  of  whom  assert 
that  the  whole  system  of  selecting  judges,  par- 
ticularly in  the  Western  states,  is  controlled  by 
what  they  are  not  backward  in  terming  the 
'Shorthorn  ring/ 

"If  such  a  combination  exists,  it  is  high  time 
that  measures  were  adopted  by  which  its  influ- 
ence and  power  can  be  broken.  The  struggle 
for  supremacy  between  the  different  breeds  of 
beef  cattle  has  become  an  exciting  one,  and  the 


<H201A 


HEART    GIRTH    OF   HEREFORDS    AND    SHORTHORNS 
COMPARED. 

consumers  are  deeply  interested  in  the  outcome. 
The  several  associations  owe  it  to  themselves, 
and  the  public  to  whom  they  look  for  patron- 
age and  support,  to  adopt  such  rules  and  regu- 
lations governing  the  award  of  premiums  as 
will  guarantee  perfect  fairness  between  con- 
testants. There  should  be  an  honest  effort  made 
to  stop  the  wholesale  charge  of  unfairness  that 
has  acted  for  years  past  as  an  injury  to  the  ex- 
hibitions, and  which  has  become  a  matter  of 
adverse  comment,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
Breeders  of  fine  cattle  cannot  afford  to  have 
their  interests  jeopardized  through  the  actions 
of  incompetent  or  biased  judges,  in  whose  hands 
they  are  compelled  to  place  them.  'The  Trib- 
une,' during  the  week  of  the  recent  Fat  Stock 
Show,  November,  1881,  took  occasion  to  criticise 
the  method  then  in  practice,  and  unhesitatingly 
stamped  several  of  the  awards  as  entirely  wrong. 
Thoughtful  and  conscientious  breeders  in  all 
parts  of  the  country  have  heartily  endorsed  the 
opinions  given  at  that  time,  and  nothing  is 


S42 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


more  certain  than  that  a  radical  change  is  neces- 
sary or  the  usefulness  of  this  particular  show 
will  cease.  The  practice  of  selecting  local 
judges  cannot  be  successfully  defended.  As- 
suming that  judges  chosen  promiscuously  from 
districts  from  which  exhibitors  may  come  are 
perfectly  fair,  yet,  there  remains  cause  of  com- 
plaint. The  men  thus  chosen,  in  many  cases, 
being  friends  or  acquaintances  of  exhibitors, 
that  fact  of  itself  creates  a  feeling  of  distrust 
which  may  or  may  not  be  warranted,  and  leaves 
the  door  wide  open  for  criticisms  which  would 
not  be  possible  if  the  judges  were  selected  from 
remote  localities.  This  course  would  entail 
quite  an  expense,  no  doubt,  but  associations 
can  better  afford  to  close  their  doors  without 
a  profit  than  to  countenance  any  system  by 
which  their  usefulness  and  integrity  can  be  im- 
peached to  the  slightest  extent. 

"It  is  said  that  the  Illinois  State  Board,  un- 
der whose  auspices  the  Fat  Stock  Show  is  con- 
ducted, will,  at  their  annual  meeting,  which  oc- 
curs this  month,  take  measures  to  quiet  the  dis- 


sensions that  have  heretofore  existed  by  adopt- 
ing some  plan  that  will  guarantee  to  exhibitors 
the  utmost  fairness,  based  upon  the  test  of 
merit,  and  that  alone.  In  this  the  Board  will 
be  unanimously  endorsed,  and  other  Western 
fair  associations  should  adopt  similar  meas- 
ures." 

After  the  appearance  of  the  above  article  in 
"The  Tribune,"  at  the  meeting  of  the  Illinois 
State  Board,  the  president,  Mr.  Scott,  called  the 
attention  of  the  Board,  in  his  address,  to  the 
necessity  of  procuring  experts  to  serve  as  com- 
mitteemen  in  making  awards. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  two-thirds  of  the 
Board  were  Shorthorn  breeders,  and  they  had 
friends  outside,  and  that  every  move  that  was 
made  in  the  Board  was  known  to  these  out- 
siders. That  President  Scott  was  surrounded 
with  these  men,  and  that  they  were  determined 
to  hold  the  Shorthorns  in  position ;  and,  though 
vastly  outnumbered,  there  were  men  in  the 
Board  that  were  desirous  of  having  its  methods 
all  that  they  should  be. 


DIAGRAM   OP    BUTCHER'S  CUTS. 

EXPLANATION.— 1,  neck;  2,  chuck;  3.  ribs;  4  and  5,  plates;  6,  shoulder-clod;  7,  brisket;  8,  shank;  9,  short-loin,  or  porterhouse; 

10,  sirloin;  11,  rump;  12,  round;  13,  flank;  14,  lower-round. 


HISTOEY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


243 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


AMERICAN  HEREFORD  EECORD 


The  Hereford  cattle  had  become  so  numerous 
in  America  by  1879  that  it  became  a  matter  of 
necessity  to  have  a  Herd  Book  in  which  to  re- 
cord their  pedigrees. 

The  English  Herd  Book  was  commenced  by 
Mr.  Eyton;  he  published  the  first  and  second 
volumes,  recording  only  bulls,  numbered  from 
1  to  901.  Mr.  Powell  followed  him  with  the 
first  part  of  Volume  III,  up  to  number  1,137. 
At  this  point  Mr.  Thomas  Duckham  of  Baysham 
Court,  Ross,  took  up  the  work,  and  published 
the  Herd  Book  from  1,138  of  bulls  up  to  the 
close  of  Volume  IX.  Eyton  and  Powell  in  their 
work  recorded  only  bulls.  Mr.  Duckham,  start- 
ing at  part  second,  in  Volume  III,  recorded 
cows  as  well  as  bulls. 

At  the  close  of  Volume  IX  the  breeders  of 
Hereford  cattle  in  England  formed  the  society, 
termed  the  Hereford  Herd  Book  Society,  bought 
of  Mr.  Duckham,  on  March  5,  1878,  the  copy- 
right and  continued  the  publication.  Mr.  Duck- 
ham  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Herd 
Book  in  1857,  and  was  at  that  time  a  tenant 
farmer  at  Baysham  Court,  in  the  town  of  Ross, 
in  Herefordshire.  He  was  a  prominent  and 
skillful  breeder  of  Hereford  cattle. 

The  first  president  of  the  Hereford  Herd 
Book  Society  was  J.  H.  Arkwright  (ff  128), 
Hampton  Court,  Herefordshire.  Vice-president 
was  the  Earl  of  Coventry  (|f  129),  Croome 
Court,  Worcester.  The  council  consisted  of 
twenty-four  prominent  and  well-known  breed- 
ers. The  editing  committee :  Sir  J.  Russell 
Bailey,  Mr.  T.  Duckham,  Mr.  H.  Haywood  and 
Mr.  J.  Hill.  The  secretary,  S.  W.  Urwick 
(fl  130),  Leinthal,  Ludlow. 

Mr.  Thomas  Duckham  was  prominent  in 
keeping  the  Herefords  before  the  public, 
through  the  press,  and  was  the  means  of  dis-  - 
tributing  large  numbers  of  them  to  Australia 
and  other  parts  of  the  world.  There  is  no 
man  to  whom  the  Hereford  breeders,  and 
through  them  the  stock  breeders  of  the  world, 
are  more  indebted.  In  1876,  at  our  great  Cen- 
tennial Exhibition  at  Philadelphia,  the  man- 


agers of  that  exhibit  sent  to  the  English  Gov- 
ernment for  a  man  competent  to  act  as  judge  on 
the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle  that  should  be 
exhibited  at  that  show.  The  Duke  of  Rich- 
mond, then  at  the  head  of  the  Agricultural  De- 
partment, selected  Mr.  Duckham  for  that  posi- 
tion, and  he  visited  this  country,  accredited 
from  that  government. 

(ff  131)  Taking  the  English  Hereford  Herd 
Book  as  the  foundation,  I,  in  1879,  com- 
menced the  compilation  of  the  American  Here- 
ford Record.  I  realized  that  in  any  thor- 
oughbred race  of  cattle  the  cow  was  as  import- 
ant in  securing  the  purity  of  the  breed  as  the 
bull,  and  that  she  should  be  equally  well  identi- 
fied in  the  pedigree  of  any  animal.  To  secure 
this  identification  we  could  not  see  any  better 
way  than  to  give  each  cow  a  number  as  well  as 
the  bull. 

To  avoid  the  great  repetition  common  to  other 
herd  books,  that  was  a  consequence  of  giving 
the  entire  pedigree  with  every  entry,  each  entry 
in  our  book  consisted  of  only  sire  and  dam,  with 
their  Herd  Book  numbers,  the  breeder's  and 
owner's  names,  and  date  of  birth. 

The  Hereford  "Times,"  England,  comment- 
ing on  this,  says:  "As  everyone  knows,  Amer- 
icans never  like  following  a  beaten  track,  and 
this  volume  is  certainly  most  unique  in  its 
arrangement,  and  presents  a  very  different  ap- 
pearance from  anything  that  we  have  ever 
seen." 

The  first  volume  came  from  our  press  at 
Beecher,  111.,  in  1880,  and  we  thought  that, 
considering  the  great  service  which  had  been 
done  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle  by  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Duckham,  that  he  was  entitled  to  the 
place  of  honor  in  the  frontispiece  of  the  first 
volume. 

There  were  also  twenty-one  illustrations  of 
prominent  Hereford  cattle.  Volume  II  was  is- 
sued in  1882,  and  carried  the  number  of  entries 
up  to  number  6,415,  the  frontispiece  being 
Mr.  Benjamin  Tomkins,  the  oldest  known  Here- 
ford breeder,  that  being  followed  by  the  earliest 


244 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


advocate  of  Herefords  in  America,  Mr.  William 
H.  Sotham,  and  following  in  this  honorable 
company,  our  own  portrait. 

As  was  natural  and  right,  after  the  forma- 
tion of  the  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders' 
Association,  the  arduous  work  of  publishing  the 
Herd  Book  was  assumed  by  them,  they  pur- 
chasing from  us  the  copyright  and  volumes  on 
hand.  To  say  that  the  work  and  expense  .of 
establishing  the  American  Hereford  Record  was 
very  large  is  stating  the  case  entirely  within 
the  bounds  of  truth. 

There  was  a  change  in  the  form  of  the 
American  Hereford  Record,  beginning  with 
Volume  VIII,  arbitrarily  undertaken,  as  we  be- 
lieve, by  the  Executive  Committee,,  without 
proper  thought  and  reference  to  the  combined 
wisdom  of  the  Association,  and  we  have  watched 
with  interest  the  spirited  and  intelligent  efforts 
of  Mr.  T.  F.  B.  Sotham  to  have  the  form  we 
instituted  returned  into  use. 

We  therefore  derive  much  satisfaction  from 
the  information  recently  conveyed  to  us  in  a 
letter  (1889)  from  Mr.  Sotham,  as  follows: 
"You  will  doubtless  be  pleased  to  know  that  my 
repeated  attacks  on  the  error  of  the  Executive 
Committee  in  changing  your  form  of  record  to 
the  'old  fashioned,'  'out  of  date'  style  of  other 
books,  and  common  to  other  breeds,  is  about 
to  bear  fruit.  Though  laughed  at  for  my  pains, 
and  called  a  'pedigree  crank'  because  I  insisted 
that  the  tabulated  pedigree  is  the  only  simple 
form,  easy  of  comprehension,  I  have  had  victory 
enough  in  seeing  even  the  'pooh-poohing'  mem- 
bers of  the  Executive  Committee  adopt  this 
form;  forced  to  do  so  because  of  the  custom 
everywhere  prevailing  among  Hereford  breed- 
ers. Your  victory  is  coming,  too,  for,  much 
against  his  will,  the  leading  Executive  Commit- 


teeman  has  just  told  me  that  owing  to  the  in- 
creasing number  of  Herefords  he  is  obliged  to 
go  back  to  the  original  form  established  by  you, 
and  forms  have  been  ordered  for  preparing  the 
copy  for  Volume  XXI  after  your  original  and 
unique  style."  Mr.  Sotham  adds:  "It  is  de- 
cidedly unpleasant  to  set  up  an  opinion  in  oppo- 
sition to  this  willful  and  too  powerful  Execu- 
tive Committee,  but  I  have  the  true  interests 
of  the  Hereford  cattle  at  heart,  and  being  sure, 
first,  of  being  right,  I  have  gone  ahead  in  my 
dear  old  father's  belief  that  'the  right  must  in 
the  end  prevail.' '; 

We  would  only  add  that  when  we  established 
the  American  Hereford  Record  we  were  as  sure 
as  we  are  now  that  the  Hereford  will  ultimately 
be  the  world's  prevailing  cattle,  and  in  found- 
ing the  American  Herd  Book  we  wanted  that 
foundation  simple  and  solid.  We  foresaw  the 
increase  of  the  breed  and  had  we  remained  in 
charge  of  the  Record  we  should  have  begun  with 
Volume  III  to  put  more  entries  on  a  page. 
The  only  reason  we  had  for  limiting  the  entries 
(9)  on  a  page  in  the  Volumes  I  and  II,  got  out 
b}1"  us,  was,  that  with  our  unique  form  of  entry, 
more  would  limit  the  pages  and  make  too  thin  a 
volume. 

We  trust  that  young  Mr.  Sotham's  prediction 
of  a  return  with  Volume  XXI  to  the  original 
form  may  be  verified.  We  believe  such  a  return 
inevitable ;  and  further,  we  believe  that  the  day 
will  come  when  the  unwarranted  change  of  form 
will  be  generally  condemned  and  a  reprint  de- 
manded that  will  practically  eliminate  Vol- 
umes VIII  to  XX,  inclusive,  from  the  libraries 
of  Hereford  breeders  and  prove  the  indefensible 
work  of  the  committee  on  these  volumes  a  waste 
of  the  Association's  money. 


A    BREEDERS'    JOURNAL    CARTOON    OF   1883. 

(Mr.     Miller    informs    President    Scott    of    the    fraudulent 

entries.) 


HIST  Oil  Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XX. 


AMERICAN  HEREFORD  CATTLE  BREEDERS'  ASSOCIATION 


In  pursuance  to  a  general  desire  for  united 
action  of  the  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders  of  the 
United  States,  a  call  was  made  for  a  meeting. 
This  was  fixed  for  the  22d  of  June,  1881.  Upon 
that  day  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  Hereford 
breeders  at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel,  Chicago, 
and  Mr.  C.  M.  Culhertson  (fl  132)  was  nomi- 
nated by  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  Beccher,  111.,  for 
temporary  chairman,  when,  upon  taking  his 
seat,  Mr.  T.  E.  Miller  (ft  133)  was  chosen  sec- 
retary. The  Chairman  then  appointed  a  Busi- 
ness Committee  of  the  following  gentlemen: 
Adams  Earl  (j[  134),  Lafayette,  Ind.;  J.  M. 
Studebaker  (j[  135),  South  Bend,  Ind.;  George 
F.  Morgan  (fl  136),  Carmago,  111.;  Thomas 
Clark  (f  137),  Beecher,  111.;  K.  W.  Sample, 
Lafayette,  Ind.;  B.  Hershey  (]j  138),  Musca- 
tine,  la.;  N.  Abbe,  Elyria,  Ohio,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  putting  the  business  of  the  Association 
in  shape  and  bringing  it  before  them. 

They  presented  the  following  plan  of  organi- 
zation : 

This  Society  shall  be  known  as  the  American 
Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Association. 

The  officers  shall  be  a  President  and  nine 
Vice-presidents,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  an 
auditing  committee  of  three,  and  nine'  di- 
rectors. 

The  term  of  office  of  President,  Vice-presi- 
dent, Secretary,  Treasurer  and  Auditing  Com- 
mittee shall  be  for  one  year,  or  until  their  suc- 
cessors are  elected  and  qualified.  The  Directors 
shall  be  elected  for  one,  two  and  three  years, 
respectively,  three  for  each  year. 

Any  breeder  of  Hereford  cattle  in  good 
standing  can  become  a  member  by  handing  his 
name  to  the  Secretary,  and  paying  the  sum  of 
$20  for  individual  or  firm. 

The  officers  shall  be  chosen  every  year,  by  a 
majority  vote  of  the  members  present,  or  by 
proxy,  at  a  meeting  called  by  the  President  for 
that  purpose.  The  President  shall  have  the 
power  to  call  a  meeting -of  all  members,  or  of 
the  Auditing  Committee,  at  any  time  that  he 
thinks  proper. 


Two  of  the  Auditing  Committee  shall  form 
a  quorum  to  do  business. 

The  duty  of  the  Secretary  shall  be  to  keep  an 
account  of  all  the  doings  of  the  Society.  The 
Treasurer  shall  keep  all  funds  paid  into  the 
Society,  and  pay  the  same  out  on  the  order  of 
the  Auditing  Committee. 

In  case  the  American  Hereford  Record  is 
approved  and  endorsed  by  the  Society  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Auditing  Committee  to  have 
the  "American  Hereford  Record"  thoroughly 
examined  by  a  competent  person  or  persons, 
and  if  any  serious  or  important  error  is  found, 
to  take  note  of  the  same,  so  that  it  may  be  cor- 
rected by  insertion  in  the  second  volume,  soon 
to  come  out.  All  records  and  other  matter  that 
go  into  the  second  volume  of  the  "American 
Hereford  Record"  must  first  be  examined  and 
approved  of  by  the  Auditing  Committee. 

The  object  of  the  Society  is  to  promote 
and  improve  the  beef  cattle  of  the  country,  by 
the  introduction  of  the  Hereford  strain  of  cat- 
tle, more  generally  throughout  the  beef-pro- 
ducing region,  claiming,  as  we  think,  justly, 
.that  where  the  Herefords  have  been  fairly  tried 
they  have  proved  themselves  far  superior  and 
more  profitable  as  beef  cattle  than  any  other 
breed  known.  We  claim  them  as  being  better 
graziers,  winter  better  on  rough  feed,  mature 
earlier  and  bring  better  prices  than  any  other 
known  breed  of  cattle,  and  in  proof  of  this  we 
ask  all  who  have  given  them  a  fair  trial  with 
any  other  strain  of  cattle  to  come  and  testify. 

The  Committee  presented  an  address  to  the 
Society.  Some  points  made  in  it  were  as  follows: 
"We  wa^pit  distinctly  understood  that  we  pro- 
test now  and  shall  at  all  fairs  protest,  as  is  our 
right,  against  any  man  judging  as  to  merit 
between  different  breeds  of  cattle  who  is  in- 
terested in  the  breeding  of  any  of  the  breeds 
competing,  either  directly  or  indirectly.  We 
think  it  would  be  unfair.,  as  if  C.  H.  McCor- 
mick  was  to  be  made  judge  of  the  best  make  of 
mowing  machines,  or  Mr.  Studebaker  as  a  judge 
of  the  best  wagon  or  carriage  at  a  fair.  We 


24G 


HISTOEY    OF    HEEEFOB'D     CATTLE 


approve  of  fat  stock  shows.  It  is  the  great  edu- 
cator, for  on  the  block  all  beef  has  finally  to  be 
tested.  We  heard  old  butchers  say  at  the  last 
fall  show  that  they  had  •  been  butchers  for 
twenty  to  thirty  years,  but  had  learned  more 
in  two  days  at  the  fat  stock  show  than  they 
had  in  the  past  thirty  years.  Of  course  they 
must  have  been  Bourbons  all  that  time.  We 
do  not  want  such  for  judges ;  we  want  butchers 
that  try  to  learn  something  every  day.  Our 
ambition  should  be,  not  how  or  by  what  tricks 
we  can  obtain  premiums,,  but  rather  how  to 
merit  them,  then  if  beaten  unfairly,  it  is  some- 
times worth  more  than  a  victory,  where  the 
spectators  see  that  palpable  injustice  has  been 
done. 

"Having  examined  the  American  Hereford 
Record,  we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  we 
approve  it  for  its  simplicity  and  brevity,  and 
so  far  as  we  have  examined  it,  find  it  correct 
and  reliable,  and  in  connection  with  this,  we 
must  say  that  T.  L.  Miller  deserves  much  praise 
from  the  Hereford  breeders  for  not  only  get- 
ting up  the  Eecord,  but  also  for  the  long  and 
steady  fights  he  has  made,  almost  alone,  in 
championing  the  Hereford  cause,  until  he 
brought  them  to  the  front  to  stay;  for,  once  to 
the  front,  they  will  take  care  of  themselves." 

The  following  officers  were  elected :  President, 
C.  M.  Culbertson,  Chicago,  111.;  Secretary,  T. 
E.  Miller,  Beecher,  111. ;  Treasurer,  Adams  Earl, 


A    BREEDERS'    JOURNAL    CARTOON    OF    1883. 
(President  Scott  stands  on  the  rule.) 

Lafayette,  Ind. ;  Vice-presidents,  A.  H.  Swan, 
Cheyenne,  Wyo. ;  W.  H.  Todd  (If  139),  Ver- 
million,  Ohio ;  William  Hamilton,  Flint,  Mich. ; 
E.  W.  Sample,  Lafayette,  Ind. ;  G.  S.  Burleigh 
(fi  140),  Mechanicsville,  Iowa;  J.  M.  Stude- 
baker,  South  Bend,  Ind. ;  William  H.  Sotham, 
Chicago,  111. ;  A.  H.  Seabury,  New  Bedford, 
Mass. ;  A.  D.  Eaub,  Earl  Park,  Ind. ;  N.  Abbe, 
Elyria,  Ohio;  Mr.  Lee  of  Lee  &  Eeynolds, 
Camp  Supply.  Indian  Territory. 


Auditing  Committee:  William  Powell, 
Beecher,  111.;  Thomas  Clark,  Beecher,  111.;  T. 
L.  Miller,  Beecher,  111. 

One- Year  Directors:  H.  Norris,  Aurora, 
111.;  E.  E.  Price,  Chicago,  111.;  C.  Gudgell, 
Pleasant  Hill,  Mo. 

Two-Year  Directors:  Joseph  Frank,  Chi- 
cago, 111.;  George  F.  Morgan,  Camargo,  111.; 
W.  S.  VanNatta  (]f  141),  Fowler,  Ind. 

Three- Year  Directors :  Thomas  Clark, 
Beecher,  111. ;  W.  E.  Campbell,  Caldwell,  Kas. ; 
T.  L.  Miller,  Beecher,  111. 

Mr.  Earl,  Chairman  of  the  Business  Com- 
mittee, recommended  the  adoption  of  the 
American  Hereford  Herd  Book,  as  gotten  up  in 
good  shape,  and  giving  correct  pedigree  of 
Hereford  cattle  in  all  its  arrangements.  It  was 
adopted  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

Mr.  Miller  handed  the  President  a  copy  of 
the  American  Hereford  Eecord  to  be  presented 
to  Mr.  W.  H.  Sotham,  the  old  champion  and 
original  Hereford  advocate.  (^  142)  It  was 
presented  him  in  the  name  of  the  Association. 

(If  143) 

It  was  moved  and  adopted  that  the  Associa- 
tion meet  annually  for  general  purposes  of  busi- 
ness connected  with  this  Association  during  the 
week  of  the  Fat  Stock  Show  at  Chicago,  111. 
(11  144) 

The  second  meeting  of  the  Association 
(j[  145)  was  held  during  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock 
Show,  Friday,  November  11,  1881.  The  same 
officers  were  re-elected  and  general  work 
planned.  The  meeting  was  very  successful, 
and  the  enthusiasm  that  it  produced  among 
the  breeders  of  Herefords  contributed  largely 
to  the  success  and  larger  show  of  Hereford 
steers  that  were  made  the  following  year. 

The  third  meeting  of  this  Association  was 
held  on  November  17,  1882,  in  the  club  room 
of  the  Sherman  House,  Chicago,  111.  The  meet- 
ing was  called  to  order  by  the  President,  C.  M. 
Culbertson,  of  Chicago.  In  his  opening  ad- 
dress the  President  stated  that,  as  the  most  of 
the  Hereford  breeders  had  not  arrived  in  Chi- 
cago, this  meeting  would  be  merely  a  prelim- 
inary one  for  the  purpose  of  talking  over  busi- 
ness matters  that  would  be  brought  up  before 
the  regular  annual  meeting,  to  be  held  Novem- 
ber 21st. 

The  matter  of  the  American  Hereford  Cattle 
Breeders'  Association  purchasing,  as  a  society, 
from  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  of  Beecher,  111.,  the 
American  Hereford  Eecord,  was  introduced. 
The  President  appointed  a  committee  of  three 
gentlemen,  consisting  of  Mr.  W.  S.  VanNatta, 
Mr.  E.  W.  Sample  and  Mr.  J.  M.  Studebaker, 
to  wait  on  T.  L.  Miller  and  ascertain  from  him 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEEEFOED  CATTLE 


247 


at  what  price  and  on  what  terms  the  Herd 
Book,  with  its  copyright,  good  will  and  volumes, 
could  be  purchased,  and  to  also  present  a  finan- 
cial plan  by  which  the  money  necessary  could 
be  raised. 

It  was  moved  and  carried  that  T.  E.  Miller 
be  appointed  a  committee  of  one  to  submit  to 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Association  rules  to 
govern  the  admission  of  cattle  to  the  third  vol- 
ume of  the  Herd  Book.  Mr.  J.  M.  Studebaker 
gave  notice  that  he  would  present  to  the  next 
meeting  a  plan  for  a  testimonial  to  Mr.  William 
Henry  Sotham  for  his  long  and  efficient  service 
in  the  Hereford  cause. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  Tuesday 
evening,  November  21st,  to  be  held  in  the  same 
place. 

The  regular  annual  meeting  of  the  American 

Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Association       

was  held  November  21st,  at  the  Sher- 
man House,  Chicago,  111.  The  meeting 
was  called  to  order  by  the  President,  C. 
M.  Culbertson. 

The  Secretary  read  the  minutes  of 
the  preceding  meeting.  The  first  busi- 
ness transacted  was  the  election  of  offi- 
cers for  the  ensuing  year,  which  result- 
ed in  the  election  of  Mr.  C.  M.  Culbert- 
son, of  Chicago,  President;  C.  K.  Par- 
melee,  of  Wolcott,  Ind.,  Vice-president ; 
C.  B.  Stuart  (ff  146),  Lafayette,  Ind., 
Treasurer.  The  three  Directors  whose 
time  had  expired  were  re-elected  for 
three  years,  viz. :  H.  Norris,  of  Aurora, 
111.;  E.  E.  Eice,  of  Chicago,  111.;  C. 
Gudgell,  of  Pleasant  Hill,  Mo. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  pur- 
chasing the  Herd  Book  was  then  called 
for,  which  was  submitted  as  follows: 
Chicago,  111.,  Nov.  21,  1882. 

Mr.  President:    We,  the  committee 
appointed  by  your  honorable  body   to  confer 
with  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller  regarding  the  purchase 
of  the  American  Hereford  Eecord,  published 
and  owned  by  him,  submit  the  following  report : 

The  price  asked  by  Mr.  Miller  is  six  thousand 
dollars,  which  constitutes  the  good  will  of  said 
Eecord,  including  about  three  hundred  of  the 
first  volumes,  and  five  hundred  and  twenty  of 
the  second,  which  are  nearly  ready  for  distri- 
bution, Mr.  Miller  valuing  same  at  three  dollars 
each.  His  desire  is  that  the  book  shall  be  con- 
trolled by  the  Society  and  not  by  any  one  indi- 
vidual or  by  a  stock  company,  the  latter  of 
which  we,  as  a  committee,  heartily  endorse.  We 
further  state  that  Mr.  Miller  represented  to  us 
that  this  book  has  cost  him  twelve  thousand 
dollars  over  and  above  receipts.  In  conclusion 


we  simply  wish  to  say  that  we  place  this  mat- 
ter in  the  hands  of  this  Society  for  their  care- 
ful consideration  and  final  action,  advising  that 
it  take  a  liberal  view  of  this  matter,  and  pay 
Mr.  Miller  what  the  unanimous  voice  of  this 
Society  shall  deem  a  fair  and  impartial  com- 
pensation for  his  untiring  efforts  in  the  Here- 
ford cause. 

Eespectfully  submitted  by  the  committee. 
J.  M.  STUDEBAKER, 
E.  W.  SAMPLE, 
W.  S.  VANNATTA. 

After  considerable  discussion,  it  was  moved 
by  Mr.  Adams  Earl,  of  Lafayette,  Ind.,  that  the 
report  be  placed  on  file  as  received,  but  that  the 
committee  be  not  discharged,  and  that  the  Chair 
add  four  gentlemen  to  the  committee,  and  that 


TYPICAL  FEMALE  HEAD,  GRACE  58553. 
(From  a  photograph.) 

they  confer  further  with  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller  at 
once  and  report  to  this  meeting.  The  President 
named  Mr.  Adams  Earl,  Mr.  C.  Gudgell,  Mr. 
W.  Hamilton,  Mr.  E.  Phelps  (<[  147)  as  the 
new  members  of  this  committee.  Mr.  H.  C. 
Burleigh  (fl  148)  was  subsequently  added. 
The  committee  then  retired  with  Mr.  T.  L. 
Miller,  and  after  considerable  delay  returned 
and  made  the  following  report: 

Mr.  President:  We,  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  report  on  the  subject  of  purchasing 
the  Herd  Book  of  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  have  the 
following  report  to  make  : 

Mr.  Miller  has  made  the  following  proposi- 
tions to  the  Association : 

First.  Proposes  to  sell  the  Herd  Book  and 
800  volumes  for  $6,000,  payable  in  one  yeai\ 


H  I  S  T  0  It  Y     OF     HE  E"E  F  0  R~  D     CATTLE 


and  to  take  the  obligation  of  the  Society  in 

payment,  with  individuals'  names  as  security. 

Second.     Agrees  to  continue  the  publication 

of  the  Herd  Book,  the  Society  shall  make  the 

rules  for  entry,  and 
the  entry  fees  to  re- 
main as  at  present, 
$1  for  entry  and  25 
cents  for  each  trac- 

ing- 

Third.  Will  sell 
it  to  the  Society  at 
any  time  when  the 
Society  sees  fit  to 
purchase  it  at  a  fair 
price. 

Your  committee 
would  recommend 
to  the  Association 
the  acceptance  of 
the  second  proposi- 
tion, and  that  an 
auditing  committee  be  appointed,  to  consist  of 
three,  who  shall  draft  a  set  of  rules  governing 
the  future  entries  to  the  Herd  Book  and  who 
shall  supply  Mr.  Miller  with  a  copy  of  the  rules. 


F.    D.    COBURN, 
Topeka,    Kan. 


W.  S. 

Chairman. 
E.  SAMPLE, 
J.  M.  STUDEBAKER, 
ADAMS  EARL, 
W.  HAMILTON, 
E.  PHELPS, 

H.    C.    BURLEIGH, 
C.  GUDGELL. 

The  report  was  accepted  and  committee  dis- 
charged, it  being  resolved  to  leave  the  Herd 
Book  in  the  hands  of  its  publisher  and  proprie- 
tor, and  that  a  committee  consisting  of  C.  B. 
Stuart,  G.  S.  Burleigh  and  W.  S.  VanNatta 
be  made  a  permanent  auditing  committee  to 
pass  on  pedigrees  as  to  their  eligibility  for  ad- 
mission to  the  Herd  Book,  and  also  to  report  a 
set  of  rules  as  soon  as  possible  to  this  Associa- 
tion which  shall,  upon  approval  by  this  Society, 
govern  the  admission  of  cattle  to  the  American 
Hereford  Eecord. 

It  was  suggested  by  the  President  that  the 
Hereford  cattle  breeders  get  together  a  number 
of  show  herds  of  Hereford  cattle  in  the  year 
1883,  to  the  number  of,  say,  100  head,  and 
make  a  circuit  of  the  fairs.  An  expression  of 
opinion  was  called  for  on  the  subject. 

Mr.  Joseph  Franks,  of  Cheyenne,  Wyo.,  said  : 
The  Western  ranchmen  were  all  very  favorably 
inclined  towards  the  Hereford  cattle  ;  that  they 
would  be  pleased  to  see  such  an  exhibit;  that 


his  firm  had  individually  bought  over  600 
Hereford  bulls. 

Mr.  W.  E.  Campbell,  of  Caldwell,  Kansas, 
said  the  cross  of  a  Hereford  bull  on  a  Texas 
cow  gave  the  best  satisfaction.  Every  one  now 
on  the  range  wants  to  get  Hereford  bulls.  The 
risk  of  Texas  fever  was  more^with  him  than 
it  was  further  North.  He  used,  beside  his 
Hereford  bulls,  two  hundred  Shorthorn  bulls 
in  his  herd,  of  which  he  had  had  a  good  many 
die  from  consumption  and  lack  of  constitution, 
while  among  his  Hereford  bulls  he  had  only 
lost  two,  one  from  Texas  fever  and  one  from 
an  accident.  He  takes  all  his  bulls  up  in  the 
winter  and  feeds  them,  and  finds  he  can  feed 
two  Herefords  on  the  same  feed  it  takes  to 
keep  up  one  Shorthorn.  He  would  be  pleased 
to  see  a  large  exhibit  of  Hereford  cattle  next 
year,  and  thought  it  would  do  much  good. 

Major  W.  A.  Towers,  of  Panhandle,  Texas, 
thought  Herefords  were  as  liable  to  take  Texas 
fever  as  other  cattle.  He  has  been  very  much 
pleased  with  his  Herefords,  has  taken  sixty 
head  to  his  ranch  direct  from  England.  His 
grade  Herefords  go  through  the  winter  much 
better  than  any  of  his  other  cattle.  Is  using 
about  an  equal  number  of  Hereford  and  Short- 
horn bulls.  Thinks  it  would  be  a  good  idea  to 
take  a  large  show  of  Hereford  cattle  through 
the  fairs  of  Kansas  and  as  far  west  as  Denver, 
Colo. 

The  President  then  introduced  the  subject  of 
grade  Hereford  steers  to  show  at  the  Fat  Stock 
Show.  There  has  been  such  a  demand  for 
grade  Hereford  bulls  to  go  west  and  south 
that  they  have  sold  at  from  $60  to  $75,  and  it 
has  made  the  steers  so  scarce  that  scarcely  any 
can  be  got,  and  proposed  that  the  breeders  pres- 
ent pledge  a  certain  number  of  calves  to  be 
altered  for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  supply  of 
Hereford  steers.  The  following  responses  were 
made  to  this  appeal: 

T.  C.  Ponting  (If  149),  100;  C.  M.  Culbert- 
son,  30;  J.  P.  Holmes,  10;  Earl  &  Stuart,  10 
grades  and  2  thoroughbreds ;  Thomas  Clark,  1 ; 
Hiram  Norris  &  Sons,  12 ;  William  Powell,  2 ; 
Lyon  Bros.,  2;  G.  S.  Burleigh,  3;  Charles  K. 
Parmelee,  20 ;  Burnham  &  Sons,  5 ;  J.  R.  Price, 
30;  A.  A.  Crane  &  Son  (|f  150-151),  12;  Bur- 
leigh &  Bodwell,  1  grade  and  4  thoroughbreds ; 
Dr.  0.  Bush  (f  152),  6;  Thomas  Foster  (fl  153), 
20 ;  Wallace  Libbey  (ff  154)  10;  A.  H.  Hood,  3 ; 
A.  H.  Bullis  (|f  155),  4;  A.  D.  Eaub,  8;  C. 
Gudgell,  2  thoroughbreds;  W.  Hamilton,  5;  E. 
Phelps,  5 ;  Fowler  &  VanNatta,  5  grades  and 
2  thoroughbreds ;  Seabury  &  Sample,  15 ;  mak- 
ing a  total  of  319  grades  and  10  thoroughbreds. 
Besides  these,  the  Western  men  put  down  for 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


249 


Swan  Bros.  &  Frank,  600 ;  W.  E.  Campbell,  10 ; 
Scott  &  Hank,  20 ;  total,  630. 

The  testimonial  to  Mr.  William  Henry  Soth- 
am  was  then  introduced,  and  the  following 
amounts,  making  a  total  of  $535,  were  pre- 
sented to  him:  T.  L.  Miller  Company,  $100; 
C.  M.  Culbertson,  $100;  J.  M.  Studebaker, 
$100;  T.  C.  Ponting,  $25;  William  Powell,  $5; 
Edwin  Phelps,  $25;  William  Hamilton,  $50; 
Thomas  Foster,  $50;  A.  H.  Hood,  $5;  W.  S. 
VanNatta,  $10;  Earl  &  Stuart,  $20;  0.  Bush, 
$5 ;  A.  D.  Raub,  $5 ;  G.  S.  Burleigh,  $5 ;  John 
Gosling,  $5;  (|f  156)  Thomas  Clark,  $10; 
Price  &  Jenks,  $5 ;  Charles  Gudgell,  $10. 

The  subject  of  the  members  of  this  Associa- 
tion making  up  a  purse  of  $2,000  to  be  offered 
in  premiums  for  Hereford  cattle  to  be  exhibited 
at  the  next  Fat  Stock  Show  was  introduced  by 
T.  L.  Miller.  It  was  clearly  shown  how  such 
an  amount  as  this  offered  in  prizes  to  Hereford 
breeders,  in  addition  to  the  amounts  offered  by 
the  management  of  the  show,  would  bring  out 
and  encourage  the  feeding  of  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  Hereford  steers.  The  result  of  this  ap- 
peal was  the  circulation  of  a  subscription  pa- 
per, of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 

We  agree  to  pay  the  following  sums,  pro- 
vided two  thousand  dollars  is  raised,  towards 
prizes  to  be  given  for  Hereford  cattle  at  the 
Fat  Stock  Show  in  1883,  the  classification  to 
be  made  by  a  committee  to  consist  of  C.  B. 
Stuart,  T.  E.  Miller  and  C.  K.  Parmelee,  and 
such  classification  to  be  published  as  early  as 
possible. 

There  was  about  $1,500  subscribed  to  the 
fund,  and  the  committee  was  instructed  to  use 
every  endeavor  to  make  the  sum  up  to  the  re- 
quired amount.  The  meeting  then  adjourned 
to  Wednesda}',  November  22,  at  the  same  place. 

The  meeting  of  November  22d  was  called  to 
order  by  the  President,  C.  M.  Culbertson.  The 
report  of  the  former  Treasurer,  Mr.  Adams 
Earl,  was  called  for,  who  reported  $260  on 
hand.  Mr.  C.  B.  Stuart,  who  was  elected  Treas- 
urer at  the  meeting  on  the  21st,  resigned  his 
office  for  the  purpose  of  having  the  Secretary 
also  hold  the  office  of  Treasurer.  T.  E.  Miller, 
of  Beecher,  111.,  was  elected  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  that  all  cattle  for 
entry  in  the  Herd  Book,  which  clearly  came  in- 
side the  rules  made  for  admission  of  cattle, 
should  be  printed  by  its  editor  without  submis- 
sion to  the  Auditing  Committee. 

It  was  moved  and  carried  that  the  Auditing 
Committee  be  authorized  to  draw  the  necessary 
money  from  the  treasury  to  pay  C.  M.  Culbert- 


son,  Jr.,   for    his  services  in    examining    the 
American  Hereford  Record. 

The  President  suggested  that  the  prizes  at 
the  various  agricultural  shows  should  be  given 
to  young  cattle,  and  thus  discourage  the  keep- 
ing in  the  show  herds  of  older  cows  and  large 
cattle.  After  considerable  discussion  and 
amendments  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting 
that  the  agricultural  societies  throughout  the 
country  should  make  their  highest  herd  prize 
for  young  cattle  under  two  years  and  over  one 
year  old;  their  second  prize  to  a  herd  under 
three  years  and  over  two  years  old.  W'* . 

Owing  to  a  misunderstanding  in  some  of  the 
Chicago  papers,  a,s  to  the  testimonial  given  to 
Mr.  Sotham,  the  following  was  adopted  as  the 
sense  of  the  Association :  "The  fund  that  was 
presented  to  Mr.  William  Henry  Sotham  was 
for  the  purpose  of  rewarding  him  for  his  ser- 
vices for  forty  years  in  pushing  the  cause  of 
Hereford  cattle,  and  is  in  no  sense  a  charity, 
but  is  for  the  purpose  of  showing  the  high 
sense  of  appreciation  of  this  Society  for  the 
services  rendered  by  Mr.  Sotham  in  introducing 
Hereford  cattle/' 

The  attention  of  the  Society  was  called  to 
the  ages  of  the  Shorthorn  steers  being  shown  at 
the  present  Fat  Stock  Show,  in  which  it  was 
stated  that  Mr.  D. 
M.  Moningor,  of 
Galvin,  Iowa,  en- 
tered the  steer 
called  "Champion 
of  Iowa"  as  715 
days  old,  or  1 
year  1 1  months 
and  21  days  old. 
He  shows  six  teeth 
of  full  size,  and 
by  the  mouth  is 
over  three  years 
old.  The  horns 
of  this  steer  have 
been  filed  and 
dressed  to  give 
him  the  appear- 
ance of  being 
younger  than  his 
mouth  would  make  him.  There  are  several 
other  steers  entered  by  Mr.  Moninger  as  two- 
year-olds  whose  mouths  would  indicate  a  greater 
age  than  that  for  which  they  were  entered. 

After  some  discussion  it  was  moved  that  the 
President,  Mr.  C.  M.  Culbertson,  be  requested 
to  see  Mr.  J.  P.  Reynolds  and  take  what  steps 
were  necessary  when  the  matter  of  the  ages  of 


JUDGE  T.   C.  JONES, 
Delaware,    Ont. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Shorthorn    steers   came    up    before    the    State 
Board. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  Mr.  J.  Irving 

Pearce,  proprietor  of  the  Sherman  House,  for 

the  use  of  the  rooms  occupied  by  this  Society. 

The   Society  then  adjourned  subject  to  the 

call  of  the  President  and  Executive  Committee. 

(Signed)     T.  E.  MILLER, 

Secretary. 

Pursuant  to  a  call  from  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, there  was  a  meeting  of  this  Association 

at  10  o'clock  A.  M. 

_^gM^^^  on    February   28, 

1883,  at  the  Sher- 
man House,  Chi- 
cago. The  busi- 
ness to  be  brought 
before  the  meet- 
ing, as  stated  in 
the  call,  was  as 
follows : 

First.  To  con- 
sider and  act  up- 
on rules  to  govern 
future  entries  in 
the  "American 
Hereford  Record." 
Second.  To 
consider  proposi- 
tions, looking  to- 
ward the  Asso- 
ciation owning  the 
"American  Hereford  Record." 

Third.     The  organization  of  a  life  member- 
ship society  of  American  Hereford  breeders. 

Mr.  B.  Hershey  and  Mr.  Adams  Earl  were 
appointed  by  the  Chair  to  confer  with  T.  L. 
Miller  for  the  purchase  of  the  "American  Here- 
ford Record"  and  report  to  the  Association. 
1  After  some  discussion  as  to  the  method  of 
making  entries  in  the  American  Hereford  Rec- 
ord and  the  undesirable  form  in  which  the 
English  Herd  Book  was  published,  an  extract 
was  read  from  a  letter  from  Mr.  John  Hill,  of 
Felhampton  Court,  England,  one  of  the  editing 
committee  of  the  English  Hereford  Herd  Book. 
The  Hon.  Thomas  Duckham  is  also  one  of  the 
editing  committee.  The  extract  is  as  follows: 
"I  should  like  to  have  your  opinion  on  the 
resolution  I  proposed  at  the  last  meeting  of 
the  English  Hereford  Herd  Book  Society,  which 
was,  that  every  cow  should  have  four  crosses, 
and  every  bull  four  crosses  (which  is  now  the 
rule).  Mr.  Duckham  seconded  me,  but  we  were 
beaten,  of  course,  being  strongly  opposed  by 
men  who  have  short  pedigree  animals  and  who 
are  making  up  herds  from  doubtful  beginnings. 
I  go  even  further  than  this,  and  I  think  it 


WM.    WARPIELD, 
Lexington,   Ky. 


would,  in  a  year  or  two  (due  notice  being 
given),  do  better  to  have  no  animal  entered  un- 
less it  can  trace  to  a  cow  already  entered  in  the 
Herd  Book.  This  would  keep  the  breed  pure, 
and  prevent  any  alien  from  getting  in.  If  you 
and  other  breeders  in  America  approve  of  my 
scheme,  it  would,  of  course,  strengthen  my 
hands  much  to  have  their  opinions  in  writing." 

Upon  hearing  the  letter  read,  the  following 
resolutions  were  introduced  and  carried  unani- 
mously : 

Resolved,  That  we,  as  Hereford  cattle  breed- 
ers of  America,  recognizing  the  great  impor- 
tance of  keeping  the  breed  in  its  purest  state, 
most  heartily  endorse  all  that  Mr.  Hill  and  Mr. 
Duckham  suggest  in  the  above  communication, 
and  that  we  hope  that  the  English  Society  may 
take  some  such  action  looking  to  some  such  end. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  made  a 
part  of  our  records,  and  a  copy  of  the  same  be 
sent  to  Messrs.  Hill  and  Duckham. 

The  committee  appointed  to  report  of  the 
purchase  of  the  Herd  Book  submitted  the  fol- 
lowing report  from  the  owner : 

Chicago,  February  28,  1883. 
I  propose  to  sell  the  American  Hereford  Rec- 
ord to  the  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders' 
Association,  if  they  desire  to  purchase  the  same, 
for  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  ($5,000), 
to  be  paid  for  within  one  year  of  this  date,  with 
6  per  cent,  interest.  In  making  this  proposition 
it  is  distinctly  understood  it  shall  be  and  re- 
main in  the  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breed- 
ers' Association.  (Sighed)  T.  L.  MILLER. 

The  proposition  was  accepted  by  the  Associa- 
tion and  the  money  was  raised  by  assessing  each 
member  of  the  Association  $2.17  for  each  thor- 
oughbred Hereford  owned  by  them  on  July  1, 
1883. 

The  Chair  appointed  the  following  members 
for  incorporating  the  American  Hereford  Cat- 
tle Breeders'  Association :  W.  S  VanXatta,  C.  B. 
Stuart,  C.  M.  Culbertson,  G.  S.  Burleigh  and 
T.  L.  Miller.  Mr.  J.  B.  Sollitt  then  introduced 
the  following  resolution,  which  was  seconded 
and  carried  unanimously:  Resolved,  That  the 
thanks  of  this  Association  are  due  and  are- 
hereby  tendered  to  T.  L.  Miller  for  the  able  and 
effective  manner  in  which  he  has  got  up  and 
published  the  American  Hereford  Record;  also 
for  his  able  and  vigorous  defense  of  the  Here- 
ford interest  through  the  last  eleven  years. 

The  rules  governing  entries  to  the  American 
Hereford  Record  were  then  brought  up  by  the 
committee,  and  adopted.  Mr.  C.  B.  Stuart 
moved  that  Mr.  Miller  be  appointed  a  commit- 
tee of  one,  as  he  is  contemplating  a  trip  to 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


251 


England,  to  confer  with  the  English  Hereford 
Herd  Book  Association,  and  act  in  conjunction 
with  them,  taking  such  steps  as  may  be  neces- 
sary to  place  their  pedigrees  on  such  a  footing 
as  will  qualify  them  for  entry  in  the  American 
Hereford  Record.  The  price  of  entries  in  the 
Herd  Book  to  persons  not  members  of  this  Asso- 
ciation was  fixed  at  $2,  and  the  price  of  the' 
Herd  Book  at  $5. 

The  Executive  Committee  was  authorized  to 
employ  the  Secretary  of  this  Association  to  take 
care  of  the  property  of  this  Association  and  do 
the  work  of  this  Herd  Book  and  pay  him  for  the 
work  done. 

A  resolution  of  thanks  was  then  introduced 
as  follows:  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this 
Association  be  tendered  to  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller  for 
the  Hereford  beef  furnished  for  the  dinner  this 
day;  and  also  to  Mr.  J.  Irving  Pearce  for  the 
use  of  the  club  room. 

Adjourned  to  meet  again  during  the  Chicago 
Fat  Stock  Show  in  November  next. 

(Signed)     T.  E.  MILLER,  Secretary. 

In  pursuance  of  the  authority  given  us  by 
the  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Asso- 
ciation, to  confer  with  the  English  Hereford 
Herd  Book  Society,  in  regard  to  the  rules  that 
should  govern  the  admission  of  cattle  to  the 
Herd  Book,  we  attended  the  Herefordshire  Ag- 
ricultural Show  that  was  held  at  Abergavenny, 
England,  in  June,  1883.  During  this  show  the 
Hereford  Herd  Book  Society  held  its  annual 
meeting.  It  was  held  in  the  committee  room 
on  the  show  grounds.  Mr.  J.  H.  Arkwright 
presided.  After  the  report  of  the  Secretary, 
Mr.  S.  W.  Urwick,  other  business  was  trans- 
acted and  the  Society  had  its  attention  called 
to  the  rules  governing  the  admission  of  cattle 
to  the  Herd  Book. 

Mr.  Miller  (America)  said  he  had  been  re- 
quested by  the  American  Hereford  Cattle 
Breeders'  Association  to  seek  an  interview  with 
the  Council  of  the  Hereford  Herd  Book  So- 
ciety, to  see  if  some  arrangement  could  be  made 
so  that  the  pedigree  entries  of  cattle  in  the 
Herd  Books  published  by  both  societies  might 
be  made  to  correspond.  He  would  be  very  glad 
to  meet  the  members  of  the  Council  to  consider 
the  question. 

Mr.  Chairman:    "Have  we  your  book?" 

Mr.  Miller:  "Yes,  I  sent  a  copy  to  each 
member  of  your  editing  committee,  I  believe. 


There  were  two  volumes."  The  Chairman  said 
he  "had  not  received  a  copy."  He  "should 
think  that  the  proposed  conference  would  be 
very  desirable." 

Mr.  Miller  said  he  "did  not  know  exactly 
what  the  rules  of  the  Society  were,  but  in  the 
Association  to  which  he  belonged  four  crosses 
for  dams  and  five  for  bulls  were  laid  down, 
while  in  England  it  was  only  three  crosses  for 
dams  and  four  for  bulls.  He  wished  to  confer 
with  the  Council  to  see  if  a  uniform  arrange- 
ment could  not  be  made.  The  members  of  the 
Association  desired  to  know,  not  only  that  an 
animal  was  thoroughbred,  but  how,  and  why  it 
was  thoroughbred.  He  would  like  to  obtain  the 
views  of  the  Hereford  Council  upon  these  mat- 
ters, so  that  he  could  report  to  the  Association." 

The  Chairman  said  that  "when  the  Society 
began,  a  mistaken  interpretation  was  put  upon 
one  of  the  rules.  When  the  mistake  was  found 
out,  they  went  back  to  the  strict  interpretation 
of  the  rule,  so  that 
the  Society  had  not 
reduced  the  stand- 
ard." 

Mr.  Miller 
thought  that  "it 
would  be  eminent- 
ly advisable  for 
the  two  societies 
to  be  in  accord  in 
this  matter." 

The  Chairman : 
"We  tried  it  once, 
but  we  were  beat- 
en. However,  I 
will  propose  that 
we  have  a  special  THOMAS  SMITH, 

meeting."         Mr.  Crete,  in. 

Robinson  proposed  that  it  should  be  a  general 
meeting  of  the  members.  The  Chairman:  "I 
think  the  Council  should  consider  it  first  and 
then  it  should  be  referred  to  a  general  meeting 
of  the  members."  Mr.  A.  Rogers  seconded  the 
resolution,  and  it  was  carried. 

The  Society  had  their  annual  dinner,  after 
getting  through  with  their  business,  under  a 
monster  tent.  The  dinner  was  very  largely  at- 
'tended.  After  this  they  proceeded  with  the 
toasts  and  speeches,  which,  as  usual  on  such  oc- 
casions, were  large  in  number  and  long  in  dura- 
tion. 


252 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     0  A T  T  L  E 


CHAPTER  XXL 

CATTLE  FRAUDS — COMPARATIVE  TREATMENT  IN  ENGLAND  AND  AMERICA 


(ft  157)  Taking  the  general  proposition 
that  the  Shorthorns  won  the  sweepstakes  in 
both  1879  and  1880,  it  would  carry  much  weight 
for  the  breed  if  none  of  the  facts  in  connection 
with  it  were  known,  but  when  the  age  and 
breeding  of  the  winning  animal  is  made  a  mat- 
ter of  record  it  will  modify  very  much  the 
credit  to  be  given  for  this  award. 

The  sweepstakes  steer  at  Chicago  Fat  Stock 
Show  for  1879  was  shown  as  a  three-year-old 
thoroughbred  Shorthorn  and  called  "Nichols." 
It  appeared  later  from  a  statement  from  Mr. 
J.  W.  Prescott,  of  North  Middletown,  Ky.,  in 
the  "National  Live  Stock  Journal/'  that  he  was 
the  get  of  a  bull  without  pedigree,  or  known 
descent,  costing  $40  at  eighteen  months  old  and 
out  of  a  grade  cow.  The  steer  was  sold  October 
3,  '78,  weighing  1,464  pounds,  and  said  to  be, 
at  that  time,  three  years  old.  He  was  shown 
in  November,  '79,  as  being  dropped  March  15, 
'76,  in  the  three-year-old-  class,  weighing  2,060 
pounds,  as  a  thoroughbred  Shorthorn. 

This  steer  won  in  three-year-old  class  of 
thoroughbred  Shorthorns,  in  the  sweepstakes 
ring  for  three-year-olds,  the  best  of  any  breed, 
and  for  the  best  beast  in  the  show  of  any  age  or 
breed,  and  the  "National  Live  Stock  Journal" 
cup. 

In  three-year-old  classes  he  was  not  entitled 
to  show,  and  the  question  would  turn  upon  his 
merit,  considering  his  age,  as  to  whether  he  was 
entitled  to  the  awards  as  the  best  beast  in  the 
show.  As  a  three-year-old,  he  would  be  entitled 
to  the  first  place  considering  his  maturity  and 
ripeness,  but  being  a  four-year-old  he  was  not 
entitled  to  the  first  place  in  either  class. 

This  Kentucky  steer  Nichols,  shown  at  the 
Fat  Stock  Show  in  1879  as  a  thoroughbred 
Shorthorn,  three-year-old,  taking  the  first  prize 
in  his  class,  taking  the  sweepstakes  prize  for  the 
best  three-year-old  of  any  breed,  and  taking  the 
champion  prize  as  the  best  beast  in  the  show, 
was  shown  in  1880  as  a  grade  Shorthorn,  four 
years  old  (ff  158). 

So  far  as  we  are  informed,  these  awards  stand 
without  a  challenge  or  question  by  the  Illinois 
State  Board  of  Agriculture  with  the  following 
testimony  on  record : 

J.  W.  Prescott  sold  this  steer  to  Mr.  Daniel 


Nichols,  October  3,  1878,  weight,  1,464  Ibs., 
and  as  about  two  years  and  a  half  old.  The 
steer  was  bred  by  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Grimes,  now 
Mrs.  Prescott.  When  Mr.  Prescott  told  his  wife 
what  age  he  had  given,  she  then  told  him  that 
the  steer  was  a  three-year-old,  (fl  159) 

On  the  show  ground  in  1880,  Doctor  Paaren 
examined  his  mouth,  with  other  parties,  and 
pronounced  the  steer,  from  such  examination, 
to  be  nearer  six  years  old  than  five  years  old. 
When  he  was  exhibited  as  a  three-year-old 
thoroughbred  he  was  called  by  the  exhibitor  a 
"Young  Mary,"  but  when  pressed  to  show  his 
pedigree,  the  breeders'  certificate  simply  stated 
that  he  was  a  thoroughbred, got  by  a  Shorthorn 
bull  out  of  a  "Seventeen  cow."  This  breeder's 
certificate  was  probably  (ff  160)  from  Mr. 
Nichols,  who  never  bred  him  at  all,  and  the 
statement  that  he  was  a  "Young  Mary"  steer 
was  made  by  Mr.  Graves,  the  exhibitor  of  the 
steer  in  1879. 

This  is  substantially  the  record  of  the  steer 
as  revealed  by  apparently  reliable  testimony. 
On  this  record  the  steer  had  no  right  on  the 
show  ground  in  1879  or  1880,  as  we  will  en- 
deavor to  show. 

His  first  winning  in  1879  was  as  a  three- 
year-old  thoroughbred;  he  was  a  four-year-old 
and  a  grade. 

His  second  winning  was  in  the  sweepstakes, 
he  being  four  years  old,  his  competitor  three 
years  old.  He  had  no  right  in  this  class. 

His  third  winning  was  in  the  grand  sweep- 
stakes for  best  animal  in  the  show.  In  this 
class  any  age  or  breed  had  a  right  to  show.  Had 
this  steer  been  a  three-year-old  of  his  weight 
and  finish  the  award  might  have  been  properly 
made,  but  being  a  four-year-old,  weighing  2,060 
pounds,  the  probabilities  are  that  if  shown  at 
his  proper  age  he  would  not  have  won.  But 
having  shown  under  a  misrepresentation,  as  to 
breeding  and  age,  he  had  no  right  to  his  win- 
nings of  1879.  This  being  true,  the  first  pre- 
mium given  to  him  as  the  best  three-year-old 
thoroughbred  Shorthorn  should  have  been  taken 
from  him  and  given  to  John  B.  Sherman  for 
"Eddie  Morris,"  or  to  F.  W.  Hunt,  for  "Thad 
Stevens,"  and  the  grand  sweepstakes  should 
have  been  taken  from  him  and  placed  on  some 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


253 


other  steer,  if  the  Board  could  determine.  It 
should  have  been  given  to  one  of  the  first  pre- 
mium animals  in  the  classes;  if  this  could  not 
have  been  determined,  it  should  have  been  held 
for  some  special  meritorious  animal. 

The  above  is  a  fair  statement  in  reference  to 
this  steer  for  his  record  in  1879.  On  this  rec- 
ord we  would  claim  that  he  should  have  had  no 
standing  in  the  exhibition  of  1880,  and  it  was 
on  this  record  that  G.  M.  Culbertson  and  T.  L. 
Miller  made  their  protest  against  his  being 
shown  at  the  show  in  1880. 

In  reference  to  the  entry  and  the  action  of 
the  Board  in  admitting  him  to  compete  for  the 
champion  prize  in  1880,  the  Board  placed 
themselves  in  a  position  where  their  action 
was  a  proper  subject  for  criticism. 

The  steer  was  entered  in  1880  as  a  four-year- 
old,  while  Mrs.  Prescott,  who  bred  the  steer, 
says  he  was  a  five-year-old,  and  Dr.  Paaren, 
supported  by  others  (j[  161),  says  he  was  nearer 
six  years  old.  The  testimony  of  J.  W.  Prescott, 
until  it  shall  be  disproved,  was  sufficient  war- 
ranty for  rejecting  the  animal  from  entering 
for  the  champion  prize  in  1880.  Especially  is 
this  true  when  Dr.  Paaren  was  selected  by  the 
Board  to  determine  the  ages  of  the  animals  on 
exhibition. 

It  is  clear  that  an  animal  may  be,  for  a  two- 
year-old,  in  his  weight,  character  and  quality, 
the  best  animal  in  this  class  or  in  the  show,  but 
if  the  animal  has  another  year  on  him  and  has 
the  same  weight,  character  and  quality  he  would 
not  be  the  best  animal  in  the  class  or  in  the 
show.  The  fact  is  self-evident ;  for  at  the  Smith- 
field  Show  in  London  in  1879  the  champion 
prize  went  to  a  two-year-old,  not  because  he  was 
the  best  steer  or  best  animal  in  the  show  with- 
out regard  to  age,  but  considering  his  age  he 
was  the  best  animal  in  the  show. 

The  protest  against  this  steer  secured  another 
verdict,  and  that  was  that  the  grade  Hereford 
steer,  two-year-old,  belonging  to  T.  L.  Miller 
was  the  best  steer  in  the  show  if  the  Nichols 
steer  was  ineligible. 

There  is  no  reasonable  doubt  but  that  the 
Nichols  steer  was  over  five  years  old,  weighing 
2,465.  The  two-year-old  Hereford  was  three 
years  younger  and  weighed  1,845  pounds,  and 
his  carcass  was  worth  as  much  (or  more)  on  the 
block  as  the  Nichols  steer.  The  grade  Here- 
ford steer  here  mentioned,  Conqueror,  was  the 
best  of  the  six  two-year-old  Hereford  steers  ex- 
hibited by  us.  There  was  not  an  uneven  spot  in 
him ;  he  was  evenly  covered  by  thick,  firm  flesh. 

Why  did  the  Illinois  State  Board  accept  this 
steer  Nichols  as  a  four-year-old  and  permit  him 
to  be  exhibited  as  such  ?  Did  they  require  the 


cancellation  of  the  awards  on  the  animals  to 
which,  of  a  right,  they  belonged?  Why  did 
they  permit  the  steer  Nichols — when  the  ex- 
hibitor did  not  know  how  old  he  was,  and  Mrs. 
Prescott  had  said  he  wa's  dropped  in  1875 — 
permit  him  to  show  as  a  four-year-old?  Why 
did  the  Board  go  on  and  publish  the  cut  of  this 
Nichols  steer,  and  the  reports  of  the  commit- 
tee, when  they  had  the  evidence  before  them 
that  he  had  been  shown  under  fraudulent  repre- 
sentation ? 

It  would  have  been  difficult  for  the  Board  to 
explain  their  actions  in  this  matter  in  a  way 
that  would  have  satisfied  the  public  or  compet- 
ing exhibitors.  The  facts  in  reference  to  his 
breeding  and  age  which  disproved  every  state- 
ment of  the  exhibitor  were  before  the  Board  be- 
fore their  report  was  published,  and  their  atten- 
tion was  called  to  these  facts;  still  the  report 
was  made  and  no  reference  made  to  the  misrep- 
resentation. This  thoroughbred  of  1879  was 
permitted  to  exhibit  as  a  four-year-old  grade  in 
1880,  when  satisfactory  evidence  was  before 
them  that  he  was  a  five-year-old. 

To  show  how  the  English  courts  of  law  looked 
at  a  similar  matter  (fl  162)  of  false  pretenses,  or 
of  selling  an  animal  with  a  false  pedigree,  it 
will  be  well  to  read  carefully  the  trial  of  "All- 
sop  vs.  Hopkins,"  in  England,  for  damages  re- 
sulting from  the  sale  of  a  Shorthorn  bull,  with 
fraudulent  pedigree.  Mr.  Stavely  Hill,  the  at- 
torney for  the  plaintiff,  in  stating  his  case  to 
the -court  and  jury,  gave  the  following  defini- 
tion of  the  origin  of  the  Shorthorn  breed  and 
of  the  English 
Shorthorn  Herd 
Book.  We  repro- 
duce this  report 
because  it  gives  a 
clear,  concise  state- 
ment of  the  origin 
and  character  of 
the  Shorthorn 
breed  of  cattle. 

"Mr.  Stavely 
Hill,  in  opening 
the  case  to  the 
jury,  after  refer- 
ring to  the  import- 
ant issues  raised 
by  the  pleading, 
proceeded  to  give- 
an  interesting  ac- 
count of  the  origin  of  the  Shorthorn  breed, 
and  of  the  Herd  Book  kept  by  the  society. 
He  pointed  out  that  towards  the  close  of  the 
last  century  some  experienced  farmers  had  no- 
ticed that  the  breed  of  large  cattle  in  the  south 


J.    B.    GREEN, 
Marlow,    Herefordshire. 


254 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEKEFOKD  CATTLE 


G.  H.  GREEN, 

Of  the  firm  of  J.  B.  &  G.  H.  Green, 
Marlow,   Herefordshire. 


of  Durham  and  in  the  north  of  Yorkshire  had 
capabilities  of  great  improvement,  so  as  to  ren- 
der them  more  valuable  for  dairy  purposes,  and 
at  the  same  time  that  they  would  have  greater 
capabilities  for  putting  on  flesh.  With  this 
view  Messrs.  Colling  of  Ketton  and  Mr.  Bates 
of  Kirklevington  crossed  their  breed;  the  one, 
it  is  said,  with  a  polled  Galloway  and  the  other 

with  a  Kylo,  or 
West  Highlander 
(  fl  1  6  3  )  —  and 
after  several  ju- 
dicious crosses 
succeeded  in  pro- 
ducing the  pres- 
ent best  establish- 
ed and  illustrious 
families  of  the 
Shorthorn  tribe. 
It  would  be  clear 
that  this  breed 
must  be  consider- 
ed an  artificial 
breed,  and  there 
would  be  a  ten- 
dency to  breed 
back  to  the  older 
breed,  which 
would  take  every  opportunity  of  reasserting  it- 
self ;  and,  undoubtedly,  if  left  to  a  state  of  na- 
ture those  points  of  the  animal  which  might 
be  called  its  natural  characteristics  would  reap- 
pear, while  the  Shorthorn  points  would  in  pro- 
portion be  lost.  In  these  circumstances  it  was 
necessary  to  keep  a  constant  watch  with  a  view 
to  eliminate  any  reappearance  of  the  older 
breed  displaying  itself,  either  by  a  dark  nose 
or  a  straight  horn  or  other  characteristics,  and 
to  keep  for  breeding  purposes  only  those  ani- 
mals which  showed  the  permanent  Shorthorn 
features,  and  for  this  purpose  the  Herd  Book 
has  been  established  as  a  register  of  those  ani- 
mals which  might  be  relied  on  by  the  breeder 
to  maintain  the  character  of  the  tribe.  The  bull 
in  question  in  this  action,  professed  to  be  a  bull 
of  five  crosses,  and  to  be  thus  eligible  for  entry 
in  the  Herd  Book;  and  the  learned  counsel  il- 
lustrated the  difference  there  would  be  between 
the  produce  of  such  an  animal  and  an  animal 
such  as  that  he  should  prove  the  bull  really  to 
be,  viz.,  one  got  by  a  pedigree  bull  upon  a  dairy 
cow,  by  pointing  out  that  in  the  latter  there 
would  be  much  doubtful  blood  as  would  amount 
— to  illustrate  by  means  of  a  chess  board — to 
one-half  of  the  board,  while  in  the  former 
the  doubtful  blood  would  be  equivalent  only 
to  one  square,  or  one-sixty-fourth  of  the  board." 
Those  who  have  used  the  Shorthorns  to  cross 


upon  other  breeds  will  recognize  the  truth  of 
the  attorney's  statement  when  he  says: 

"It  will  be  clear  that  this  breed  of  cattle 
must  be  considered  an  artificial  breed,  and 
there  will  be  a  tendency  to  breed  back  to  the 
older  breed,  which  would  take  every  oppor- 
tunity of  reasserting  itself;  and,  undoubtedly, 
if  left  to  a  state  of  nature,  those  points  of  the 
animal  which  might  be  called  its  natural  char- 
acteristics would  reappear,  while  the  Short- 
horn points  would  in  proportion  be  lost." 

In  the  action  referred  to,  Mr.  Allsop  ob- 
tained judgment  for  $3,750,  which  was  not 
only  the  direct  damages,  but  the  constructive 
damages  for  the  produce  of  a  bull  in  the  herd 
of  Mr.  Allsop,  being  the  difference  between  the 
value  of  the  calves  by  this  bull,  and  what  the 
value  would  have  been  had  he  been  what  he 
was  represented  to  be. 

•The  bull  in  question  had  been  shown  at  the 
Birmingham  Animal  Show  in  March,  1875,  as 
a  thoroughbred;  when  these  facts,  brought  out 
in  the  trial,  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Bir- 
mingham society,  that  society  commenced  an 
action  against  Mr.  Hopkins,  which  was  tried 
at  Warwick  Assizes,  February  18,  before  Lord 
Chief  Justice  Cockburn;  of  which  we  present 
the  following  report: 

"His  lordship  having  summed  up,  the  jury 
retired  to  consider  their  verdict  at  half-past 
four,  and  shortly  after,  returned  into  Court 
with  a  verdict  of  guilty,  and  his  lordship,  in 
sentencing  the  prisoner,  says:  The  jury  have 
found  you  guilty  of  obtaining  £20  ($100), 
given  by  the  Agricultural  Society  for  the  ex- 
hibition of  the  best  animal  in  the  class.  I 
think  it  is  a  pity  to  see  a  young  man  of  your 
respectability  and  position,  standing  convicted 
of  fraud,  yet  I  do  not  think  the  jury  could 
have  arrived  at  any  other  conclusion.  You 
possessed,  no  doubt,  a  very  fine  animal,  but 
then  you  had  no  pedigree,  and  by  the  condi- 
tions of  the  exhibition  you  were  not  entitled 
to  take  a  prize.  You  manufactured  a  pedigree 
— that  no  reasonable  man  can  doubt.  A  man 
who  does  that  to  gain  a  prize,  gains  that  prize 
by  false  pretenses,  and  he  robs  not  only  the 
society,  but  the  man  who  ought  to  have  taken 
the  prize,  just  the  same  as  if  it  were  taken  out 
of  his  pocket.  If  you  were  not  sensible  that 
this  was  a  dishonest  transaction,  then  I  am 
sorry  for  you,  for  you  did  not  properly  appre- 
ciate the  turpitude  of  the  act.  That  it  was 
robbing  another  competitor  is  the  real  nature 
of  the  case,  and  if  such  frauds  were  allowed 
to  go  on  unpunished  there  would  be  an  end 
to  open  and  honest  competition.  The  jury 
have  recommended  you  to  mercy,  and  I  take 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


255 


that  into  consideration.  A  sentence  of  three 
months  at  hard  labor  is  the  lightest  sentence  I 
can  pass  upon  you." 

It  is  well  to  note  here  that  the  Birmingham 
Society  did  not  sit  tamely  down  and  let  the 
exhibitor  of  this  bull  come  back  to  their  show 
the  next  year  and  carry  off  the  Sweepstake 
prize;  but  commenced  an  action  against  Mr. 
Hopkins,  and  put  a  stop  to  his  further  depre- 
dations. 

The  "Century"  for  February,  1881,  discusses 
the  different  methods  now  in  vogue,  by  which 
parties  take  that  which  does  not  belong  to 
them.  They  say:  "He  who  takes  by  stealth  what 
belongs  to  another,  is  a  thief.  He  who  takes 
by  violence  is  a  robber,  and  a  robber  is  properly 
supposed  to  disappear  with  other  predatory 
animals  before  the  progress  of  civilization. 
But  this  is  a  superficial  judgment.  The  force 
that  unlawfully  dispossesses  men  of  their  prop- 
erty, passes  through  many  transformations,  but 
no  force  is  more  persistent.  Men  are  plundered 
nowadays,  plundered  in  America,  more  than 
in  England  in  the  days  of  Robin  Plood.  There 
are  men  among  us,  beside  whose  robberies, 
those  of  the  brigands  of  Italy  and  Greece,  and 
the  Bedouins  of  the  desert  are  merely  pleas- 
antries. Of  all  the  triumphs  of  invention,  none 
are  more  wonderful  than  that  by  which  the 
hard  earned  gains  of  millions  are  forcibly  con- 
veyed to  the  treasuries  of  the  robber  princes. 
No  business  is  more  highly  organized,  more 
stealthily  pursued,  more  successfully  managed 
than  the  business  of  robbery.  Yet  under  all 
this  elaboration  of  method,  it  is  robbery;  and 
nothing  worse  or  better.  The  peculiarity  of 
the  modern  method  of  robbery,  is  the  employ- 
ment by  robbers  of  the  state,  as  their  enforced 
agent  and  accomplice." 

The  "Century"  here  opens  and  develops  meth- 
ods that  are  of  interest  to  us  in  the  discussion 
of  the  live  stock  interests  of  America. 

We  have  called  attention  to  the  fact,  that 
about  sixty  years  ago,  the  Shorthorn  influence, 
or,  using  the  term  of  the  "Century,"  "Shorthorn 
robbers,"  used  the  English  Society,  termed  the 
Society  for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful  Knowledge, 
as  their  enforced  agent  and  accomplice,  and  as 
an  endorser  for  their  schemes.  Ten  years  later 
they  used  the  State  of  New  York  as  their  en- 
forced agent  and  accomplice — or  as  an  en- 
dorser. Later  they  used  the  State  of  Illinois. 
In  November,  1880,  standing  under  the  author- 
ity of  the  State  of  Illinois,  as  President  of  the 
State  Agricultural  Society,  the  President  per- 
mitted these  Shorthorn  robbers  to  fraudu- 
lently enter  and  exhibit  their  animals,  and 
under  these  fraudulent  exhibits,  take  money 
that  did  not  belong  to  them,  and  statistics 


were  published  under  the  authority  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  based  upon  fraudulent  data. 
The  "Century"  closes  the  article,  from  which 
we  have  quoted,  by  saying:  "What  have 
the  people  to  say  about  these  practices?  They 
do  not  appear  as  yet  to  have  anything  to  say. 
The  robber  princes  are  held  in  high  esteem, 
they  go  about  to  the  colleges,  some  of  them, 
and  doctors  of  law  and  doctors  of  divinity 
grovel  at  their  feet.  If  any  Mordecai  has  re- 
fused to  bow  down  before  them,  his  name  has 
not  been  reported.  Men  whose  riches  have 
been  increased  by  spoiling  their  neighbors,  are 
held  up  as  shining  examples  for  the  imitation 
of  youth.  So  long  as  teachers  silently  endure 
such  iniquities,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that 
the  people  will  cry  out  against  them.  But  the 
day  is  sure  to  come  when  plain  men  will  clearly 
see  that  no  man  can  get  with  clean  hands  in 
an  ordinary  lifetime  a  hundred  of  million  of 
dollars.  That  such  an  enormous  pile  so  sud- 
denly collected  must  be  loot,  not  profit.  That 
will  be  a  day  of  reckoning  indeed,  for  the  rob- 
bers and  for  the  judges,  and  for  legislators  and 
public  teachers  who 
have  been  their  ac- 
complices. In  the 
meantime  these 
facts  are  to  be 
borne  in  mind,  for 
we  have  among  us 
a  class  of  men, 
who  in  their  rapac- 
ity, are  bound  on 
enriching  them- 
selves  by  forcibly 
seizing  the  proper- 
ty of  their  neigh- 
bors ;  and  they  have 
learned  how  to 
use,  for  this  pur- 
pose, the  organized 
force  of  the  state.  Some  means  must  be 
found  of  putting  a  stop  to  them.  Unless  this 
be  done  speedily  the  respect  for  law,  on 
which  social  order  rests,  will  not  long  sur- 
vive." The  writer  whom  we  here  quote,  had 
in  mind,  when  writing,  that  class  of  operations 
known  as  star  route  frauds,  but  it  is  equally 
applicable  to  the  cattle  ring,  that  organize  their 
interest  under  the  authority  of  the  state  and  un- 
der this  authority  organize  their  society  and 
shows,  select  judges  in  their  interest,  and  pub- 
lish the  awards  rendered  by  such  judges,  as  an 
evidence  of  merit  in  their  cattle,  or  standing  be- 
tween fraudulent  entries  and  a  proper  investi- 
gation in  regard  to  them.  There  is  a  growing 
demand  throughout  the  country  that  these  and 
similar  frauds  shall  be  exposed. 


JOHN  PRICE, 

Of  Court  House,  Herefordshire. 


256 


H1STOEY     OF    HEEEFOED    CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  "BREEDERS'  JOURNAL" 


The  amount  of  opposition  that  the  Hereford 
breed  of  cattle  encountered,  during  their  up- 
ward march  to  popularity,  in  America,  can  be 
but  faintly  imagined,  indeed,  it  does  not  seem 
possible  at  this  day  that  the  agricultural  and 
stock  journals  were  so  completely  dominated 
by  the  Shorthorn  men  prior  to  1880. 

We  were,  from  the  commencement  of  our 
experience  in  breeding  Hereford  cattle,  liberal 
advertisers  in  the  live  stock  journals,  and  while 
this,  to  some  extent,  opened  their  columns  to 
us,  to  advocate  the  cause  of  the  Herefords,  we 
were  continually  handicapped  by  their  desire 
to  do  or  say  nothing  to  offend  their  Shorthorn 
customers. 

The  following  quotation,  taken  from  the 
"National  Live  Stock  Journal,"  shows  the 
standard  by  which  the  editor  of  that  journal 
measured  merit.  It  evidently  refers  to  the 
Herefords  as  a  meritorious,  but  not  widely 
popular  breed  of  cattle,  and  takes  the  ground, 
by  implication,  that  the  Shorthorns  are  the 
best  breed,  mainly,  because  they  are  so  popu- 
lar. The  article  referred  to,  says:  "In  con- 
versation with  an  intelligent  and  enthusiastic 
breeder  of  a  meritorious,  but  not  'widely  popu- 
lar5 breed  of  stock  (and  here  we  give  formal 
notice,  that  we  frankly  decline  inviting  criti- 
cism, by  being  more  special),  we  frankly  told 
him  that  as  far  as  money  making  was  con- 
cerned, we  should  advise  him  to  select  a  more 
popular  breed.  If  he  desired  to  do  the  most  he 
could  for  his  neighbors  and  the  agriculture  of 
his  country,  his  course  would  naturally  be  de- 
termined by  his  belief,  that  his  favorite  breed 
was  the  best  for  farmers  generally.  The  breed 
in  question  has  been  in  this  country  for  at  least 
half  a  century,  but  is  little  more  known  now 
than  it  was  twenty  years  ago.  Our  friend  ad- 
mitted the  facts,  but  marveled  at  the  obtuse- 
ness  of  the  farmers.  If  any  breed  has  been 
and  continues  to  be,  popular  and  fashionable 
over  a  wide  region  of  country,  it  is  useless  to 
deny  it  the  possession  of  substantial  merits. 
The  Shorthorns  have,  for  instance,  had  their 


popularity  greatly  helped  in  many  ways,  but 
had  it  not  been  for  substantial  merit,  this  breed 
could  not,  by  any  combination  of  influences, 
have  been  made  to  gain  and  retain  so  wide- 
spread a  popularity. 

"It  is  quite  within  the  possibilities,  however, 
that  some  other  breed,  which  has  not  been  so 
skillfully  handled,  is  a  better  one  for  general 
use  than  the  Shorthorns.  It  now  strikes  us 
we  should  let  their  work  speak  for  them,  rather 
than  to  indulge  in  reasoning  to  show  what  they 
ought  to  do.  If  they  were  mainly  fitted  for 
beef  production,  we  should  try  to  make  good 
exhibits  at  fat  stock  shows." 

This  standard  of  merit  would  not  do  for  the 
Hereford.  In  our  contest  for  recognition,  we 
were  compelled  to  call  things  by  their  right 
names,  and  if  gross  injustice  was  done  to  so 
characterize  it. 

The  "Breeders'  Gazette"  was  established  in 
1881,  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Sanders,  a  year  after  we 
established  the  "Breeders'  Journal."  In  their 
first  number,  Mr.  Sanders  gave  the  keynote,  as 
to  the  stand  the  "Gazette"  would  take,  in  refer- 
ence to  breeds  of  cattle.  It  is  as  follows: 
"While  the  Herefords,  Devons,  Jerseys,  Hoi- 
steins,  Polled  Angus,  Ayrshires  and  other  breeds 
of  cattle  will  each  receive  due  attention  and  fair 
treatment  in  our  columns,  yet  it  cannot  be  de- 
nied that  there  are  ten  men  interested  in  Short- 
horns to  where  there  is  one  engaged  in  breed- 
ing any  other  variety.  And  recognizing  this 
very  general  distribution  of  Shorthorn  blood 
throughout  the  country,  we  shall  endeavor  to 
make  "The  Breeders'  Gazette"  indispensable  to 
the  breeders  of  that  strain  of  cattle.  We  shall 
keep  a  vigilant  eye  upon  the  business  in  the 
States,  Canada  and  England,  and  shall  always 
have  the  latest  possible  Shorthorn  news.  The 
Book  (Shorthorn)  question  will  receive  due  at- 
tention, and  the  views  of  many  of  our  leading 
breeders  will  be  published  through  our  col- 
umns. Valuable  historical  sketches  of  the 
various  tribes  to  be  found  in  the  herds  of 
America  will  appear  from  time  to  time,  and  a 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFOED     CATTLE 


257 


series  of  articles  on  the  celebrated  bulls  of  the 
past  is  now  in  course  of  preparation.  While 
thus  incurring  great  expense  in  order  to  make 
a  Shorthorn  department  unequaled  by  any  of 
our  contemporaries,  we  feel  sure  that  we  shall 
command  warm  enough  support  to  justify  the 
outlay.  At  least,  we  shall  strive  to  deserve  it." 

If  the  Hereford  cattle  were  to  succeed,  there 
must  be  a  way  provided,  so  that  they  could 
break  down  the  opposition  to  them,  by  letting 
it  be  known  broadcast  over  the  United  States, 
their  true  merits;  and  also  the  facts  as  to 
manipulated  shows,  and  have  an  advocate  de- 
voted to  their  interests.  Not  because  they  were 
Herefords,  but  because  they  were  the  most 
economical  feeders  and  best  beef  cattle  that 
could  be  obtained,  either  on  grass  or  in  the 
stall. 

To  meet  this  want,  we  commenced  the  pub- 
lication of  "The  Breeders'  Journal,"  the  first 
number  being  issued  March,  1880. 

Our  opening  keynote  was  as  follows:  "The 
Breeders'  Journal"  will  be  published  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  meat  production  of  America,  the 
world  as  a  market.  Economy  of  production 
and  value  of  product  being  the  test  of  merit; 
and  will  rest  its  claims  to  public  favor  on  the 
merit  of  these  issues,  and  the  ability  with  which 
they  shall  be  maintained." 

We  claim  that  we  took  much  broader  ground 
than  did  our  competitors  in  this  line. 

The  "Breeders'  Journal"  was  a  success  as 
long  as  we  published  it,  being  until  the  close 
of  1887;  and  was  of  the  greatest  assistance  in 
placing  the  Herefords  before  the  public. 


Mr.  Sanders  was  editor  of  the  "National 
Live  Stock  Journal"  before  he  established  the 
"Breeders'  Gazette,"  and  his  sympathies  and 
the  sympathies  of  his  son  who  succeeded  him, 
have  always  been  with  the  Shorthorn  breeders. 
Flinging  the  standard  which  we  quoted  de- 
fiantly to  the  breeze,  was  to  our  mind  manly, 
but  after  flaunting  the  Shorthorn  flag  in  this 
emphatic  way,  there  was  little  excuse  for  the 
"Gazette's  "  contemptuous  flings  at  the  "Breed- 
ers' Journal"  as  being  a  "trade  circular." 

If  the  "Breeders'  Journal"  was  a  Hereford 
trade,  paper,  the  "Breeders'  Gazette"  jealously 
guarded  its  reputation  as  being  the  Shorthorn 
breeders'  own  and  only  real,  authorized,  re- 
vised version  of  the  Shorthorn  trade  journal. 

An  editor,  like  any  other  man,  may — 
probably  must — have  his  preferences,  and  for 
these  we  should  not  criticise  them.  It  is  only 
when  they  deny  their  partiality,  and  forgetfully 
cry  aloud  their  fairness  and  their  equal  treat- 
ment of  all  breeds  that  they  merit  criticism, 
and  then  we  have  not  spared  them. 

When  an  equal  amount  of  money,  time  and 
labor  is  spent  by  an  agricultural  publication  to 
'gather,  edit  and  publish  data  for  the  Hereford 
breed,  as  it  expends  or  has  spent  on  the  Short- 
horn breed,  then  we  shall  believe  in  the  impar- 
tiality of  their  editors,  and  not  before.  And  in 
this  connection  we  can  say  to  the  impartial 
student  that  a  study  of  Hereford  history  and 
achievements,  will  be  found  a  subject  surpass- 
ing in  interest  and  antiquity  that  of  any  other 
line  of  investigation  open  to  the  explorer  of 
live  stock  lore. 


T.  LEWIS, 

Of     "The     Woodhouse," 
Herefordshire. 


258 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  SHORTHORN  MEN  ENDEAVOR  TO  GET  DOWN  EASY 


.  Those  who  remember  the  grade  Hereford 
steer  "Conqueror"  will  say  that  he  was  a  most 
wonderful  animal.  We  propose  to  give  some 
of  the  matter  that  was  written  about  him  and 
our  other  show  steers,  as  we  think  that  the 
Hereford  steers  exhibited  in  the  years  1879, 
1880,  1881,  and  later  were  largely  conducive 
to  the  pronounced  success  of  the  Hereford 
breed  of  cattle. 

The  show  of  Herefords  made  at  the  Fat 
Stock  Show,  Chicago  (1880),  was  made  by  C. 
M.  Culbertson,  G.  S.  Burleigh  and  myself.  Mr. 
C.  had  one  pair  of  steers  that  he  bought,  but 
the  rest  were  his  own  breeding.  We  made  our 
show  of  our  own  breeding.  The  cow  "Maid  of 
Orleans"  was  only  three  years  old  and  weighed 
1,750  pounds.  Our  six  two-year-old  steers, 
two  thoroughbreds  and  four  grades,  were  short 
two-year-olds  and  weighed  from  1,600  to 
1,845  pounds  each,  off  the  cars.  These  animals 
were  all  the  get  of  the  old  imported  bull  "Suc- 
cess." The  "Maid  of  Orleans"  was  put  up  to 
feed  in  May,  and  made,  up  to  the  time  of  the 
show,  500  pounds.  The  two  heaviest  two-year- 
olds  made  in  eleven  months,  800  and  850 
pounds. 

Mr.  Burleigh's  were  his  own  breeding  and 
feeding.  Mr.  Gillette  and  Mr.  Moninger  had 
each  entered  a  yearling  for  slaughter,  but  re- 
fused to  kill.  The  steer  "Conqueror"  was 
dropped  on  or  about  the  first  of  August,  1878, 
being  at  the  time  that  he  was  exhibited  in  1880, 
27  months  old,  weighing  1,845  pounds.  The  en- 
tire lot  was  choice,  one  of  which  was  slaugh- 
tered at  the  show  and  another  went  to  Detroit, 
where  he  was  slaughtered  by  Messrs.  Smith  & 
Co.  The  other  four  returned  to  Beecher  to  be 
held  for  another  year. 

The  six  steers  and  "Maid  of  Orleans"  were 
sketched  by  Mr.  Dewey,  and  were  lithographed 
in  colors  with  the  old  bull  "Success,"  making 
a  group  of  eight  head,  being  the  old  bull  and 
several  of  his  get.  (See  color  plate.) 

The  steer  "Conqueror"  was  not  fed  until 
January,  1880,  with  more  than  ordinary  keep, 
and  at  fifteen  months  old,  did  not  weigh  over 
1,000  pounds.  He  had  never  been  kept  up, 


but  had  run  in  the  yard  and  pasture  until  that 
time.  He  was  taken  from  the  cow  and  raised 
on  the  pail  and  fed  corn  and  oats,  ground,  until 
beets  would  do  to  give,  when  he  had  some  of 
these  sliced  with  his  meal,  having  for  the  first 
six  months  some  oil  cake. 

The  "Mark  Lane  Express"  has  said  that  a 
Hereford  calf  cannot  be  taken  from  the  cow 
and  raised  on  the  pail,  without  detriment  to  the 
character  of  the  bullock.  Four  of  the  above- 
mentioned  six, bullocks  were  raised  on  the  pail 
and  two  on  the  cows.  We  recognize  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express"  as  one  of  the  ablest  and  fairest 
of  the  live  stock  journals,  but  think  some  of 
their  claims  are  based  on  customs,  rather  than 
on  facts.  We  should  have  been  very  glad  if 
we  could  have  placed  "Conqueror"  on  the 
Smithfield  show  ground,  not  with  the  entire 
confidence  that  we  should  win  there,  but  that 
we  might  have  compared  our  best  with  the 
best  of  England. 

Mr.  Burleigh's  yearlings  showed  early  ma- 
turity and  ripeness  to  perfection;  one  a  thor- 
oughbred, the  other  a  grade.  So  with  our 
grade,  which  took  the  sweepstakes  for  best 
yearling  in  the  show  and  the  "Farmer's  Re- 
view" gold  medal. 

This  exhibit  of  Herefords  should  have  gone 
far  to  settle  the  question  of  early  maturity,  and 
one  other,  that  is,  light  hind  quarters,  com- 
pared with  fore  quarters.  Still  another  charge 
of  the  Shorthorn  men  was  confuted,  to-wit: 
that  the  Herefords  were  small.  Of  the  three- 
year-olds  that  were  slaughtered,  the  Herefords 
were  over  three  hundred  pounds  heavier  than 
the  three-year-old  Shorthorn;  and  of  the  two- 
year-olds,  the  Hereford  was  one  hundred 
pounds  heavier  than  the  Shorthorn,  and  in 
both  classes  the  Herefords  had  the  advantage 
of  greater  live  weight. 

Another  thing  the  Shorthorn  exhibitors  and 
reporters  made  a  great  ado  about  was  the  forc- 
ing process  to  which  the  Herefords  had  been 
subjected;  they  claimed  that  "It  was  not  so 
much  a  contest  for  Herefords  against  Short- 
horns, as  it  was  skillful  feeding  and  forcing, 


HISTORY    OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


259 


against  the  methods  of  the  common  farmer." 
We  find  this  expression  in  the  "National  Live 
Stock  Journal,"  and  it  was  a  common  expres- 
sion among  the  Shorthorn  men  during  the 
show.  On  what  base  does  this  claim  stand? 
Simply  that  the  Herefords  were  the  hest  cattle, 
and  they  took  this  way  of  letting  themselves 
down  easily.  We  are  not  disposed  to  find  much 
fault  with  the  "National  Live  Stock  Journal" 
for  using  these  terms.  Their  report  was  gener- 
ally fair,  as  regards  this  show,  but  they  might 
have  gone  further  and  said  that  Cobb  &  Phil- 
lips had  a  pair  of  yearling  Shorthorns  that  they 
had  fed  on  gruel  and  milk  from  birth,  and  still 
a  Hereford  grade  of  Miller's  that  had  roughed 
it  all  his  life  until  two  months  before  the  show, 
beat  them  on  the  sweepstakes.  Let  us  see  who 
these  simple  farmers  were,  who  came  to  the 
show  with  their  cattle,  having  used  only  the 
methods  of  the  common  farmer. 

There  was  Mr.  Gillette,  a  "common  farmer," 
not  much  of  a  breeder,  not  skilled  (only  having 
had  about  forty  years'  experience,  with  only  a 
small  herd  to  choose  from — of  about  1,000  bul- 
locks), one  should  not  expect  much  of  him  (  ?) 
Then  there  was  Wm.  Sandusky  of  Catlin,  111.; 
he  was  only  a  "common  farmer,"  with  "com- 
mon farmer  methods."  Sure,  he  had  been  a 
Shorthorn  breeder  ever  since  he  was  old 
enough  to  do  anything,  breeding  thorough- 
breds, and  an  exhibitor  of  cattle,  for  we  don't 
know  how  long — perhaps  not  more  than  twenty 
years.  That  is  not  much  and  he  should  not 
have  learned  much  in  that  time  (?).  Then 
there  is  D.  M.  Moninger,  of  Albia,  la.,  another 
"common  farmer,"  with  a  "common  farmer's 
methods."  He  claimed  to  have  been  breeding 
and  exhibiting  Shorthorns  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  But  that  isn't  much;  a  man  appar- 
ently couldn't  learn  much  in  that  time;  he  ex- 
hibited a  show  of  fat  bullocks  at  the  Iowa  State 
Fair,  and  the  beauty  of  the  show  the  press 
extolled  throughout  the  breadth  of  the  land; 
he  selected  only  one  out  of  the  entire  Iowa 
show  to  bring  to  Chicago  (?).  There  was  John 
B.  Sherman,  General  Manager  of  the  Union 
Stock  Yards,  Chicago,  another  of  these  "com- 
mon farmers,"  who  fed  according  to  the 
"methods  of  the  common  farmer,"  and  nothing 
more.  Scrub  cattle  only,  they  ought  to  have 
said,  still,  Mr.  Sherman  had  been  picking  the 
choicest  animals  that  he  could  find;  had  a 
palace  of  a  stable — large,  roomy  boxes,  every 
comfort  and  convenience,  and  employed  an  ex- 
pert herdsman  from  Scotland  to  feed  them; 
just  "common  methods" — that  is  all  (?).  We 
had  forgotten:  Mr.  Sherman  did  buy  three 
yearling  steers  from  Brown  Bros.,  Sangamon, 


111. — "common  farmers,"  with  "methods  of  the 
common  farmer,"  whose  cattle  were  numbered 
by  hundreds  and  acres  by  thousands.  Bah! 
This  claim  at  this  day  is  so  utterly  silly  as  to 
be  unworthy  of  notice,  except  to  show  what 
lengths  a  subsidized  organ  could  go  in  its  ex- 
cuses for  the  cause  it  advocated. 

Then  there  was  Wm.  Scott'.  How  ridiculous 
to  term  him  a  common  farmer  with  common 
farmers'  methods.  He  bred  Shorthorns  and  ex- 
hibited, and  sent  a  cow  to  be  slaughtered,  and 
there  is  every  reason  to  suppose  that  he  had 
graduated  above  any  common  farmer,  but  judg- 
ing him  by  his  cows  and  taking  his  organ  at  its 
word,  he  must  be  nothing  more.  But  then  there 
were  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son ;  should  nothing  be  ex- 
pected from  them  from  their  almost  unrivaled 
experience  in  feeding  and  showing,  boasting  of 
$40,000  in  winnings  with  Shorthorns?  Should 
we  have  allowed  them  more  time  to  learn  that 
by  and  by  some- 
thing might  be  ex- 
pected from  them? 
Messrs.  Cobb  & 
Phillips,  K  a  n  k  a- 
kee,  111.,  were  they 
just  new  begin- 
ners, without  ex- 
perience, used  only 
to  "common  meth- 
ods"? The  veteran 
experience  of  Amos 
F.  Moore,  of  Polo, 
111.,  we  were  to 
suppose  must  count 
for  naught,  as  well 
as  that  of  Mr. 
Graves,  of  Ken- 
tucky; for,  taking 
the  Shorthorn  excuse-makers,  we  should  not 
expect  much  from  a  man  living  in  that  state 
where  they  have  only  been  using  the  improved 
breeds  of  cattle  a  little  less  than  a  century. 

We  might  continue  this  sarcasm,  and  speak 
of  Mr.  Dun,  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Bassett,  of  Illinois, 
Mr.  Higmon,  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Green,  of  In- 
diana, Mr.  Weidman,  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Taylor, 
Mr.  Winn,  Messrs.  Willard  &  Son,  Mr.  Bidwell, 
Mr.  Ross,  of  Avon,  111.  Here  is  a  list  of  breed- 
ers that  may  challenge  the  world  for  experience 
and,  we  presume,  in  knowledge.  All,  with  two 
exceptions,  breeders  of  thoroughbred  Short- 
horns for  years.  And  of  the  two  exceptions, 
J.  B.  Sherman  had  an  experience  in  cattle  mat- 
ters second  to  no  other,  and  a  reputation  world- 
wide. The  other  exception,  Gen.  ,Ross,  a 
breeder  of  thoroughbred  Devons  and  of  large 
experience. 


j.  WILLIAMS, 

Llansannor   Court,   Glamorgan- 
shire. Wales. 


260 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Now,  no  animals  in  the  show  had  received 
more  careful  and  intelligent  feeding  than  the 
three  yearling  steers  bred  by  Brown  Bros.,  and 
fed  by  John  B.  Sherman.  The  steers  had  made 
good  gains,  but  they  failed  to  put  on  that 
heavy, -ripe  flesh  that  the  Herefords  had  and 
there  was  no  use  accounting  for  the  better 


PHILIP  TURNER, 
Of  "The  Leen,"  Herefordshire. 

quality  of  the  Herefords  in  any  other  way  than 
that  they  made  better  use  of  their  feed,  put  on 
flesh  of  a  better  quality,  and  in  the  better  parts 
than  do  the  Shorthorns.  And  when  the  two 
breeds  come  together,  and  have  fair  judging,  the 
Shorthorn  must  go  to  the  wall,  while  the  credit 
must  go  to  the  breed  and  not  to  the  feeder.  We 
do  not  mean  to  say  that  good  care  and  good 
feeding  does  not  count.  It  does  count.  We  have 
had  experienced  and  careful  herdsmen,  our  cat- 
tle have  been  well  handled.  But  is  this  not 
true  of  the  Shorthorns  also? 

Mr.  Culbertson  won,  we  think,  whenever  he 
had  an  opportunity  to  show  against  the  Short- 
horns, and  Mr.  Burleigh,  of  Iowa,  took  the 
champion  prize  in  Nebraska  this  same  year  for 
the  best  beast  in  the  show,  and  in  this  Fat 
Stock  Show,  the  Hereford  honors  were  divided 
among  the  three  Hereford  exhibitors,  Culbert- 
son, Burleigh  and  Miller. 

Failing  to  make  an  impression  on  the  "com- 
mon farmer"  claim,  the  Shorthorn  scribes 
broke  out  in  another  place. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "Journal" :  I  noticed  in 


your  last  number  an  illustration  of  Mr.  T.  L. 
Miller's  steer  "Conqueror,"  a  very  grand  bullock 
indeed;  but  you  denominate  him  a  grade  Here- 
ford, as  if  produced  by  crossing  a  Hereford 
bull  upon  the  common  scrub  cow  of  the  coun- 
try— the  same  as  that  class  of  cattle  produced 
which  we  call  grade  Shorthorns,  by  breeding 
our  thoroughbred  Shorthorn  sires  to  the  com- 
mon scrub  cows  of  the  country.  Is  not  the 
term  grade  Hereford  a  misnomer?  And  should 
he  not  be  properly  called  a  cross-bred,  as  I 
understand  either  his  dam  or  grandam  was  a 
Shorthorn  cow?  This  being  true,  why  not  call 
him  a  cross-bred  Shorthorn-Hereford,  as  the 
term  "grade  Hereford"  misleads;  the  great 
bulk  of  cattlemen  everywhere  understanding 
the  term  "grade"  to  imply  the  union  of  thor- 
oughbred and  scrub  stocks,  and  not  the  union 
of  two  thoroughbred  stocks,  even  of  different 
tribes. 

The  steer  himself,  except  in  color,  bore  many 
strong  Shorthorn  characteristics,  especially  in 
flank  and  quarter  —  a  comparison  of  these 
points  with  the  pure  bred  Herefords  on  exhibi- 
tion readily  discovers  these  facts. 

Again,  his  rapid  gain  per  day  over  his  pure- 
bred Hereford  cousins,  even  the  prize  winners, 
as  set  forth  in  your  very  instructive  tables  in 
the  last  number  of  the  "Journal,"  lends  addi- 
tional illustration  and  force  to  the  fact,  that 
from  somewhere  besides  his  Hereford  blood  he 
is  indebted  for  his  capacity  to  lay  on  flesh 
rapidly,  and  thus  come  up  to  the  point  of  early 
maturity. 

I  for  one,  am  perfectly  willing  that  Mr.  Mil- 
ler should  have  all  the  glory  possible — and  he 
deserves  a  great  deal  for  the  skillful  feeding 
of  his  stock  exhibited  —  but  I  do  seriously 
object  to  his  borrowing  any  of  our  Shorthorn 
blood  to  build  up  his  Herefords  with,  and  then 
parading  it  through  the  press  of  the  country 
as  an  entirely  Hereford  variety.  "Render  unto 
Cffisar  the  things  that  are  Cesar's."  -  -  T.  C. 
Anderson. 

We  find  the  above  in  the  "National  Live 
Stock  Journal"  for  January,  1881.  We  met  the 
same  thing  in  the  Kansas  City  "Indicator"  and 
"Farmers'  Magazine,"  of  Louisville,  Ky.  This 
statement  was  made  by  prominent  Shorthorn 
breeders  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1880.  The 
leading  exhibitor  at  that  show  stated  to  quite  a 
crowd  that  had  gathered  round  him,  that  Mr. 
Miller  had  selected  Shorthorn  cows  from  which 
to  breed  these  bullocks.  This  same  exhibitor 
said  that  the  cow  "Maid  of  Orleans"  had  Short- 
horn blood,  and  when  asked  on  what  authority 
he  made  this  statement,  his  reply  was  that 
"somebody  had  said  so." 

A  letter  from  the  herdsman  of  Messrs.  Lee 


HISTOKY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


261 


&  Reynolds,  of  New  Mexico,  was  published 
during  the  show  week,  stating  that  the  Here- 
fords  were  giving  the  best  satisfaction.  A  few 
weeks  previous  to  this,  the  "National  Live 
Stock  Journal"  said  that  on  a  careful  inquiry 
among  a  large  number  of  cattlemen  from  the 
plains  they  found  the  Herefords  were  giving 
the  best  satisfaction;  and  still  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers reported  and  Shorthorn  journals  circulated 
that  the  Herefords  were  being  rejected. 

But  to  return  to  Mr.  Anderson.  His  state- 
ment is  made  here  as  though  there  was  no 
question  as  to  the  truth  of  what  he  is  saying. 
Mr.  Miller  never  purchased  a  Shorthorn  cow 
and  never  bred  a  Hereford  bull  to  a  Shorthorn 
cow,  and  there  was  no  cow  on  his  place  that 
had  the  appearance  of  a  Shorthorn. 

The  dam  of  "Conqueror"  was  a  grade  cow, 
bought  of  Mr.  E.  Parsons,  of  Pittsfield,  Ohio, 
seven  years  previous  to  this  time.  While  we 
never  knew  or  inquired  how  this  cow  was  bred, 
her  appearance  would'  indicate  some  Devon 
blood. 

We  wrote  to  Mr.  George  W.  Probert,  of  Pitts- 
field,  who  negotiated  the  purchase  of  the  cow, 
to  call  on  Mr.  Parsons  and  ascertain,  if  he 
could,  how  the  cow  was  bred.  This  letter  was 
written  on  March  11,  1881;  he  replied  on  the 
16th  of  March,  as  follows: 

"I  saw  Mr.  Parsons  to-day.  He  says  the  cow 
with  the  white  face  and  upturned  horn  (dam 
of  'Conqueror')  was  sired  by  'Fairboy'  (4574) 
475,  Mr.  Parsons'  old  Hereford  bull,  bred  by 
T.  Aston,  formerly  of  Elyria,  Ohio.  Her  dam 
was  sired  by  a  Devon  bull,  said  to  be  near  full 
blood;  her  grandam  was  sired  by  a  Hereford 
bull  and  out  of  a  common  cow  of  unknown 
breeding." 

The  ages  and  breeding  of  our  other  steers 
were  attacked.  Of  the  four  grade  two-year-old 
steers  that  we  showed,  "Putnam,"  "Rob  Roy," 
"Bachelor"  and  "Conqueror,"  in  1880 :  "Put- 
nam" was  shown  in  1879,  weighing  1,152 
pounds;  "Conqueror"  was  estimated  at  that 
time  to  have  weighed  about  1,000  pounds.  He 
had  up  to  this  time  run  in  the  yard,  with  fair, 
generous  keep,  but  not  crowded;  and  was,  as 
our  recollection  serves  us,  a  younger  steer  than 
"Putnam,"  and  "Putnam"  had  been  registered 
as  July  12,  1878. 

The  steer  "Kansas"  was  bought  in  Kansas,  no 
account  taken  of  his  breeding,  as  he  was  not 
intended  as  a  show  steer.  When  we  returned 
from  England  in  October  we  found  that  Mr. 
Watson  had  put  him  up  to  feed.  This  was 
done  the  week  before  the  State  Fair,  as  he  in- 
formed us.  The  only  facts  we  had  as  to  age 
was  his  mouth,  and  that  showed  him  to  be  one 


year  old;  his  two-year-old  teeth  came  in  De- 
cember. While  a  bullock  may  show  by  his 
mouth  an  older  age  than  his  actual  age,  we 
believe  that  in  no  instance  does  the  bullock 
carry  a  younger  mouth  than  the  actual  age 
would  warrant. 

The  following  letter,  copied  from  the  "Cor- 
respondence" columns  of  the  Kansas  City 
"Commercial  Indicator,"  was  written  in  answer 
to  other  claims  made  by  T.  C.  Anderson,  from 
the  breeder  of  the  steer  "Kansas,"  and  states 
that  he  was  calved  in  December,  1878,  which 
agreed  with  the  time  his  two-year-old  teeth 
came: 

Irving,  Marshall  Co.,  Kan. 
Jan.  9,  1882. 

Your  correspondent,  Mr.  T.  C.  Anderson, 
still  endeavors  to-  impress  upon  the  mind  the 
idea  that  it  is  given  him  to  expose  fraud,  and 
especially  the  imaginary  fraud  of  T.  L.  Miller. 
Now,  as  I  understand  the  matter,  the  charge 
against  Mr.  Miller  is  that  he  does  not  give  the 
breeding  and  age  of  the  steer  "Kansas."  In  or- 
der that  Mr.  Anderson  may  be  gratified  and  the 
public  correctly  informed,  will  say  that  we  bred 
and  raised  the  steer  "Kansas,"  and  sold  him  to 
Mr.  T.  L.  Miller.  We  will  therefore  give  his 
breeding  and  age.  The  sire  of  "Kansas"  is  a 
thoroughbred  Hereford  bull;  his  dam  was  a 
red  and  white  spotted  cow.  We  should  judge 
from  color,  horns,  build  and  weight,  that  she 
was  a  cross  between  the  native  and  Texas;  she 
was  about  six  years  old  at  this  time.  The  steer 
(Kansas)  was  calved  in  December,  1878,  and 
judging  from  the  quality  of  the  cow,  we  did  not 
consider  a  calf  from 
her  desirable  to 
keep  for  a  grade 
bull,  and  we  there- 
fore castrated  him 
at  an  early  age.  He 
thrived  well  with 
fine  promise.  The 
cow  being  farrow, 
I  shipped  her  to 
Kansas  City  in  the 
summer  of  1880, 
with  a  car  load  of 
cattle,  and  she  was 
sold  as  a  cull  for 
$1.75  per  100  Ibs., 
and  weighed  850 
Ibs.  Judging  from  the  quality  of  the  dam  and 
the  outcome  of  the  steer,  it  is  fair  to  conclude 
that  the  merit  he  possesses  was  derived  from 
his  Hereford  blood. 

It  appears  to  'exercise  the  Shorthorn  mind 
that  a  grade  Hereford  steer  from  Kansas,  with 


JOHN  MORRIS. 

Of  Lulham,  Herefordshire. 


262 


HIS  T  0  II  Y     0  F     II  E  II  E  F  0  K  I)     ( )  A  T  T  L  K 


only  ordinary  care  up  to  a  few  months  previous 
to  the  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1880,  should  take 
sweepstakes  over  the  pampered  thoroughbreds 
and  grade  Shorthorns  of  the  blue  grass  regions 
for  the  best  steer  one  year  old  and  under  two. 
At  this  time  "Kansas"  was  696  days  old  and 
weighed  1,580  Ibs.,  his  average  gain  per  day 


WILLIAM  TUDGE, 
Adforton,   Herefordshire. 

being  2.27  Ibs.  (See  "National  Live  Stock 
Journal,"  December,  1880.) 

Trusting  this  will  be  sufficient  explanation 
to  set  at  rest  this  cry  of  fraud  against  the  steer 
"Kansas,"  one  of  the  five  premium  grade  Here- 
ford steers,  we  will  leave  the  charge  against 
the  steer  "Will"  for  other  parties  to  explain  why 
he  did  not  make  more  than  724  days  in  age 
from  November  10,  1879,  to  November  7, 
1881.  WALTER  M.  MORGAN  &  SON. 

We  were  awarded  and  still  have  in  our  pos- 
session the  gold  medal  offered  by  the  "Farmer's 
Eeview,"  of  Chicago,  111.,  for  the  best  yearling 
in  the  Fat  Stock  Show  at  Chicago,  1880.  We 
won  it  with  the  Hereford  yearling  steer  "Kan- 
sas." The  following  remarks  were  called  forth 
from  Mr.  W.  W.  Corbett,  editor  of  the  "Farm- 
er's Eeview,"  by  that  occasion:  "Mr.  Miller: 
I  do  not  know  how  long  the  dream  of  be- 
coming a  farmer  and  stock  breeder  had  haunt- 


ed your  mind  before  you  entered  upon  the 
career;  I  do  not  know  how  long  you  had 
made  a  study  of  the  characteristics  of  the 
different  breeds  of  cattle,  and  of  principles 
upon  which  successful  breeding  and  feeding 
depend,  but  I  do  know,  that  it  is  not  very  many 
years  ago  that  I  saw  you  almost  daily  in  the 
streets  of  Chicago,  elbowing  your  way  through 
the  crowds  with  the  same  determined  look 
upon  your  face  that  you  wear  to-day,  but  the 
silver  that  now  tints  your  hair  was  then  hidden 
away  in  your  pocket,  if  you  had  it  at  all.  You 
were  then  prosecuting  an  intricate  business  in 
the  midst  of  hundreds  of  the  shrewdest,  most 
active  and  energetic  men,  who  have  amassed 
great  fortunes,  and  done  so  much  to  build  this 
wonderful  city,  and  give  to  it  its  commercial 
reputation.  You  won  a  most  commendable 
business  reputation,  and  I  believe  a  comfort- 
able fortune.  The  next  I  knew  of  you,  you  had 
purchased  a  magnificent  farm  at  Beecher  (fl  163) 
and  were  preparing  to  stock  it.  You  did  not 
know  as  much  about  Herefords  then  as  you  do 
to-day.  But  there  was  among  your  advertis- 
ers that  stalwart  old  Hereford  hero,  our  old 
friend  Sotham,  who,  with  pen  and  tongue,  had 
been  fighting  an  unsuccessful  battle  for  many 
years  against  rival  interests.  Let  us  give  the 
scarred  old  veteran  the  credit  of  directing  your 
enthusiastic  efforts  into  this  channel.  Then 
you  took  off  your  coat  and  went  to  work.  Your 
business  tact  and  shrewdness  you  took  into  a 
new  field.  You  took  all  your  pertinacity  and 
combativeness.  At  the  time  of  your  first  pur- 
chase, the  white  face  and  symmetrical  body  of 
the  Hereford  was  a  curiosity  at  a  Western  Fair. 
You  boldly  entered  the  arena  and  threw  down 
the  gauntlet  to  a  noble  race  of  animals,  owned 
and  backed  by  the  money  and  the  brains  of  as 
shrewd  and  able  a  body  of  men  as  grace  any 
pursuit  in  any  country.  I  mean  the  Shorthorn 
breeders  of  the  United  States.  And  now  your 
favorite  breed  is  known  to  all  men,  and  your 
animals  march  proudly  from  every  noted  fair 
ground  bedecked  with  the  blue  and  the  red. 

"I  know  that  your  determination  and  com- 
bativeness have  led  you  into  many  a  wordy  con- 
flict. A  great  many  people  think  that  '  you  do 
protest  too  much,'  and  I  have  no  doubt  your 
name  will  go  down  to  Shorthorn  posterity  as 
the  Great  American  Protester.  But  after  all, 
I  do  not  believe  that  there  is  a  competitor  of 
yours  here  to-night  but  will  willingly  pay  trib- 
ute to  the  grand  contest  you  have  made  and  the 
victories  you  have  won. 

"You,  with  your  able  coadjutors,  Powell,  Mor- 
gan and  Culbertson  and  many  others  who  have 
more  recently  enlisted  in  the  service,  can  retire 


H  1  S  T 0 R Y     O  P     HER  E P 0 R  D     C  A  T  T  L E 


263 


from  it  in  your  later  days  with  the  proud  con- 
viction that  your  efforts  will  result  in  adding 
untold  millions  to  the  future  stock  interests  of 
the  farmers  of  this  country,  hy  introducing 
prominently  the  pure  blood  of  the  Herefords, 
to  mingle  with  the  hardy  races  of  the  plains. 
Indirectly  you  are  accomplishing  another  thing. 
You  are  stimulating  the  breeders  of  other  races 
of  cattle  to  strain  every  nerve  to  add  still  more 
perfect  points  to  their  animals,  as  witness  the 
noble  specimens  that  have  been  so  unsuccessful 
against  you  at  this  most  important  exhibition. 

"Mr.  Miller,  as  the  representative  of  the  pro- 
gressive agricultural  press,  which  has  so  heart- 
ily joined  hands  with  the  able,  earnest  and  de- 
voted members  of  the  state  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture in  furthering  the  live  stock  interests  of 
the  country,  I  have  the  pleasure,  through 
them,  to  present  to  you  the  prize  gold  medal 
of  the  '  Farmer's  Review/  so  justly  won  by  that 
meritorious  young  animal  that  represents  in 
his  own  body  the  success  of  a  long  line  of  care- 
ful breeding  in  the  old  world,  your  own  skill  as 
a  feeder,  and  the  adaptability  of  our  climate 
and  productions  to  give  to  every  domestic 
animal  the  touch  of  perfection. 

"It  is  the  hope  of  the  donors  that  this  beau- 
tiful medal  will  add  something  to  the  satisfac- 
tion that  must  result  from  your  competition  at 
this  show,  and  that  those  who  come  after  you 
will  feel  a  blush  of  pride  as  they  apply  to  you 
the  motto  herein  inscribed:  'The  cultured 
mind  guides  the  skillful  hand  to  success.' " 

Wo  give  the  following  extract  from  the 
"American  Stockman's"  report  of  the  1880  Fat 
Stock  Show  held  at  Chicago,  to  show  how  the 
Herefords  there  exhibited  appeared  to  the  gen- 
eral public : 

Xo\v  for  a  fresh  family,  the  Herefords. 
Must  we  assign  to  them  the  premier  place  in 
the  hall?  Yes,  we  must;  there  is  no  getting 
away  from  it;  year  by  year  they  creep  in,  and 
year  by  year  they  become  more  deserving  of 
the  premiership.  Let  us  begin  with  "Alex,"  Mr. 
T.  L.  Miller's  three-year-old  (and  Mr.  T.  L. 
Miller  is  the  father  of  the  Herefords  in  Ameri- 
ca). Look  at  that  charming  countenance,  and 
that  great,  full,  prominent  eye,  and  there  you 
\vill  observe  what  so  delights  the  judge  of  the 
tip-top  grazier.  The  little  fellow  when  he 
moves  actually  groans  under  the  load  of  prime 
marbled  beef.  What  a  bosom.  How  he  twists 
and  straddles  those  little  timbers  of  his  to  carry 
about  that  great  carcass  of  1,920  pounds  of 
porterhouse  steaks.  Gentlemen,  there  is  no 
offal — you  cannot  find  it,  although  you  look  for 
it.  Examine  those  crops  and  chine.  Aren't  they 
wonderful?  Touch  that  back  rib  and  loin.  When 


had  you  your  hand  on  the  like?  Not  for  a  long 
time,  as  Saturday's  judgment  on  the  carcass 
will  prove.  Perhaps  he  is  a  little  narrow  on 
the  quarters,  but  the  rump  steaks  are  there  in 
abundance,  and  ripe  at  that;  his  twist  is  deep, 
and  he  carries  his  beef  to  his  hamstrings,  like  a 
Berkshire  pig.  Well  done,  "Alex." 

Mr.  Miller  is  surely  far  seeing,  for  he  called 
his  last  two-year-old  steer  "Conqueror."  Come 
to  the  front,  "Conqueror,"  although  you  are  yet 
in  the  meridian  of  your  fame,  and  let  me  de- 
scribe you  to  those  who  have  only  heard  of  you 
but  not  seen  you.  Look  what  an  attractive  gait 
he  has,  how  beautifully  he  walks,  how  he  im- 
proves in  everyone's  estimation  the  longer  he 
is  looked  at;  everyone  can  see  that  his  very  vic- 
tory is  a  foregone  conclusion,  that  he  is  the  best 
animal  in  the  hall,  and  that  his  meat  is  worth 
more  than  the  champion  Shorthorn  winner  by 
at  least  two  cents  per  pound.  "Conqueror"  is 
thick  and  deep  down  to  the  ground.  He  is 
smooth  in  the  extreme;  he  is  lengthy  and  yet 
compact;  he  is  fleshy  and  yet  fat,  and  beef  from 
head  to  heel.  What  more  is  wanted?  The  re- 


T.  J.  CARWARDINE, 
Late    of    Stocktonbury,    Herefordshire. 

mainder  of  Mr.  Miller's  herd — numbering  nine 
steers  and  one  heifer  in  all,  were  an  admirable 
display,  one  rarely  to  be  met  with;  as  several 
good  judges  remarked,  the  best  lot  of  finished 
cattle  ever  seen,  shown  by  one  man  in  America ; 
all  bred  and  fed  at  Highland  Stock  Farm, 
property  of  T.  L.  Miller,  Beecher,  111.  fl[  188) 


264 


HISTORY     OFHEREFORD     CATTLE 


We  will  not  indulge  in  any  rude  remarks  about 
the  judges  in  the  defeat  of  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller's 
heifer,  the  "Matchless  Maid  of  Orleans."  No,  it 
is  not  becoming;  they  were  old  men,  and  left 
home  without  their  spectacles.  It  is  invariably 
the  case,  the  cross-bred  sections  form  one  of 
the  best  features  of  the  show  and  you  will  see 
by  the  next  exhibition  that  several  of  the 
"Beechers"  are  bound  to  take  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  1881.  Perhaps  they,  instead  of  the  re- 
markable Kentucky  steers,  will  get  away  with 
the  much  coveted  "National  Live  Stock  Jour- 
nal" silver  cup.  An  eager  crowd  viewed  the  move- 
ments of  the  judges  with  much  interest  in  the 
award  for  the  championship  this  year;  it  will 
be  viewed  with  no  less  anxiety  next  year.  The 
battle  is  now  fairly  begun  between  the  Here- 
fords  and  Shorthorns;  each  have  their  favor- 
ites, and  justly  so.  Stand  by  your  colors  until 
you  see  who  is  the  winner,  but  take  care  the 
black  Polled  Angus  do  not  take  part  in  the 
battle  of  beef  and  delay  the  decision.  I  am 
impartial.  There  is  plenty  of  room  in  America 
for  all  breeds. 

In  grade  Herefords,  Mr.   C.  M.  Culbertson 


produced  a  grand  animal,  ripe  and  woll  finished, 
champion  of  his  class  as  the  best  three-year-old 
of  any  breed,  beating  Mr.  Miller's  three-year- 
old  "Alex/'  So  decided  the  judges  on  Thurs- 
day the  18th  inst,  but  little  "Alex"  told  them 
he  was  riper,  requested  to  be  dressed  and  hung 
up  by  the  heels  and  the  public  would  see  that 
the  Highland  Stock  Farm  steer  was  a  better 
and  more  finished  carcass  than  the  Hereford 
Park  one.  Alas,  it  turned  out  true. 

Mr.  Editor,  my  time  is  limited,  otherwise 
from  memory  I  should  like  to  enter  into  details 
on  the  merits  of  many  a  worthy  animal,  such 
as  General  Ross'  lovely  Devons,  and  John  B. 
Sherman's  mammoth  steers  that  appeared  at 
your  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Exhibition.  But  I  can- 
not conclude  without  taking  particular  notice 
of  Mr.  G.  S.  Burleigh's  three  one-year-old 
steers,  one  thoroughbred  and  two  grades,  raised 
and  fed  in  Iowa  by  their  breeder.  They  are 
perfectly  marvelous  as  to  maturity  yet  full  of 
robustness  and  a  good  future.  Mr.  Burleigh  is 
about  the  last  man  I  want  to  tackle  in  one-year- 
old  competition,  and  that  is  a  good  deal  to 
confess. 


LORD   WILTON    (4740)    4057 

Bred  by  William  Tudge:    sold  at  auction  for  3,800  guineas, 
equal  to  $20,000  (1884).     (From  a  painting  by  Gauci.) 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


265 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  "BREEDERS'  JOURNAL"  ON  THE  CHICAGO  FAT  STOCK  SHOW  OF  1880 


\Vc  find  in  the  "Breeders'  Journal"  the  fol- 
lowing editorial : 

(1J 189)  The  Fat  Stock  Show  (1880),  held 
in  Chicago,  was  in  many  respects  one  of  the 
best  exhibits  of  stock  ever  held  in  this  country. 
This  show  is  held  under  the  management  of 
the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agriculture.  The 
Board  is  composed  of  nineteen  members,  one 
from  each  of  the  Congressional  Districts  of  the 
state,  and,  with  few  exceptions,  they  are  Short- 
horn breeders. 

The  time  is  not  far  in  the  past  when  the 
Shorthorn  breeders  had  no  one  to  dispute  the 
claims  of  their  breed.  The  Society's  plans  were 
made,  so  far  as  the  cattle  department  was  con- 
cerned, with  the  express  reference  to  the  ad- 
justment of  the  claims  among  the  different 
families  of  Shorthorns  and  of  their  different 
owners.  It  is  yet  difficult  for  them  to  get  away 
from  their  preconceived  notions  and  prefer- 
ences. Not  only  is  it  difficult,  but  with  many 
there  is  a  determined  purpose  not  to  depart 
from  them,  probably  from  the  fact  that  they 
conceive  their  breed  to  be  the  best,  and  that 
they  must  stand  guard  over  them  and  protect 
them  from  the  claims  that  the  Herefords  are 
'making  upon  the  position  that  they  have  held. 
That  this  is  so  is  not  surprising.  In  the  past 
there  was  none  to  dispute  their  claims,  and 
many  think  now  that  those  who  dispute  them 
should  be  treated  as  heretics  were  in  the  olden 
times. 

It  has  been  the  practice  in  times  past  at  the 
winter  meetings  to  appoint  judges  for  the  dif- 
ferent classes.  These  judges  seldom  acted,  and 
their  places  were  filled  from  among  the  visitors 
on  the  grounds,  sometimes  a  good  selection,  but 
often  the  contrary. 

At  the  inauguration  of  the  Fat  Stock  Show 
the  selection  has  been  made  by  each  member 
of  the  Board  nominating  one  or  more  of  the 
butchers  in  his  district,  and  from  these  the 
Board  select  their  judges.  These  butchers  have 
a  country  experience;  as  a  rule  they  do  not 
slaughter  or  cut  first-class  beef  or  mutton.  It 


is  such  as  is  quoted  as  "butcher's  stock"  in  the 
Chicago  markets.  This  stock  ranges  in  price 
from  two  cents  to  three  cents  at  the  present 
time  for  live"  weight,  while  good  shipping  steers 
will  range  from  $3.50  to  $5  per  hundred,  and 
choice  shipping  steers  from  $5.25  to  $6.50  per 
hundred.  This  latter  class  comes  near  the 
quality  that  is  shown  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show, 
and  is  always  in  demand  at  the  long  price.  It 
is  not  such  a  quality  as  their  trade  demands. 
It  is  not  such 'as  they  are  acquainted  with  or 
want.  Preferring  the  "butcher's  stock,"  they 
are  not  prepared  to  give  their  judgment  as  to 
the  best  shipping  grades.  These  judges  are 
selected  largely  from  districts  in  which  Short- 
horns have  held  for  years  the  dominant  posi- 
tion, and  the  parties  selecting  them  are  Short- 
horn breeders;  they  are  likely  to  be  friends  of 
the  members  selecting  them;  the  members' 
friends  are  the  exhibitors  of  Shorthorns,  and 
without  charging  dishonesty,  it  is  fair  to  pre- 
sume that  their  associations  lead  them  to  give 
the  preference  to  Shorthorns.  This,  then,  is 
the  feature  of  the  present  system  of  judging. 
The  judges  are  selected  by  Shorthorn  breeders 
from  the  districts  where  the  Shorthorns  are 
dominant.  They  butcher  only  Shorthorns  and 
their  crosses,  and  their  experience  is  in  butcher- 
ing what  is  technically  termed  "butcher's 
stock."  They  are  not  acquainted  with  shipping 
steers  and  their  value.  Two  members  of  the 
Board  reside  in  Chicago,  but  for  some  reason 
there  were  no  Chicago  butchers  selected. 
Among  these  Chicago  butchers  are  those  who 
have  a  knowledge  of  the  wants  of  our  best 
markets,  and  those  of  England  as  well,  and  are 
therefore  better  able  to  judge  as  to  the  value 
of  a  first-class  animal.  These  men  have  slaugh- 
tered and  cut  animals  from  every  breed,  while 
the  judges  selected  have  never  cut  a  Hereford. 

There  is  one  feature,  however,  in  the  ex- 
perience of  the  city  butchers  of  large  practice; 
they  know  the  comparative  value  of  other 
breeds  with  the  Shorthorns. 

It  may  seem  a  singular  fact  to  outsiders,  per- 


HISTORY     OF     II  E  R  ft  F  O'R  &  "C  AT  T  L  E 


THE    RODD,    PRESTEIGNE,    RADNORSHIRE. 
Home  of  the   Rogers,   now  occupied  by  Aaron   Rogers. 


haps  it  may  seem  a  singular  fact  to  some  of  the 
exhibitors,  perhaps  it  may  seem  strange  to  some 
of  the  members  of  the  Board  that  in  a  city  of 
500,000  inhabitants  no  butcher  could  be  found 
that  was  suitable  for  a  judge  at  this  Fat  Stock 
Show.  Or,  if  none  of  these  practiced  butchers 
here  were  suitable,  that  there  might  not  have 
been  found  at  the  Union  Stock  Yards,  among 
some  of  the  men  who  are  buying  and  shipping 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  these  higher  qual- 
ity of  bullocks,  one  or  two  men  that  might 
have  been  suitable  to  act  as  judges  on  these 
better  qualities  of  cattle.  Especially  does  this 
seem  singular,  when  one  of  the  members  ( J.  P. 
Reynolds)  is  a  resident  of  Chicago,  has  a  large 
experience,  and  is  eminently  intelligent  on 
stock  matters;  and  another  (H.  D.  Emery)  who 
has  been  a  resident  of  Chicago  for  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  the  editor  of  the 
leading  agricultural  journal  of  the  West  during 
all  this  time.  These  gentlemen  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  State  Board  for  many  years  and  are 
probably  among  the  oldest  members.  When 
these  facts  are  stated,  there  will  be  many  who 
will  be  surprised  that  there  should  not  have 
been  found  two  or  three  competent  men  in  the 
great  metropolis  of  the  state,  the  greatest  live 
stock  market  in  the  world,  and  that  none  but 


country  butchers   could  be  found  that  would 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  Board. 

We  have  endeavored  in  this  notice  to  be 
moderate  in  the  expression  of  our  views.  This 
much  in  review  of  the  judges  of  the  Fat  Stock 
Show. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  notice  the  exhibitors 
and  their  entries: 

J.  D.  Gillette,  Elkhart,  Ind ..  Exhibited  47  head. 

T.  L.  Miller,  Beecher,  111. .  .  <          10  " 

C.  M.  Culbertson,  Chicago.  '           2  " 
Wm.  Sandusky,  Catlin,  111.                      3  " 

D.  M.  Moninger,  Albion,  la.  '            1  " 
J.  B.  Sherman,  Chicago,  111.                     6  " 
Wm.  Scott,  Wyoming,  111..  '            2  " 
Hiram  A.  Bassett,  Jefferson, 

111 1     " 

J.  H.  Potts  &  Son,  Jackson- 
ville, 111 "  1  « 

J.  S.  Higmon,  Rochester,  111.  2     " 

John  Weedman,  Farmer 

City,  111 1  " 

Cobb  &  Phillips,  Kankakee, 

111 "  2  " 

A.  W.  Taylor,  Lake  Forest, 

111  .  1  « 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


26? 


J.  G.  Willard  &  Son,  Harris- 
town,  111 Exhibited  9  head. 

Thos.  Bid  woll,  Gurnee,  111.  2  " 

(',  S.  Burleigh,  Mechanics- 

ville.  la 3  « 

I,   K.   Ross,  Avon,  111 5  " 

J.  H.  Graves,  Kentucky "           2  " 


Total  . 


100  head 


The  quality  was  from  fair  to  choice.  The 
interest  centered  largely  between  the  Herefords 
and  the  Shorthorns,  and  while  the  Herefords 
were  in  the  minority,  it  may  be  fairly  claimed 
that  in  quality  and  ripeness  they  excelled  the 
Shorthorns.  Of  this  we  shall  speak  more  fully 
before  closing  our  report.  The  stock  to  be  ex- 
hibited were  mostly  in  their  stalls  by  the  13th. 
The  exhibition  opened  on  the  loth.  Monday 
morning  the  Shorthorn  men  reported  that  Swan 
Bros.,  of  Cheyenne,  WYO.,  were  sick  of  Here- 
fords and  were  going  to  dispose  of  them  and  use 
Shorthorns.  This  was  probably  done  to  coun- 
teract the  effect  of  the  growing  popularity  of 
the  Herefords.  C.  M.  Culbertson  telegraphed 
Messrs.  Swan  to  know  whether  this  Shorthorn 
report  was  true.  The  following  is  the  tele- 
graphic correspondence: 

Chicago,  Nov.  15,  1880. 
To    A.    H.    Swan,   or    Swan    Bros.,    Cheyenne, 

Wyo.: 

Shorthorn  men  arc  circulating  a  report  that 
you  have  had  enough  of  Herefords  and  will 
hereafter  buy  Shorthorns.  1  think  this  is  done 
to  influence  public  opinion  at  fat  cattle  shows. 
A  full  and  prompt  answer  is  important.  An- 
swer at  my  expense.  C.  M.  CULBERTSOX. 
Cheyenne,  Wyo.,  Nov.  15. 

To  C.  M.  Culbertson,  Room  3,  Board  of  Trade 
Building: 

We  are  using  150  Hereford  bulls.  Intend  to 
increase  to  300.  We  are  also  breeding  Here- 
fords in  Iowa,  having  a  thoroughbred  herd 
there.  We  are  not  disgusted  with  Herefords; 
on  the  contrary,  will  increase  our  number 
fast  as  possible.  SWAN  BROS. 

The  first  two  clays  were  given  mainly  to 
showing  in  classes,  which  called  forth  but  lit- 
tle excitement  or  comment.  Some  of  the  Short- 
horn exhibitors  bad  some  little  question  as  to 
where  the  ribbons  should  be  put. 

On  Wednesday  the  show  opened  with  grades 
and  crosses,  and  the  interest  centered  about  this 
ring. 

First  premium  for  three-year-old  steer  was 
awarded  to  J.  H.  Graves,  of  Kentucky,  for 
grade  Shortjiorn. 

Second  premium  to  C.  M.  Culbertson,  for 
grade  Hereford. 


First  premium  for  two-year-old  to  A.  F. 
Moore,  for  grade  Shorthorn. 

Second  to  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son,  for  grade  Short- 
horn. 

First  to  D.  M.  Moninger,  of  Iowa,  for  year- 
ling, for  grade  Shorthorn. 

Second  to  T.  L.  Miller,  for  grade  Hereford. 

The  judging  in  this  class  was  clearly  unjust, 
especially  as  to  the  two-year-olds.  T.  L.  Miller's 
two-year-olds  were  very  nearly  perfect.  The 
lightest  one  was  dressed,  an  account  of  which 
will  be  given  hereafter. 

The  judges  in  this  class,  after  passing  the 
grade  Herefords,  were  discharged,  as  we  under- 
stand, for  incompetency.  There  is  a  semiofficial 
denial  of  this,  but  it  is  immaterial  as  to  what 
the  reasons  were.  It  would  not  have  been  done 
but  for  a  reason,  and  the  one  stated  above  is  the 
most  charitable. 

A  protest  was  made  by  Mr.  Miller,  and 
argued  before  the  Board.  There  wras  no  differ- 
ence of  opinion  as  to  the  injustice  of  the  award; 
this,  the  Board  admitted,  but  they  could  not 


AARON  ROGERS, 
The  Rodd,  Radnorshire. 

see  a  way  to  remedy  the  error,  whereupon  the 
protest  was  withdrawn  and  the  Board  relieved 
of  further  responsibility. 

To  test  this  award,  one  steer  of  J.  H.  Potts 
was  bought  by  Mr.  Miller  for  the  purpose  of 
dressing,  and  thus  test  the  judgment  of  the 
judges.  The  privilege  of  dressing  the  steer  at 
the  Exposition  was  asked  of  the  President,  but 


208 


HIST  OK Y  OF  HEKEFOKD  CATTLE 


he  refused  to  permit  it.  The  steer  was  then 
sold  to  W.  Smith  &  Co.,  of  Detroit,  Mich., 
where  the  dressed  and  live  weight  will  be  given. 
Following  this  exhibit  came  the  sweepstakes 
for  the  best  three-year-old  steer,  the  best  two- 
year-old  steer,,  the  best  yearling  steer,  and  the 
best  cow  of  any  breed.  C.  M.  Culbertson  took 
first  premium  on  three-year-old;  T.  L.  Miller, 
first  premium  on  two-year-old;  T.  L.  Miller, 
first  premium  on  one-year-old.  Thus  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  Herefords  in  these  classes  not 
only  competed  with  the  grades  and  crosses  of 
both  Hereford  and  Shorthorns,  but  also  the 
thoroughbreds  of  both  breeds  were  added, 


ANXIETY   (5188)   2238. 

Bred  by  T.   J.  Carwardine.     (From  a  painting  by  Dewey.) 
The  man  in  the  picture  is  Geo.  F.  Morgan,  who  se- 
lected   Anxiety    for    importation    to    America. 

making  the  Shorthorn  show  much  stronger  than 
before.  The  result  was  a  decisive  victory  for 
the  Herefords,  the  judges  deciding  in  their 
favor. 

In  the  cow  class  the  award  was  to  the  Short- 
horn cow,  over  "Maid  of  Orleans,"  a  Hereford 
cow,  belonging  to  T.  L.  Miller.  This  was  pro- 
nounced the  most  unjust  award  of  the  week. 
But  Mr.  M.  has  arranged  this  class  so  that  the 
judgment  of  the  committee  may  be  tested. 
Both  animals  have  gone  to  Detroit,  where  they 
will  be  dressed  by  W.  Smith  &  Co.,  and  an  ac- 
count kept  of  the  weights.  Thus,  in  two-year- 
old  steer  class  and  cow  class,  when  against 
Herefords,  the  test  on  the  block  will  be  taken. 
Many  of  the  Shorthorn  breeders  charged  Mr. 
M.  of  protesting  and  finding  fault  when  the 
awards  were  against  him;  but  in  this  case  he 
will  be  able  to  show  whether  he  was  right  in 
finding  fault  or  not.  The  next  show  was  for 
the  champion  prize  for  best  bullock  or  cow  in 
the  show.  It  was  admitted  that  the  contest 
was  between  the  Kentucky  steer,  a  grade  Short- 
horn this  year,  and  four  years  old  or  over,  and 
Mr.  Miller's  "Conqueror,"  two  years  old. 

Messrs.    Culbertson    and    Miller    protested 


against  this  steer  showing,  as  he  had  been 
shown  under  false  age  and  pedigree  last  year, 
but  the  Board  decided  that  he  should  be  shown. 
The  award  was  made  to  the  Kentucky  steer. 
As  the  protest  was  made,  the  Board  ordered 
another  award  in  case  the  protest  should  be  sus- 
tained, and  the  next  would  have  been  T.  L. 
Miller's  "Conqueror."  Messrs.  C.  and  M.,  recog- 
nizing that  it  would  be  a  good  deal  of  work  in 
proving  his  age  and  breeding,  withdrew  their 
protest,  but  it  did  not  rest  here.  There  was  a 
good  minority,  if  not  a  majority  of  the  exhibit- 
ors, that  believed  the  Kentucky  steer,  after  his 
record  of  last  year,  should  not  have  been  ad- 
mitted. He  was  not  less^  than  five  years  old. 
Dr.  Paaren,  after  examining  his  mouth,  pro- 
nounced him  nearer  six  years  old  than  five. 
He  weighed  2,465  pounds,  while  the  two-year- 
old  Hereford  weighed  1,845  pounds,  and  had 
made  2.27  pounds  per  day  from  birth  and  took 
the  silver  cup  for  the  largest  gain  per  day  of  any 
two-year-old  in  the  show. 

We  give  in  another  place  an  account  of  this 
Kentucky  steer,  as  shown  last  year.  The 
slaughtering  test  was  the  only  remaining  test 
to  be  made  in  the  cattle  department.  We  give 
a  table  showing  the  particulars  of  this,  but  we 
wish  to  call  attention  to  the  following  facts : 

That  of  the  three-year-old  steers  that  were 
slaughtered,  there  was  one  grade  Hereford, 
one  thoroughbred  Hereford,  one  grade  Short- 
horn. The  grade  Hereford  weighed  at  the  time 
of  slaughtering  1,812^  pounds;  the  thorough- 
bred Hereford  1,850  pounds,  and  the  grade 
Shorthorn  1,5124,  the  Hereford  steers  weighing 
300  pounds  more  than  the  Shorthorn. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  there  was  less  differ- 
ence between  the  fore  and  hind  quarter  in  the 
Hereford  than  the  Shorthorn,  and  the  heads  of 
the  Herefords  were  lighter  than  the  Shorthorns. 

The  two-year-old  Hereford  was  146  pounds 
heavier  and  had  shrunk  from  the  time  of  leav- 
ing home,  45|  pounds,  while  the  Shorthorn  had 
shrunk  99  pounds. 

The  yearling  Hereford  steer  had  a  clear  field. 
Mr.  Gillette  and  Mr.  Moninger  had  each  entered 
yearling  Shorthorns  for  slaughter,  but  both  de- 
clined to  kill  and  could  not  be  induced  to  bring 
the  steers  out. 

The  awards  were  to  T.  L.  Miller,  for  best 
three-year-old ;  J.  D.  Gillette  for  best  two-year- 
old,  and  G.  S.  Burleigh  for  best  one-year-old. 

DRESSED  MEAT  OF  THE  THREE- YEAR-OLDS. 

LBS. 

C.  M.  Culbertson's  steer  weighed 1,256 

T.  L.  Miller's  steer  weighed 1,250^ 

J.  D.  Gillette's  steer  weighed 1,037| 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


269 


DRESSED   MEAT    OF   THE   TWO-YEAR-OLDS. 

LBS. 

J.  D.  Gillette's  steer  weighed 947£ 

T.  L.  Miller's  steer  weighed 1,050$ 

G.    S.    Burleigh's    steer   weighed    (one 

year  old)    816-| 

The  Shorthorn  men  will  get  but  little  com- 
fort out  of  this  show.  But  they  think  they  will 
next  year,  for  they  have  agreed  to  pick  up  the 
best  steers  they  can  find  in  the  United  States, 
and  put  them  in  the  hands  of  Messrs.  J.  H. 
Potts  &  Son,  for  feeding,  and  to  beat  the  Here- 
fords  at  the  next  Fat  Stock  Show.  We  have 
endeavored  to  make  a  report  of  the  Cattle  Show 
as  fairly  as  possible.  We  are,  however,  making 
the  report  from  a  Hereford  standpoint,  and  in- 
vite the  closest  criticism  as  to  the  facts.  We 
shall  expect  to  renew  this  report  after  we  get  re- 
turns from  Messrs.  Smith  &  Co.,  of  Detroit,  of 
the  dressing  of  the  Potts  steer,  the  Scott  cow, 
and  the  "Maid  of  Orleans."  We  shall  also  make 
investigation  in  reference  to  the  Graves  steer, 
of  Kentucky.  These  three  awards  reversed,  the 
Shorthorns  would  have  been  entitled  to  just 
what  the  Herefords  did  not  show  for. 

It  was  admitted  that  as  fine  a  lot  of  cattle 
was  never  shown  on  any  show  ground  by  one 
exhibitor  as  the  six  two-year-olds  shown  by  T. 
L.  Miller. 

We  present  the  tabulated  statement  of  the 
slaughter  test: 


year-old  grade  Hereford,  belonging  to  C. 
M.  Culbertson,  and  the  sweepstakes  to  same 
(bullock)  establishes  his  claims.  The  sweep- 
stakes to  T.  L.  Miller's  two-year-old  "Conquer- 
or," contingent  best  animal  in  the  show,  estab- 
lishes his  claim  in  grades  and  crosses.  Sweep- 
stakes to  T.  L.  Miller's  yearling  establishes  his 
claim. 

One  of  the  winning  grade  Shorthorns  was 
dressed  at  Detroit,  with  T.  L.  Miller's  two-year- 
old,  and  the  Shorthorn  cow  taking  the  sweep- 
stakes was  slaughtered  with  T.  L.  Miller's 
Hereford  cow,  thus  bringing  these  awards  to 
the  test  of  the  block.  The  honors  thus  won 
gave  the  Herefords  a  prestige  for  1881  that 
they  never  had  before.  The  report  of  the 
dressing  of  the  Hereford  cow  "Maid  of  Or- 
leans," will  be  found  in  the  following  letter 
from  Wm.  Smith  &  Son,  of  Detroit,  who  were 
one  of  the  oldest  and  most  reliable  firms  of 
butchers  in  the  country,  Their  exhibit  of 
Christmas  beef  was  the  largest  and  best  made 
in  the  United  States. 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  figures  given  in  this 
letter,  the  Hereford  dressed  the  wonderful 
amount  of  meat  to  live  carcass  of  70.48  per 
cent.  She  was  butchered  in  the  market  and 
hung  up  entire.  So  it  was  impossible  to  weigh 
the  carcass  until  it  was  cut  down  and  quar- 
tered. 

Detroit,  Mich.,  Jan.  29,  1881. 

Dear  Sir:     We  cut  the  heifer  down  yester- 


THE    SLAUGHTER   TEST   OF   THE   CHICAGO   FAT   STOCK    SHOW,  1880. 


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'  Mossy  Coat,"  Hereford  . 
'Chub,"  Shorthorn... 

1860 
1600 

1512% 

1256 
1037% 

69.20 
68.59 

331 

285 

320 

285 

300 
230 

305 

237% 

32 

27% 

104 

87 

19 

103 
79 

161% 
146% 

61% 

47% 

481 
404 

75 

71% 

'  Alex,"  Hereford  — 

1910 

1850 

1250% 

67.59 

327% 

318 

295 

310 

32% 

111 

18% 

120 

184 

64 

530 

69% 

'  Putnam,"  Hereford. 

1652 

1607% 

1050 

65.31 

272% 

272% 

256% 

249 

28 

90% 

16 

112 

185 

55 

486 

65 

'  Blank,"  Shorthorn.. 

1560 

1461 

974% 

66.70 

260 

253% 

227% 

233% 

28 

90 

20 

74% 

174% 

47 

434 

53 

'  Monroe,"  Hereford. 

1265 

1217 

816% 

67.09 

206 

203% 

203% 

203% 

23 

84 

15 

70% 

114 

46 

352% 

48 

•  <;  rand  Chunk,"  Sh.  H. 

1435 

917 

63.90 

..T.  . 

21% 

70 

14 

70 

256 

61 

492% 

26 

To  sum  up  the  Waterloo  defeat  that  we  gave 
the  Shorthorns  at  this  show — the  Herefords  in 
sweepstakes  took  first  for  three-year-old  bul- 
lock ;  first  for  two-year-old  bullock,  and  first  for 
one-year-old  bullock. 

The  awards  which  we  earned,  and  did  not 
receive,  were  in  grades  and  crosses;  first  on 
three-year-old  bullock;  first  and  second  on  two- 
year-old  bullock,  and  sweepstakes  for  best  cow 
in  the  show. 

The   slaughtering   of  "Mossy   Coat,"  three- 


day,  after  hanging  36  days, 
follows: 


She  weighed  as 


One  hind-quarter  273  pounds. 

One  hind-quarter   276      " 

One   fore-quarter    285      <e 

One  fore-quarter    289      " 


1,123  pounds. 
All  the  butchers  in  our  market  agree  with 


270 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


us  that  the  carcass  must  have  shrunk  at  least 
40  pounds.  This  would  make  1,163  pounds, 
the  most  wonderful  exhibit  we  have  ever  seen. 
She  weighed  alive  the  morning  she  was  killed, 
1,650  pounds.  She  cuts  up  well,  but  not  so 
well  as  the  steers,  she  being  very  much  fatter 
than  they.  Her  lean  meat  is  the  tenderest  and 
most  juicy  we  ever  saw. 

After  a  careful  examination  into  the  merits 
of  the  different  animals  slaughtered  by  us  for 


Christmas,  we  consider  the  Herefords  far  ahead 
of  any  of  the  other  breeds  for  quality  and 
profit  to  the  butcher  and  consumer. 

We  are  very  much  elated  with  the  success 
of  our  show  this  year,  and  our  intentions  are 
to  increase  it  next  year.  We  will  try  to  buy 
all  your  fat  cattle  next  fall.  Please  let  us 
know  when  you  are  ready  to  sell. 
Very  truly  yours, 

WM.  SMITH  &  SON. 


A.   P.   TURNER, 
Of   "The   Leen,"   Herefordshire. 


H  1  S T  0  R  Y     OF     H  E  R E  F 0  R D     CATTLE 


271 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

A  CONSPIRACY  THAT  FAILED 


We  give  this  as  it  appeared  in  the  "Breeders' 
Journal,"  only  striking  out  what  we  consider 
non-essential  at  this  date: 

At  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1880, 
the  stock  was  to  be  gathered  by  the  llth  of 
November,  to  be  measured  and  weighed,  that 
the  catalogues  might  be  prepared  by  Monday, 
the  regular  opening  day  of  tbe  show.  This 
four  days  of  preparation  was  enough  to  show 
the  Shorthorn  conspirators  that  something 
must  be  done,  or  the  Herefords  were  to  sweep 
the  board;  and  on  Monday  morning  rumors 
were  rife  that  the  grade  Herefords  were  from 
Shorthorn  cows;  that  the  grade  and  thorough- 
bred Herefords  had  been  subject  to  a  forcing 
process,  while  the  Shorthorns  had  come  to  the 
show  from  the  hands  of  common  farmers  and 
common  farm  methods. 

Tracing  these  reports,  those  who  were  circu- 
lating them  said,  "they  heard  so,"  and  this  is 
all  that  could  be  made;  none  were  ready  to 
stand  father  to  the  report.  Another  report  that 
the  plainsmen  were  sick  of  Herefords,  and 
that  the  Swan  Bros.,  of  Cheyenne,  were  sick  of 
1  IK 'in  and  were  to  get  rid  of  their  Herefords  and 
replace  them  with  Shorthorns.  This  report  was 
met  early  Monday  morning  following  the  other 
reports.  The  circulators  had  no  other  author- 
ity, than  that  they  had  heard  so.  A  telegram 
from  Swan  Bros,  branded  that  a  lie.  A  letter 
from  Lee  &  Reynolds'  ranch  showed  that  the 
Herefords  were  doing  better  than  any  other 
cattle  they  had. 

All  the  usual  appliances  were  in  use  by 
these  conspirators  during  the  week,  that  they 
know  so  well  how  to  practice. 

Some  time  after  this  show  one  of  the  con- 
spirators (T.  C.  Anderson,  of  Kentucky)  comes 
out  into  the  light  and  he  brings  two  others 
out — one  of  these,  a  Shorthorn  breeder  and 
horseman  of  Wisconsin,  another,  a  banker  of 
Kentucky.  We  will  leave  out  the  banker  and 
give  some  attention  to  Anderson  and  the  horse- 
man, and  their  victim,  Mr.  Wm.  Watson. 

Mr.  Anderson  starts  out  with  the  assertion 


that  the  dam  or  grandam  of  Mr.  Miller's  bul- 
locks were  Shorthorn  cows.  This  I  pronounced 
false,  and  challenged  him  to  prove.  He  says, 
"It  is  sufficient  to  say  his  authority 'is  based 
upon  an  assertion  made  and  repeated  to  Robt. 
B.  Ogilvie,  of  Madison,  Wis.,  James  M.  Big- 
staff,  of  Mt.  Sterling,  Ky.,  and  to  myself,  by 
one  whom  we  believe  to  know  the  facts."  An- 
other time  he  says  "The  statement  was  made  by 
one  who  was  often  at  my  place."  I  have  been 
desirous  of  having  this  man  define  his  position 
and  give  his  authority.  I  have  had  letters 
from  friends  advising  that  Anderson  had  given 
the  name  of  his  informer,  and  that  it  is  Wm. 
Watson,  until  lately,  my  herdsman.  In  the 
process  of  dissection,  I  will  give  my  first  at- 
tention to  Mr.  Watson. 

Mr.  Wm.  Watson  is  the  son  of  Mr.  Hugh 
Watson,  a  prominent  breeder  of  Angus  cattle 
in  Scotland,  a  man  who  stood  high  as  a  breeder 
and  as  a  gentleman.  His  son,  William,  in- 
herited these  qualities.  He  was  placed  at  the 
best  schools  and  with  the  best  breeders  of 
England  and  Scotland  to  fit  him  as  a  breeder. 
When  educated  he  was  placed  on  a  farm  and  in 
a  position  where  he  could  use  the  inherited  and 
acquired  advantages,  and  was  achieving  a  sub- 
stantial success.  He  married  and  had  two  chil- 
dren. 

From  Scotland  he  went  to  Australia,  assum- 
ing large  responsibilities.  Here  he  remained 
a  few  years  and  we  next  find  him  in  Oregon, 
in  the  employ  of  a  Mr.  Reid,  a  wealthy  citizen 
of  that  country,  with  the  management  of  a 
large  stock  of  cattle  and  sheep.  From  here 
he  went  to  California,  where  the  American 
Mrs.  Watson  met  him.  Soon  after  this,  we 
find  him  in  Kansas,  in  charge  of  a  large  stock 
of  Shorthorns  and  Berkshires. 

These  positions  were  important  ones  and 
Mr.  Watson  was  entirely  competent  to  fill 
them.  There  was  only  one  drawback — the 
curse  of  liquor  had  followed  him  through  all 
his  wanderings,  through  all  his  misfortunes, 
wrecking  the  hopes  of  his  father,  his  family 


272 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


and  his  business.  These,  I  understand,  only  in 
outline.  My  first  knowledge  of  Mr.  Watson 
was  the  receipt  of  the  following  letter: 

T.  L.  Miller. — Dear  Sir :  I  always  read  with 
interest  your  articles  regarding  the  Herefords, 
a  breed  I  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with  in  Aus- 
tralia. They  would  live  and  grow  fat  where 
Shorthorns  would  starve,  and  at  times  we  had 
journeys  of  2,000  miles  to  drive  to  Melbourne 
market.  The  percentage  of  death  among  Short- 


1T222A 


B.    ROGERS,    "THE    GROVE,"    HEREFORDSHIRE. 
Breeder  of  "The  Grove  3d,"  sold  for  17,000. 

horns  used  to  be  enormous  on  a  long  journey, 
while  the  Herefords  used  to  go  right  through, 
almost  as  fresh  as  when  thev  started. 

I  take  the  "North  British  Agriculturist."  I 
clip  from  the  number  of  June  12th  an  account 
of  the  Bath  and  West  of  England  Show,  where 
you  will  see  the  Herefords  came  off  gloriously 
victorious,  winning  the  challenge  cups  over  the 
Shorthorns  in  bulls  and  cows.  They  have  beat 
the  crack  Shorthorns  of  the  day. 

WM.  WATSON. 

After  this  he  met  me  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show 
in  1879,  and  made  application  for  the  position 
of  herdsman.  I  engaged  him.  Soon  reports 
came  to  me  of  his  habits.  I  brought  these  re- 
ports to  him ;  he  denied  them.  I  said  to  him, 
"Whatever  may  have  been  your  past,  can  I 
depend  upon  you  for  the  future  ?"  He  assured 
me  that  I  could.  I  tried  him.  His  old  habits 
proved  too  strong  for  him.  I  talked  to  him 


and  he  promised  reformation.  One  who  has 
a  desire,  might  feel  proud  to  lift  such  a  man 
from  the  vice  of  intemperance  to  manhood. 

On  my  second  visit  to  England,  taking  my 
wife  with  me,  I  put  Mrs.  Watson  into  my  house 
as  housekeeper,  and  him  to  take  the  waiting  on 
the  table,  as  carver,  etc.,  hoping  thus  to  keep  a 
restraint  upon  him,  coining  three  times  a  day  to 
the  table,  but  it  lasted  hardly  ten  days,  before 
he  got  two  of  my  most  trusted  young  men  into 
a  quarrel  in  a  saloon,  and  this  was  the  last  of 
restraint. 

On  my  return  from  England  in  October,  I 
said  to  Mr.  Watson  that  hereafter  I  must  run 
my  business  without  whiskey,  and  he  assented. 
Our  supervisors  had  refused  licenses,  and  our 
saloons  were  closed.  I  earnestly  hoped  by  this 
help  to  keep  him  from  whiskey;  but  he  would 
contribute,  and  have  the  hands  contribute,  and 
buy  by  the  gallon,  and  have  it  on  the  place; 
while  assenting  to  my  plans,  and  professing  to 
work  with  me,  he  was  really  against  me.  In 
this  unfortunate  condition  the  Shorthorn  con- 
spirators found  him  a  willing  tool  for  their 
work. 

In  the  fall  of  1878  one  of  the  conspirators 
was  an  exhibitor  of  Shorthorns  at  Minneapolis. 
Col.  W.  S.  King  had  the  management  of  this 
show  and  had  taken  special  pains  to  get  com- 
petent and  reputable  judges ;  among  them  were 
Geo.  Murray,  of  Racine,  Wis.,  and  also  another 
man  in  whom  Col.  King  had  great  confidence, 
who  was  a  cattle  buyer  of  Minneapolis,  and 
another,  a  Shorthorn  breeder  of  Iowa.  The 
committee  were  entirely  unknown  to  me,  but 
their  manner  of  judging  in  classes  showed  an 
intelligent  knowledge  of  their  business.  I  was 
willing  to  accept  them  for  the  sweepstakes 
judges.  The  Shorthorn  conspirators  objected, 
and  Mr.  Geo.  Murray,  one  of  the  most  rep- 
utable of  Shorthorn  breeders  in  the  country 
was  ruled  off.  A  Mr. ,  then  of  Mil- 
waukee, later  of  Minneapolis,  was  named  to 
fill  his  place.  When  the  question  was  put  to 
him  whether  he  had  any  interest  in  Shorthorns, 
he  replied  "yes,"  he  was  a  Shorthorn  breeder. 
Can  you  judge  impartially  as  between  Short- 
horns and  Herefords?  No,  did  not  think  he 
could.  He  was  excused.  Another  man  who 
was  not  interested  in  Shorthorns  was  named; 
he  could  judge  fairly  as  between  Shorthorns 
and  Herefords;  had  no  interest  or  prejudice 
that  would  interfere  with  impartial  judging. 
He  was  a  horseman,  and  retained.  The  judges 
gave  the  first  to  the  Shorthorns,  the  second  to 
my  Herefords.  The  first  prize  herd  had  no 
right  to  the  premium,  whether  as  compared 
with  my  herd  or  other  Shorthorn  herds. 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


273 


At  the  Shorthorn  conspirator's  special  re- 
quest, a  Young  Herd  premium  was  offered,  and 
this  special  premium  he  had  made  special  ar- 
rangements to  take  off;  but  it  was  too  glaring 
and  he  failed  to  do  so,  and  my  young  herd 
carried  off  the  honors.  The  man  who  was  ten- 
dered as  a  judge  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Murray, 
was  a  personal  friend  of  the  conspirator  before 
and  after  judging. 

The  Shorthorn  exhibitors  claimed  that  my 
winnings  were  due  to  greater  skill  in  fitting, 
and  if  they  could  secure  Mr.  Morgan  to  the 
Shorthorn  interest,  Miller  and  the  Herefords 
would  be  nowhere,  and  the  Shorthorns  could 
regain  their  former  position.  They  placed  be- 
fore Mr.  Morgan  the  beauties  of  Bow  Park ;  the 
respectable  position  that  could  be  his  at  that 
renowned  institution.  But  Mr.  Morgan  could 
not  be  bought  or  seduced. 

But  this  partial  failure  at  Minneapolis  did 
not  discourage  the  conspirators;  they  arose  to 
the  surface  again  in  1880,  at  the  Fat  Stock 
Show  at  Chicago,  and  took  advantage  of  the 
misfortune  of  my  unfortunate  herdsman.  To 
make  the  fullest  use  of  their  tool  they  must 
attempt  to  prove  their  assertions  as  to  my  Here- 
fords  by  him.  "Miller  and  his  Herefords,"  they 
said,  "owe  their  success  over  the  Shorthorns  to 
the  skill  with  which  Watson  has  fed  them,"  and 
now  their  desire  was  to  get  Watson  away,  and 
have  Miller  where  Delilah  left  Samson.  They 
pictured  to  him  the  beauties  of  the  blue  grass 
pastures  of  Kentucky ;  the  high  standing  of  the 
Shorthorn  breeders  in  Kentucky — what  a  re- 
spectable standing  he  could  have  among  them 
and  in  that  society.  "Break  with  Miller  and 
the  Herefords  and  your  future  is  secure,"  and 
unfortunately  he  sold  himself  for  less  than  thir- 
tv  pieces  of  silver,  and  no  doubt  regretfully 
wished  to  hang  himself  many  times  before  he 
was  done  with  them. 

I    have    charged    that   the    Shorthorn    men 

.gained  the  position  they  hold  by  other  means 

than  those  of  merit.     I  present  the  course  of 

the  conspirators  at  Minneapolis  in  1878V  as  an 

evidence. 

I  present  the  facts  of  the  American  Fat 
Stock  Show  at  Chicago  in  1880,  and  these  jobs 
must  attach  to  the  exhibitors  of  Shorthorns  at 
those  shows.  These  were  but  illustrations  of 
the  plan  in  which  they  picked  up  the  best  bul- 
locks and  show  cattle  in  the  country  and  put 
them  in  the  hands  of  the  best  feeders  they  could 
find,  and  by  manipulation  of  the  judges  come 
prepared  to  beat  the  Herefords. 

Judas  took  his  pay  in  hand ;  my  unfortunate 
assistant,  in  a  time  of  weakness,  took  his  in 
promises,  and  as  soon  as  through  with  him 


they  spurned  him,  as  did  the  purchasers  of 
Judas.  Benedict  Arnold  turned  traitor  for  re- 
venge, and  lived,  cursed  by  those  he  betrayed 
and  those  who  bought  him.  Happily,  "Uncle 
Willie"  (^195),  as  he  is  now  affectionately 
called  by  his  many  friends  in  all  breeds,  saw 
the  error  of  his  way,  his  inherent  excellent  qual- 
ities again  predominated,  and  returning  to  his 
"first  love,"  he  attached  himself  again  to  his 
father's  breed — his  first  and  true  love,  the 
Aberdeen- Angus  cattle,  and  has  achieved  a  last- 
ing reputation  and  position,  worthy  of  his  splen- 
did abilities,  that  outshine  all  error,  and  that 
make  even  this  forced  reference  to  earlier  fol- 
lies repugnant  to  the  writer.  All's  well,  how- 
ever, that  ends  well. 

It  has  never  been  our  aim  to  stand  on  the 
defensive.  Like  Mr.  Sotham,  we  ever  proposed 
to  make  this  Hereford  controversy,  to  the  best 


MRS.    SARAH   EDWARDS, 
Of  Wintercott,  Herefordshire. 

of  our  ability,  an  aggressive  one.  The  Short- 
horn advocates  for  a  time  adopted  the  policy  of 
letting  us  alone,  hoping  that  by  the  let-alone 
policy,  the  Hereford  movement  would  die  of 
itself.  But  in  pushing  their  claims,  they  would 
say  to  stock  journals,  "If  you  permit  this  Here- 
ford question  to  be  discussed  you  must  look  to 


274 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


them  for  support.  We  won't  support  any  jour- 
nal that  is  not  wholly  in  the  interest  of  our 
breed."  Their  patronage  was  large,  and  it  had 
the  influence  they  desired. 

But  the  time  came  when  they  could  not  ig- 
nore the  Hereford  claims.  They  must  meet 
the  issue,  and  in  their  usual  manner  they  did. 
Mr.  Anderson,  of  Kentucky,  opened  the  ball. 
On  Nov.  1,  1880,  he  savs:  "The  effusions  of 


T.   EDWARDS, 
Wintercott,  Herefordshire. 

T.  L.  Miller  (the  Hereford  advocate)  appearing 
from  time  to  time  in  the  agricultural  press  of 
the  country,  have  puzzled  me  not  a  little  to 
discover  why  a  gentleman  of  his  sense  and  evi- 
dent research,  casting  aside  as  if  for  naught 
the  experience  of  the  British  farmer,  and  of  the 
older  states  of  our  nation,  could  prefer  the 
Herefords  (with  their  heavy  necks,  heads,  fore- 
quarterg  and  light  hind-quarters),  to  the  Short- 
horn, with  his  well  nigh  universally  admitted 
superiority  for  any  purpose  whatever,  for  which 
the  cattle  kind  is  intended." 

The  above  is  Mr.  Anderson's  opening  of  the 
fight ;  and  we  wish  the  reader  to  note  especially 
the  date  of  this  letter.  It  was  written  on  the 
first  day  of  November,  1880 ;  and  we  wish  to 


call  attention  to  another  fact:  that  the  Fat 
Stock  Show  opened  on  the  llth  to  receive 
stock,  and  on  the  15th  to  receive  visitors. 
These  dates  you  will  fix  clearly  in  your  minds, 
and  we  wish  Shorthorn  breeders  as  well  as 
Hereford  breeders  to  take  note  of  this — and 
not  only  Hereford  and  Shorthorn  breeders,  but 
farmers  of  England  and  this  nation  to  note  the 
fact,  for  we  propose  to  make  a  case  that  had  its 
origin  at  Side  View  Farm  (One-side  View,  may 
we  say),  a  case  that  will  stamp  Mr.  Anderson  as 
a  conspirator. 

After  they  had  got  Mr.  Watson  away,  and 
magnified  his  fancied  grievances  against  me, 
the  conspirators  wrote  severally  to  the  "Kansns 
City  Indicator"  several  communications,  to 
which  I  replied  as  follows  in  the  same  paper, 
in  a  communication  addressed  to  the  editor: 

"I  have  your  journal  with  Anderson's  letters 
of  21st  and  28th,  and  Watson's  letter  of  28th. 
Passing  Watson's  letter  with  the  statement  that 
his  remarks,  as  a  whole  and  in  detail,  are  false : 

"Mr.  Anderson,  after  all  his  discharge  of 
billingsgate,  closes  his  letter  of  the  28th  with 
the  statement  that  the  real  question  at  issue  is, 
that  Miller's  show  cattle  had  Shorthorn  dams 
and  Shorthorn  grandams,  and  with  the  denial 
of  there  being  any  Shorthorn  conspiracy. 

"I  accept  these  issues.  I  gave  in  the  April 
number  of  the  'Breeders'  Live  Stock  Journal,' 
and  'National  Live  Stock  Journal,'  the 
breeding  of  'Conqueror's'  dam;  she  was  got  by 
Parson's  Hereford  bull  'Fairboy';  grandam  got 
by  Devon  bull, nearly  full  blood;  great-grandam 
got  by  Hereford  bull;  great-great-grandam,  a 
red  cow  of  unknown  breeding.  Will  Mr.  An- 
derson find  the  proportion  of  Shorthorn  blood? 
01  196) 

"The  age  of  'Conqueror'  was  stated  substan- 
tially correct.  He  was  one  of  four  grades,  two- 
year-olds,  one  of  which,  'Putnam,'  was  showed 
in  1879  as  a  yearling,  and  his  age  was  stated  by 
Mr.  Morgan  as  one  year  old,  July  12,  1879.  He 
weighed  at  the  1879  show  1,152  pounds;  and 
'Conqueror'  was  estimated  at  that  time  to 
weigh  1,000  pounds,  and  was  the  younger  steer 
as  my  recollection  serves  me,  and  his  weight 
would  indicate  this. 

"  'Kansas'  was  exhibited  as  a  yearling  on  the 
record  of  his  mouth;  he  had  a  yearling  mouth, 
and  did  not  change  until  December.  This  is 
all  I  know  of  him.  The  other  two  steers  were 
from  common  cows.  Mr.  W.  E.  Campbell,  of 
Caldwell,  Kansas,  and  Mr.  A.  B.  Matthews,  of 
Kansas  City,  have  both  seen  the  cows  and  can 
testify  as  to  how  much  of  Shorthorn  character 
they  carry.  Mr.  Fielding  W.  Smith,  of  Wood- 
landville,  Mo.,  has  also  seen  the  cows,  and  I 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLF, 


275 


shall  be  very  glad  to  show  them  to  anybody 
who  will  take  the  trouble  to  call  on  me.  So 
much  for  Shorthorn  dams  and  grandams. 

"I  shall  most  cheerfully  submit  four  of  my 
two-year-old  steers  to  the  examination  of  an 
impartial  committee  in  comparison  with  other 
two-year-old  steers  of  Shorthorn  breed  ex- 
hibited at  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1880,  to  deter- 
mine the  age  from  the  mouth  of  the  several 
animals. 

"As  to  Mr.  Anderson's  denial  of  any  con- 
spiracy; the  circumstances  at  Minneapolis, 
Chicago,  etc.,  interviews  with  Watson,  the 
statements  they  got  from  Watson,  and  the 
continued  correspondence  Anderson  holds  with 
Watson,  are  against  him.  When  Mr.  Watson 
left  my  employ,  he  immediately  writes  Ander- 
son that  he  can  use  his  name  for  authority ;  Mr. 
Anderson  writes  Watson  to  come  to  Side  View; 
Mr.  Watson  goes.  The  circumstances  certainly 
favor  the  conclusion  that  there  was  a  con- 
spiracy, and  Mr.  Anderson  is  the  victim  of  an 
unfortunate  set  of  circumstances  if  the  charge 
is  not  true. 

"The  time  has  come  when  the  Shorthorn  ad- 
vocates must  meet  the  issues  on  their  merits, 
and  not  by  suborning  witnesses  or  forming 
rings  by  which  to  secure  partial  and  partisan 
judges.  Browbeating  and  bulldozing  will  not- 
answer.  Yours  truly, 

"T.  L.  MILLER." 

We  had  taken  up  the  past  history  of  the 
Hereford  and  Shorthorn  progress  and  followed 
it  from  1742  when  Mr.  Tomkins  commenced 
flic  improvement  of  Herefords,  and  Mr. 
Charles  Colling  the  improvement  of  Short- 
horns, in  about  the  year  1775,  or  a  little  earlier, 
to  1834,  when  Mr.  Henry  Berry  and  his  asso- 
ciate breeders  of  Shorthorns,  took  the  machin- 
ery of  the  Society  for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful 
Knowledge,  using  Prof.  Youatt  as  the  author 
to  write  up  the  Shorthorns  and  write  down  the 
Herefords.  Anyone  that  will  follow  the  case 
cannot  come  to  any  other  conclusion  than  that 
Shorthorn  ascendency  was  secured  and  main- 
tained by  a  conspiracy  of  the  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers to  advance  their  interest. 

We  had  proposed  at  first  to  continue  and 
bring  down  this  history  another  decade  from 
1834  to  1851,  but  a  personal  and  persistent 
fight  was  forced  upon  us  and  we  were  obliged 
to  take  it  up  and  leave  our  purpose  of  bringing 
up  the  past  and  take  the  present — not  that  we 
proposed  to  relinquish  our  plans,  but  simply 
to  lay  them  aside  temporarily.  It  was  our  pur- 
pose to  show  the  course  that  Shorthorn  men 
have  pursued  to  give  their  breed  a  prominence, 
that  they  never  were  entitled  to;  and  no 


amount  of  abuse,  or  any  number  of  conspira- 
tors or  conspiracies  could  deter  us  from  this 
object  or  change  our  purpose. 

It  was  said  in  some  leading  journal  about 
this  time,  that  if  President  Garfield  should 
disturb  the  Star  Route  conspirators  or  con- 
tractors, there  would  be  a  war  waged  on  him 
and  lies  told  about  him  that  would  surprise 
the  public.  We  were  prepared  for  something 
similar  upon  ourselves.  We  may  have  had  men 
about  us  that  could  be  bought;  we  may  have 
had  such  men  sent  to  us  that  we  might  take 
them  into  our  employ,  and  they  from  that 
vantage  point  declare  the  lies  that  were  used, 
but  we  proposed  to  weed  out  this  class  and 
employ  men  wholly  in  our  interest,  for  we  did 
not  propose  to  employ  men  working  wholly  in 
the  Shorthorn  interest.  At  this  time  Mr.  Wm. 
H.  Sotham  was  writing  and  publishing  in  the 
"Drovers'  Journal"  his  experience  with  Short- 
horn men  and  their  plans,  and  the  means  they 
used  against  him  and  the  Herefords,  and  we 
called  the  attention  of  cattle  breeders,  stock- 
men and  farmers  to  'this  series  of  articles, 
which  we  have  preserved  in  this  book,  and  to 
the  fact  that  the  "Drovers'  Journal,"  beside 
these  articles,  was  well  worth  the  attention  of 
every  man  interested  in  live  stock  matters  for 
the  general  information  on  these  subjects. 

With  these  statements,  we  gave  our  atten- 
tion to  the  issues  forced  upon  us  by  the  advo- 


DE   COTE    (3060)    2243. 
Bred  by  T.    Edwards.     (From  a  painting  by   Gauci.) 

cates  of  the  Shorthorn  interest;  we  quote  again 
from  the  Anderson  letter  of  November  1,  1880: 
"So  far  as  his  (Miller's)  assertions  are  con- 
cerned, about  the  control  of  agricultural  soci- 
eties and  the  use  of  the  press  of  both  this  coun- 
try and  England  and  being  engaged  in  dis- 
honorable practices  to  keep  the  Hereford  down 
and  the  Shorthorn  up.  *  *  *  There  is  an 
old  saying  that  right  will  finally  assert  itself 


276 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


and  it  is  a  very  queer  state  of  affairs  if  for  all 
these  long  years,  both  in  England  and  Amer- 
ica, wrong  ideas  have  been  prevailing." 

Again  he  says:  "What  authority  has  Mr.  Mil- 
ler for  saying  that  the  Herefords  will  graze  and 
feed  at  less  cost  than  the  Shorthorns?" 

Without  quoting  further,  we  inserted  Mr. 
Anderson's  letter  in  full  in  the  "Breeders' 
Journal,"  that  we  might  not  be  charged  with 
garbling,  and  took  up  the  fight  as  a  business. 
When  we  charged  a  conspiracy,  and  the  pur- 


HELIANTHUS   (4841)   1549. 

Bred    by    the    Earl    of    Southesk,    Scotland.     Weight    at  4  * 
years,   3,000  pounds.     (From  a  water-color  etching.) 

chase  of  witnesses,  Mr.  Anderson  felt  it  neces- 
sary to  come  out  with  a  personal  statement  to 
his  customers,  explaining  how  he  came  to  be 
in  Chicago  at  alt;  it  was  merely  accidental. 
Well!  We  will  give  Mr.  Anderson  the  benefit 
of  this  explanation,  which  is  as  follows: 

ANDERSON'S  APOLOGY  TO  HIS  CUSTOMERS. 

Side  View,  Montgomery  Co.,  Ky., 

March  28,  1881. 
To  the  Cattle  Breeders  of  the  West : 

For  some  months  a  controversy  has  been 
pending  concerning  the  respective  merits  of 
the  Shorthorns  and  Herefords,  which  in  an  un- 
guarded moment  I  permitted  my  opponent  to 
divert  from  the  point  at  issue  and  change  into 
a  matter  personal. 

As  I  have  made  and  proved  great  charges 
concerning  the  breeding  and  ages  of  the  Here- 
ford cattle  belonging  to  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent if  unscrupulous  (as  it  has  been  demon- 
strated) breeders  of  that  tribe  in  America,  if 
not  in  England;  and  as  many  of  you  are  my 
personal  acquaintances,  it  might  not  be  amiss 
to  point  out  the  way;  how,  by  accident,  I  dis- 
covered the  frauds  which  my  opponent  was 
practicing  upon  the  Illinois  State  Board  of 


Agriculture  and  upon  the  credulity  of  the  cat- 
tle breeders  of  America. 

Without  any  design  whatever  on  the  part  of 
James  M.  Bigstaff  (a  fellow  Shorthorn  breeder  . 
and  President  of  the  Exchange  Bank  of  Mt. 
Sterling,  Ky.)  and  myself  to  attend  the  Fat 
Stock  Show,  held  in  Chicago,  we  left  Mt.  Ster- 
ling on  Nov.  17,  1880,  to  attend  Col.  Robt. 
Holloway's  sale  of  Shorthorns'  at  Alexis,  111.,  on 
the  18th,  and  to  be  in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  on 
the  20th,  on  private  business  matters.  We  at- 
tended Col.  Holloway's  sale  on  the  18th,  and 
after  the  sale  was  over  we  were  prevailed  upon 
by  friends  to  attend  the  Fat  Stock  Show  on  the 
19th,  as  by  leaving  Alexis  at  night  we  could 
be  in  Chicago  by  morning,  and  laying  over 
there  until  the  afternoon  still  be  in  Youngs- 
town  by  the  20th.  Thus  seeing  we  could  ful- 
fill business  engagements,  we  stopped  over  at 
Chicago  a  portion  of  the  day  on  the  19th.  By 
the  merest  accident,  soon  after  our  arrival  we 
met  Robt.  B.  Ogilvie,  of  Madison,  Wis.,  a  thor- 
ough gentleman,  with  all  that  implies,  and  an 
old  friend,  and  we  three  attended  the  Fat 
Stock  Show  together. 

After  examination  of  the  live  stock,  I  re- 
marked the  patent  dissimilarity  between  the 
quarters,  flanks  and  necks  of  the  said  T.  L. 
Miller's  cattle,  as  noticeable  between  the  grade 
and  pure-bred  Herefords,  and  expressed  a  de- 
sire to  know  something  of  the  breeding  of  the 
cattle.  Mr.  Ogilvie  asked  me  if  I  knew  Mr. 
Miller;  I  replied  I  did  not,  when  he  remarked, 
I'll  introduce  you  to  him.  On  looking  around 
for  Mr.  Miller  he  did  not  see  him,  but  re- 
marked, I  see  Mr.  Watson,  a  very  intelligent 
gentleman,  Miller's  superintendent,  and  per- 
haps he  can  tell  you  of  their  breeding.  He 
then  introduced  me  to  Mr.  Watson,  when  I 
immediately  inquired  if  he  could  tell  me  the 
breeding  of  certain  cattle,  pointing  them  out. 
He  said  he  could,  and  immediately  commenced 
with  "Conqueror,"  he  being  nearest  at  the 
time,  telling  me  of  his  two  crosses  by  Hereford 
bulls,  and  that  his  grandam  was  a  Shorthorn 
cow,  a  second  of  his  premium  steers  being  by  a 
Hereford  bull  and  out  of  a  Shorthorn  cow,  and 
so  on  through  the  lot,  describing  each  steer's 
breeding  and  what  he  had  fed  him.  I  asked 
only  such  questions  in  the  natural  way  as  any 
breeder  would  be  likely  to  ask,  concerning  more 
than  ordinary  cattle  he  was  examining  or  had 
under  consideration. 

This  was  the  first  time  I  ever  saw  Mr.  Wat- 
son and  I  never  saw  him  again  until  this 
month  of  March,  1881.  Bigstaff  and  I  hurried 
off  on  our  trip,  that  afternoon,  and  I  never 
saw  or  spoke  to  a  Shorthorn  exhibitor  on  that 


HIS TOBY  OF  HEEEFOED  CATTLE 


27? 


day,  except  young  Potts,  and  with  him  only 
passed  the  civilities  of  acquaintanceship,  nor 
did  I  think  anything  more  specially  concerning 
Miller's  Herefords  until  I  saw  his  puffs  and 
blowings  in  the  press,  claiming  all  in  all  for 
the  Herefords  and  ranting  concerning  the  Fat 
Stock  Show,  when  I  reminded  him  of  the 
Shorthorn  relationship  of  his  cattle,  and  that 
the  Shorthorns  deserved  part  of  the  praise. 
(fl  197)  On  his  denying  my  assertion  of  the 
Shorthorn  relationship  of  his  cattle,  I  wrote 
for  the  first  time  in  February  to  Mr.  Watson, 
reminding  him  of  the  breeding  of  Miller's  cat- 
tle as  he  had  told  me  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show, 
and  requesting  him  to  put  in  black  and  white 
his  statement  concerning  the  breeding  as  made 
to  me  at  the  show  in  presence  of  Ogilvie  and 
Bigstaff,  as  Miller  had  denied  the  same  pub- 
licly. I  sent  his  letter  under  cover  to  a  promi- 
nent man  in  Chicago,  for  him  to  mail  to 
Watson,  believing  if  Mr.  Miller  should  get  Wat- 
son's mail  and  see  a  letter  post-marked  Ken- 
tucky, he  would  not  deliver  it,  as  a  man  who 
will  deny  the  breeding  of  his  cattle  is  not  above 
tampering  with  private  letters.  Mr.  Watson 
answered  this  letter  in  due  course  of  mail,  re- 
affirming the  Shorthorn  breeding  of  Miller's 
cattle  and  added  about  their  being  exhibited 
under  false  age. 

This  is  the  unvarnished  statement  of  the 
whole  affair  and  concerning  which  T.  L.  Miller 
cries  bribery,  conspiracy,  etc.  No  man  on  earth 
ever  heard  or  did  I  ever  offer  Mr.  Watson  one 
cent  or  any  other  amount  of  money,  directly 
or  indirectly,  position,  emolument,  or  anything 
else,  for  the  consideration  that  he  would  tell 
me  this  or  that  concerning  T.  L.  Miller's  or 
any  other  man's  cattle.  Any  other  statement 
and  from  any  other  source  whatever,  that  con- 
flicts with  the  above  in  regard  to  the  way  I 
got  my  information  concerning  the  Shorthorn 
relationship  of  the  cattle  which  T.  L.  Miller, 
"Beecher,"  Will  County,  111.,  exhibited  at  Chi- 
cago, last  November,  is  a  falsehood  out  of 
whole  cloth  and  the  retailer  of  it  a  slanderer 
per  se.  Yours  with  respect, 

THOS.  CORWIN  ANDERSON. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  his  aim  in  this  article 
is  to  show  that  he  had  no  special  thought  of 
Miller  or  the  Herefords,  and  that  it  was  the 
merest  accident  that  he  should  be  at  the  show. 
Comparing  this  apology  with  his  letter  of 
Nov.  1,  1880,  as  follows: 

Side  View,  Montgomery  Co.,  Ky., 

November  1,  1880. 
Editor  Kansas  City  "Indicator" : 

The  effusions  of  T.  L.  Miller  (the  Hereford 
advocate),  appearing  from  time  to  time  in  the 


agricultural  press  of  the  country,  have  puzzled 
me  not  a  little  to  discover  a  reason  why  a 
gentleman  of  his  sense  and  evident  research, 
casting  aside  as  for  naught  the  experience  of 
the  British  farmers  and  the  farmers  of  the 
older  states  of  our  own  nation,  could  prefer  the 
Herefords  (with  their  heavy  necks,  heads,  fore- 
quarters,  and  light  hind-quarters)  to  the  Short- 
horn, with  his  well-nigh  universally  admitted 
superiority,  for  any  purpose  whatever  for  which 
the  cattle  kind  is  intended. 

His  letter  of  the  19th  in  your  issue  of  Octo- 
ber 28,  just  received,  makes  it  perfectly  clear, 
however,  when  he  says,  "There  is  not  a  promi- 
nent Shorthorn  herd  in  America  that  can  fur- 
nish milk  enough  to  raise  their  own  calves"; 
that  it  is  a  piece  of  ignorance  on  his  part;  or 
that  his  expression  is  father  to  his  own  wish, 
in  these  respects.  To  illustrate,  Mt.  Sterling, 
Ky.,  and  within  a  radius  of  ten  miles,  probably 
contains  a  larger  number  of  Shorthorns  than 
any  other  equal  extent  of  territory  in  America, 


GEO.   LEIGH, 
Aurora,  111. 

yet  so  far  from  Mr.  Miller's  assertion  being 
true,  it  is  just  to  the  contrary;  for  there  is  not 
only  not  a  nurse  cow  in  any  one  of  the  herds, 
but  the  cows  raise  their  own  calves,  and  in 
many  cases  the  cows  have  to  be  stripped  after 
the  calves  have  done  nursing,  from  the  fact 
that  the  calves  cannot  take  all  the  milk.  Can 
Mr.  Miller  say  so  much  for  his  much  puffed 


278 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


C.  W.  COOK, 
Odebolt,  Iowa. 


Hereford  herd,  or  can  he  name  a  Shorthorn 
herd  in  Kentucky  that  does  not  raise  its  own 
calves  with  its  own  mothers?  We  think  not, 
never  having  heard  of  such  a  herd  in  this  state. 
I  was  well  acquainted  also  with  the  Shorthorn 
herds  of  Jackson  County,  Mo.,  until  two  sea- 
sons past,  and  there,  as  here,  the  cows  raise 
their  own  calves/  I  also  visited  a  very  promi- 
nent herd  in  Mr.  Miller's  own  state  (Illinois), 

this  past  season, 
and  found  the  Win- 
slow  Bros.'  herd 
not  only  raising 
their  own  calves, 
but  also  giving 
much  milk  in  ex- 
cess, which  was  be- 
ing made  up  into 
quantities  of  butter 
and  cheese  for  mar- 
ket. I  have  also 
just  returned  from 
a  visit  to  several 
of  the  prominent 
Shorthorn  herds  in 
Ohio,  viz.,  those  of 
Hills,  Jones,  An- 
drews, and  others, 

and  found  the  cows  raising  their  calves  and 
no  assistants.  Therefore,  I  repeat,  without 
fear  of  successful  contradiction,  that  Mr. 
Miller  knows  nothing  of  the  prominent 
Shorthorn  herds  of  the  United  States,  when 
he  says  they  don't  give  sufficient  milk  to 
raise  their  own  calves,  and  his  assertion  is 
father  to  his  own  wish,  that  such  should  be  the 
case.  Further,  will  Mr.  Miller  deny  that  the 
prominent  dairies  of  England  are  composed  of 
high-grade  and  pure-bred  Shorthorn  cows? 
If  he  does,  the  London  "Agricultural  Gazette" 
and  "Journal"  do  not  so  report,  and  they  are  the 
standard  stock  papers  of  that  country,  so  I  am 
informed.  I  have  understood  .this  to  be  true 
also  of  the  large  dairies  of  New  York. 

Again,  when  he  says,  if  the  claim  was  good 
for  anything,  it  would  not  add  anything  to  the 
value  of  the  breed  to  go  to  the  plains  of  Texas, 
he  is  in  great  error,  and  his  assertion  proves 
him  anything  but  a  practical  cattleman,  for  on 
the  plains  and  in  Texas  it  is  doubly  necessary 
that  an  abundant  flow  of  milk  be  kept  up. 
There  the  calves  depending  entirely  upon  their 
mother's  milk  for  a  steady  growth,  if  they  are 
deprived  of  it,  will  be  stunted,  and  all  practical 
cattlemen  know  the  result  of  cattle  being 
stunted  in  the  first  eight  months  of  their  ex- 
istence. They  never  outgrow  it,  are  that  much 
longer  in  preparation  for  market  and  worth 
that  much  less  when  they  go  to  market. 


So  far  as  his  assertions  are  concerned  about 
"the  control  of  the  agricultural  societies  and 
the  use  of  the  press,"  if  they  mean  anything, 
they  mean  that  the  agricultural  societies  and 
press  of  both  this  country  and  England,  and, 
in  short,  everywhere  (the  objectionable  features 
and  uses  to  him  being  the  same  everywhere), 
are  engaged  in  dishonorable  practices  to  keep 
the  Hereford  down  and  the  Shorthorn  up. 
There  is  an  old  saying  that  right  will  finally 
assert  itself,  yet  from  the  time  when  interest 
was  first  felt  in  cattle  kind,  down  to  this  date 
the  Shorthorn  has  always,  in  the  estimation  of 
the  very  great  majority  of  beef  producers  and 
butchers,  been  considered  the  superior  of  the 
Herefords;  and  it  is  a  very  queer  state  of  affairs 
if,  for  all  these  long  years,  both  in  England 
and  America,  wrong  ideas  have  been  prevail- 
ing, that  self-interest  should  not  have  so  ad- 
justed itself  in  this  respect  as  to  be  in  accord 
with  the  opinions  of  Mr.  Miller. 

Again,  what  authority  has  Mr.  Miller  for 
saying  that  the  Hereford  will  graze  and  feed 
at  less  cost  than  the  Shorthorn,  and  when  fed 
be  worth  more  money? 

If  this  be  true,  why  has  not  the  English 
farmer  more  generally  adopted  the  Hereford 
than  the  Shorthorn?  The  Hereford  first  ar- 
rived in  America  about  the  year  1816  or  1817  (a 
very  few  years  behind  the  Shorthorn),  and  why 
have  not  the  farmers  in  the  older  states  where 
the  Hereford  was  first  taken  adopted  him  instead 
of  the  Shorthorn  ?  Certainly,  Mr.  Miller  will  not 
allege  that  the  agricultural  press  and  societies 
have  kept  the  intelligent  Yankee  farmer,  as  well 
as  the  British  farmer,  in  the  dark  all  these  long 
years.  Could  it  be  possible  that  our  prejudices, 
fed  from  these  sources,  have  been  cheating  our 
pockets  for  near  a  century  in  America,  and 
from  the  time  the  memory  of  man  runneth  not, 
in  Queen  Victoria's  realms  also?  From  the 
best  light  I  can  get  the  Hereford  is  very  near, 
if  not  quite  as  old  a  tribe  of  distinct  bred  cat- 
tle as  the  Shorthorn  in  England — there  they 
have  been  bred,  grown  and  marketed  side  by 
side  for  over  a  century,  both  originally  confined 
to  small  districts,  but  now  the  Shorthorn  habi- 
tation is  co-extensive  with  British  agriculture 
and  the  Herefords  more  restricted  than  ever, 
growing  less  yearly  on  account  of  the  steady 
encroachments  of  the  former  on  his  native  ter- 
ritory. The  English  farmer  is  given  the  credit, 
I  believe,  of  being  the  best  farmer  in  the  world, 
his  yearly  rental  often  exceeding  in  price  the 
cost  for  fee  simple  of  our  improved  western 
farms.  Why  is  it,  if  Mr.  Miller's  assertion  be 
true,  about  the  Hereford  feeding  and  grazing 
for  less  than  the  Shorthorn,  and  when  fed 
worth  more  money,  that  the  English  farmer 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


279 


himself,  generally,  don't  grow  the  Hereford 
instead  of  the  Shorthorn?  It  can't  be  now, 
after  growing  them  for  a  century,  they  could 
not  have  increased  the  Hereford  numbers  so 
as  to  supply  themselves  if  they  agreed  with 
Mr.  Miller.  Nor  can  it  be  the  high  price  of  the 
Hereford  per  head  that  the  English  farmer,  in 
the  ordinary  circumstances,  cannot  purchase 
them,  for  no  one  knows  better  than  Mr.  Miller 
that  there  never  has  been  a  time,  nor  is  it  so 
now,  that  the  best  class  of  thoroughbred  Here- 
ford cows  in  England  cannot  be  bought  for  as 
little  money  per  head  as  the  lowest  classes  of 
thoroughbred  Shorthorn  cows.  Could  it  be  pos- 
sible that  the  English  farmer  does  not  know  his 
own  interest?  He  is  certainly  a  great  booby  if 
Mr.  Miller's  assertion  be  true.  I  said  before 
that  the  Hereford  put  in  his  first  appearance 
in  America  in  about  the  years  1816  and 
1817,  and  his  arrival  was  but  a  few  years  be- 
hind the  Shorthorn  in  this  country.  If  they 
are  such  excellent  cattle,  what  has  become  of 
all  the  descendants  of  all  these  early  importa- 
tions? Strange  the  farmers  of  the  older  states, 
where  the  Herefords  were  first  imported,  did 
not  discover  their  usefulness  as  best  beef  and 
cheap  consumers  and  perpetuate  the  tribe  by 
breeding  them.  The  Shorthorn  cow  imported 
"Young  Mary"  alone,  that  arrived  in  America 
seventeen  years  after  the  first  importation  of 
Herefords,  has  more  known  descendants  than 
the  descendants  of  all  the  early  imported 
Herefords  put  together.  The  truth  is,  the 
Herefords  were  weighed  in  the  balance  and 
found  wanting  by  the  farmers  of  the  older 
states;  they  sold  them  off  to  the  butcher  for 
what  they  would  bring  as  a  bad  investment, 
and  this  is  the  reason  that  there  are  not  more 
descendants  of  the  early  importations  of 
Herefords  in  the  older  states  where  they  were 
first  imported.  Just  as  after  a  thorough  trial 
by  the  farmers  in  the  new  states  they  will  be 
disposed  of.  The  idea  of  such  an  animal  as 
the  Hereford,  heavily  developed  (as  a  tribe)  in 
the  head,  neck  and  fore-shoulders  (the  waste 
and  least  expensive  portions  of  a  beef)  im- 
proving to  any  great  extent  our  American 
scrubs  and  Texan s  (that  are  also  heavily  de- 
veloped in  the  same  parts)  for  any  purpose 
whatever  except  work-oxen  and  freighters 
(these  two  classes  need  big  heads  and  necks), 
seems  extremely  ridiculous,  and  no  one  knows 
better  than  Mr.  Miller  that  the  average  farmer 
in  England,  as  in  our  older  states,  has  dis- 
carded them,  and  that  the  new  states  will  also 
after  a  thorough  trial.  Wherefore  the  bold 
assertions  derogatory  of  the  Shorthorn — a 
beast  unequaled  and  without  a  rival  by  the 


united  testimony  of  intelligent  farmers  in 
every  clime,  for  any  purpose  whatever  for 
which  the  race  is  adapted  and  intended  ? 

Very  truly,  THOS.  C.  AXDERSON. 

We  here  give  Mr.  Anderson  the  benefit  of  his 
opening  and  closing  arguments.  We  have  no 
right  to  expect,  -when  we  follow  the  trail  of 
this  class  of  men,  that  they  will  stop  at  any 
means  to  obtain  their  ends;  and  we  shall  bring 
the  best  record  of  Shorthorn  men  to  show  that 
this  has  been  their  practice.  It  is  possible  that 
Mr.  Anderson  was  not  familiar  with  our  for- 
mer herdsman's  habits  when  he  made  the  com- 
pact with  him;  it  may  be  that  he  did  not  know 
him  when  he  took  him  into  his  family.  It 
may  be  that  Mr.  Anderson  sent  him  a\vay  from 
Side  View  because  he  proved  less  important 
as  a  witness  than  estimated;  it  may  be  that 
taking  Watson  into  his  family  had  a  bad  look 
to  it  and  gave  support  to  the  charge  of  a  con- 
spiracy. It  is  immaterial  why  Mr.  Watson  left 
Side  View,  Kentucky.  He  left  and  knew  not 
where  he  was  going.  Mr.  Anderson  probably 
regretted  that  he  took  this  job  in  hand,  and  he 
had  to  make  other  apologies  in  his  attempt  to 
make  the  public  believe  that  he  intended  an 
honest  fight. 

The  following  appeared  in  the  "National  Live 
Stock  Journal,"  June,  1881 : 
Editor  "National  Live  Stock  Journal" : 

Mr.  A.  Matthews  calls  attention  to  my  steers 
"Will"  and  "General,"  as  they  appear  in  the 
reports  of  the  Fat  Stock  Show.  He  says  the 
"General"  was  entered  as  dropped  Nov.  28, 
1877,  and  on  Nov.  10,  1879,  he  would  have 
only  lacked  eighteen  days  of  being  two  years 
old;  and  instead  of  being  612  days  old  he  was 
712;  and  as  he  weighed  1,397  pounds,  instead 
of  gaining  2.28  pounds  per  day,  he  gained  1.96. 

I  find  by  reference  to  the  Society's  report, 
page  37,  Hereford  steers  one '  and  under  two 
years,  his  age  is  given  as  712  days,  gain 
1.96.  I  find  on  page  96  of  the  same  report, 
Lot  6,  Sweepstakes  ring,  he  is  reported  as  712 
days  old,  gain  1.96.  Mr.  Matthews  ought,  with 
his  large  practice  in  detail  statistics,  to  have 
become  proficient  in  figures,  and  he  should  be 
very  careful  not  to  put  forward  false  or  care- 
less statements. 

Again  he  says:  Mr.  Miller  entered  two 
steers  at  the  show,  Nov.  15,  1880,  "Alexander" 
and  "Will."  Now  if  "Will"  of  1880  was  the 
same  "Will"  as  that  of  1879,  he  was  entered 
at  the  show  of  1880,  Nov.  15,  "Will,"  age  1,018 
days,  weight  1,650  pounds,  gain  per  day  1.62 
pounds,  and  if  "Will"  was  1,018  days  old  on 
Nov.  15,  1880,  he  would  have  been/ 370  days 
before  that,  Nov.  10,  1879,  648  days  old,  in- 


280 


HISTOKY     OF     HEKEFOED     CATTLE 


stead  of  500;  and  as  he  weighed  at  the  show 
of  1879,  1,114  pounds,  his  gain  per  day  would 
be  1.71  pounds,  instead  of  2.23. 

This  steer  was  entered  in  1879  as  dropped 
June  28,  1878,  and  his  age  as  500  days  is  cor- 
rectly stated,  and  his  gain  per  day  2.23,  is 
correct.  On  reference  to  the  copies  of  my  en- 
tries as  made  in  1880,  his  age  is  stated  as  June 
28,  1878,  and  his  age  at  the  show  of  1880 
should  have  been  870  days  old,  gain  per  day 
1.90,  instead  of  1.62,  as  credited  to  him.  I 


CANE    IS    PRESENTED    TO    THE    MAKER    OF    PRO- 
TESTED   ENTRIES. 

have  written  to  Secretary  S.  D.  Fisher  to  re- 
fer to  my  entries,  and  advise  me  whether  the 
error  was  his  in  computing  days,  or  mine  in 
giving  age.  He  was  not  a  winning  steer,  and 
the  discrepancy  had  not  been  noticed  by  me. 

Again:  "Mr.  Miller  won  half  his  premiums 
with  grade  Herefords,  and  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  discuss  the  question  as  to  which  cross 
will  produce  the  best  animal  when  Mr.  Miller 
shows  grade  Herefords  with  no  Shorthorn 
blood/'  (U  199) 

In  your  April  number  I  gave  the  breeding 
of  "Conqueror,"  showing  seven-eighths  Here- 
ford and  one-eighth  Devon  and  native.  Will 
that  be  satisfactory  to  Mr.  Matthews?  But 
then  what  matters  it,  if  by  putting  the  Here- 
ford on  the  Shorthorn  we  can  make  the  top 
steer?  Why  not  accept  the  issue,  and  take  the 
Herefords  and  improve  the  Shorthorns  ?  They 
must  take  the  Hereford  or  Scot.  They  tried 
the  Scot  in  the  time  of  Colling,  Bates  and 
Booth;  and  the  Kentuckians  used  the  Here- 
fords in  1817  to  1830.  The  Collings,  Bates 
and  Booth  Scotch  cross  has  not  availed  to  fix 
character  and  quality,  but  the  breed  has 
gone  back  to  the  original  loose,  coarse  animal. 
Collings  found  that  with  the  old  Teeswater 
cattle  there  was  no  certainty  as  to  the  kind  of 
produce  he  would  get  from  them,  and  only 
by  using  Scots  could  he  succeed. 

It  is  a  well  established  fact  that  for  sixty 


years  the  "Seventeens"  have  held  their  position 
as  the  best  of  all  the  Shorthorn  families,  and 
they  owe  it  to  the  Henry  Clay  Herefords;  and 
if  Shorthorn  breeders  will  get  over  their  bull- 
headedness,  and  recognize  the  fact  that  the 
Herefords  can  improve  any  breed  they  are  put 
upon,  and  accept  and  adopt  them  to  improve 
their  long-legged,  wheezing  and  consumptive 
animals,  they  will  be  on  the  road  to  success. 

I  wish  it  to  be  distinctly  understood  that  I 
do  not  claim  greater  weight  for  the  Herefords 
over  the  Shorthorns,  but  I  do  claim  equal 
weight.  I  claim  better  quality  of  beef,  and 
I  claim  greater  economy  in  cost  of  making 
beef  on  a  Hereford  carcass  than  on  a  Short- 
horn; and  the  difference  in  favor  of  the  Here- 
ford is  fully  25  per  cent. 

I  am  trying  to  get  some  bullocks  from  the 
Texas  cow  by  a  Hereford  bull,  and  I  want  these 
to  fit  and  show  against  thoroughbred  and 
grade  Shorthorns,  and  propose  to  win  with 
them;  and  I  am  seriously  considering  whether 
I  will  show  again  until  I  get  them. 

The  Shorthorn  breeders  have  overrun  the 
country  with  their  breed,  until  almost  every 
scrub  in  the  country  is  tainted  with  the  blood. 
And  if  a  good  winning  steer  got  by  a  Hereford 
bull  be  brought  forward,  they  will  swear  that 
he  owes  his  quality  to  the  moiety  of  Shorthorn 
blood;  and  if  they  have  not  reputation  to  go 
before  the  community  on  their  own  statement, 
they  will  hire  someone  to  come  forward  and 
swear  for  them  that  the  dam  or  grandam  is  a 
Shorthorn  cpw. 

To  show  the  standing  of  the  Shorthorns  of 
to-day,  I  have  before  me  the  report  of  Gales- 
burg  sales  as  follows:  First  day,  42  hc;i<]. 
average  $85;  second  day,  50  head,  average  $86; 
third  day,  11  head,  average  $127;  103  head 
averaged  $90.  Thornton's  circular  shows  a 
steady  shrinkage  of  the  average  price  of 
Shorthorns  in  England. 

Your  correspondents  are  becoming  quite  in- 
terested in  this  Shorthorn-Hereford  contro- 
versy. There  was  a  time  when  they  thought 
if  left  alone  it  would  die  of  itself.  Mr.  Mat- 
thews is  a  wordy  man  and  when  he  has  been 
fighting  in  the  family  I  have  not  taken  much 
interest  in  him  except  to  enjoy  the  family  quar- 
rel, from  the  old  standpoint  that  "when  rogues 
fall  out,  honest  men  get  their  dues." 

He  has  been  a  long  time  in  picking  up  my 
letter  of  1878.  He  says,  "This  is  pretty  tall 
blowing,  that  he  (Miller)  intends  the  report 
shall  go  to  the  mountains,  spread  over  the 
plains,  over  the  ocean,  and  come  back  again 
with  greater  force  and  volume." 

This  was  one  of  the  prophecies  that  I  had 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


281 


forgotten,  at  least  it  was  out  of  my  mind. 
You  will  recognize,  Mr.  Editor,  from  your 
present  standpoint,  that  it  was  something  more 
than  blowing.  What  must  have  seemed  such 
at  that  time  sounds  very  much,  as  we  read  it 
now,  as  though  the  Hereford  enthusiast  of 
1878  had  a  truer  conception  of  the  future  than 
others  were  willing  to  credit  him  with,  and  I 
am  rather  surprised  that  Mr.  Matthews  should 
bring  this  prophecy  to  light,  for  it  has  literally 
been  fulfilled. 

I  will  not  undertake  to  burden  your  columns 
with  following  Mr.  Matthews  through  all  his 
figures  to  prove  that  the  Herefords  are  good  for 
nothing.  It  is  sufficient  that  showing  against 
the  Shorthorn  cattle  with  Shorthorn  judges, 
they  have  won  a  position  within  less  than  ten 
years  that  the  people  of  the  mountains,  the 
plains,  Australia  and  England  recognize.  The 
press  quote  their  popularity  in  Australia. 
"Bells'  Weekly  Messenger,"  of  London,  rec- 
ognizes their  importance,  and  gives  a  special 
place  to  reporting  their  progress.  You  are 
obliged  to  say,  that  from  a  very  general  in- 
quiry, the  cattle  men  of  the  plains  prefer  the 
Herefords,  and  I  can  assure  you  that  this 
preference  has  come  back  with  a  force  and 
volume  that  is  satisfactory;  and  to  you,  who 
know  the  influences  that  have  had  to  be  met, 
it  must  be  somewhat  of  a  surprise  that  the 
Herefords  have  met  this  success. 

I  will  notice  Mr.  Matthews  in  his  quotations 
of  my  advice  to  Shorthorn  breeders  of  Ken- 
tucky. He  says :  "Mr.  Miller  advises  the  Ken- 
tuckians  to  cross  their  Shorthorns  with  the 
Herefords,  saying  they  will  make  more  money. 
He  must  have  forgotten  that  the  Kentuckians 
tried  the  Herefords  over  sixty  years,  and  seem 
to  want  no  more  of  them." 

Does  Mr.  Matthews  know  that  the  best  cattle 
of  Kentucky  to-day  are  descendants  of  those 
Herefords  of  sixty  years  ago?  And  that  to- 
day, according  to  Kentucky  Anderson,  the 
mountains  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  are  full 
of  these  in-and-in  bred  white  faces,  that  the 
Shorthorns,  after  sixty  years,  cannot  breed  out? 

Mr.  Matthews  follow's  my  advertisement,  where 
I  quote  my  premiums  taken  in  November  last  at 
the  Fat  Stock  Show.  If  the  Hereford,  by 
crossing  on  other  cattle,  whether  Shorthorns 
or  natives,  makes  a  better  steer  or  better  bul- 
lock, then,  are  they  a  better  beef  breed?  The 
thoroughbred  is  not  now,  and  never  will  be 
used  for  the  butcher's  block.  They  are  of 
value  as  they  are  capable  of  improving  the 
Shorthorns  and  common  or  native  cattle  of 
the  country,  and  this,  the  Hereford  will  al- 
ways do,  and,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  it  will 
be  my  aim  to  show  this;  and  this  I  well  un- 


derstood when  I  advised  the  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers to  put  the  Hereford  bull  on  their  thorough- 
bred Shorthorn  cows,  and  I  wish  the  Shorthorn 
breeders  to  give  us  the  credit  of  doing  it.  They 
have  had  the  country  for  sixty  years,  and  if 
we  can  take  the  produce  of  their  bulls  and 
make  better  bullocks  let  them  recognize  the 
fact,  and  instead  of  still  forcing  their  breed 
upon  the  stockmen  of  the  country  accept  the 
issue  and  verdict. 

Mr.  Matthews  then  quotes  the  "Mark  Lane 
Express."  I  recognize  this  journal  as  one  of 
the  fairest  and  ablest  published  in  England  or 
America — in  fact,  I  consider  it  stands  nearly 
alone  in  its  impartial  statement  of  facts.  At 
the  same  time  I  may  differ  with  them  on  their 
facts.  They  claim  that  the  Shorthorn  as  a 
combined  meat  and  milk  producing  machine, 
has  no  equal  and  no  superiors.  Now,  while  I 
have  great  respect  for .  the  expressed  convic- 
tions of  the  "Mark  Lane  Express,"  I  consider 
their  claim  of  superiority  as  a  combined  ma- 
chine, while  second  rate  as  beef  and  second 
rate  as  milk,  is  not  tenable.  It  can  only  be  so 
from  the  fact  that  they  have  some  other  Short- 
horn than  what  we  know  in  this  country;  and 
even  then  I  cannot  see  how  two  second-class 
things  can  make  a  first  class,  and  the  time 
will  come  when  they  will  abandon  this  posi- 
tion. 

The  old  Yorkshire  cow  is  a  good  milker,  and 
if  taken  out  of  the  dairy  at  an  early  age — say 
at  six  or  seven  years  old — she  will  go  into  beef 
at  a  reasonable  cost,  and  have  performed  good 
service  as  a  milker.  This  I  can  readily  be- 
lieve, but  then  the  old  Yorkshire  cow  is  a  very 
different  beast  from  the  Shorthorn,  crossed  up, 
and  bred  in-and-in  with  Duke  bulls.  But  even 
this  cow,  if  kept  in  the  dairy  until  ten  years 
old,  would  be  fed  at  a  loss  with  very  rare  ex- 
ceptions. I  have  put  questions  to  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express"  touching  the  merits  of  cattle 
and  I  am  under  many  obligations  to  them  for 
the  courtesy,  and,  I  may  say,  patience,  with 
which  they  have  met  my  queries.  When 
younger  than  now  one  of  the  things  I  gave 
myself  a  good  deal  of  trouble  about,  was  to  get 
a  carriage  that  would  make  me  a  convenient 
combined  machine  for  business  and  family  use. 
I  never  succeeded.  I  could  get  along  with 
the  thing  when  I  had  one  child — even  when  I 
had  two  I  could  manage — but  beyond  that  I 
could  not  combine.  The  farmer  wants  an  ani- 
mal that  will  produce  beef  and  milk  at  the 
least  cost  and  at  the  greatest  value.  I  don't 
expect  the  "Mark  Lane  Express"  to  say  any- 
thing against  its  convictions,  or  a  Shorthorn 
breeder  to  say  anything  against  his  interest. 
Very  truly  yours,  T.  L.  MILLER. 


282 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

TEN  EVENTFUL  YEARS;  A  CONSTANT  REQUEST  FOR  TESTS — 1871  TO  1881 


(j[  199)  A  history  of  Hereford  cattle  would 
not  be  complete  without  giving  some  account 
of  that  with  which  they  had  to  contend  in  the 
way  agricultural  journals  met  their  claims  of 
excellence,  as  a  beef  breed. 

It  will  also  be  of  interest,  we  think,  to  read 
what  efforts  were  made  by  Hereford  breeders 
to  have  a  Fat  Stock  Show  founded,  where  a 
public  exhibition  and  competition  between  the 
breeds,  would  demonstrate  in  an  authoritative 
way  what  the  Herefords  could  do  in  America. 

The  following  statement  of  the  case,  as 
made  by  us,  in  1881,  will  give  some  facts  of 
interest,  and  also  records  of  value: 

It  is  now  nearly  ten  years  since  I  engaged 
in  the  breeding  of  Hereford  cattle,  and  from 
the  time  I  commenced  until  within  the  last 
eighteen  months,  the  Shorthorn  men  have 
predicted  the  collapse  of  the  Hereford  boom, 
nor  have  these  predictions  come  from  Short- 
horn men  only;  but  also  from  my  friends; 
and  those  that  wished  me  well,  have  feared  the 
verification  of  their  prophecies.  I  ask  the  pa- 
tience of  my  friends  when  I  review  somewhat 
the  course  that  has  been  pursued  during  these 
ten  years;  and  of  the  Hereford  breeders  I  ask 
forbearance  if  it  should  seem  that  I  give  to 
myself  a  too  prominent  place  in  this  move- 
ment. I  here  make  the  statement  that  the 
general  success  of  the  movement  and  the  suc- 
cess of  my  associate  breeders,  has  a  place  in 
my  plans  and  aims,  hardly  second  to  the  suc- 
cess of  my  individual  interest;  and  for  this 
reason  there  is  room  for  all  that  may  engage 
in  this  business  during  the  present  generation 
of  breeders. 

In  following  the  movements  of  the  Here- 
fords  for  these  ten  years,  I  shall  be  as  brief  as 
possible.  The  breeders  then  engaged  in  the 
raising  of  Hereford  cattle  resided  mainly  in 
Loraine  Co.,  Ohio,  and  vicinity;  and  of  these 
Mr.  John  Humphries,  of  Elyria,  deserves  spe- 
cial mention.  Mr.  H.  was  an  Englishman, 
and,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Thos.  Aston 
(fl  200),  another  Englishman,  brought  over 


from  England  two  cows  and  two  bulls.  The 
importation  was  a  joint  one,  and  the  animals 
were  named  as  follows:  "John  Bull"  (3885) 
464;  "Curly"  (801)  14;  the  cows  were,  "Vic- 
toria" 186,  and  "Duchess"  15,  of  the  American 
Hereford  Record.  "Victoria"  was  bred  by  Mr. 
Turner,  The  Noke,  Leominster.  "John  Bull" 
was  bred  by  Mr.  E.  Price,  of  Pembridge,  and 
"Curly"  by  Mr.  T.  Roberts,  of  Ivingtonbury. 
Other  bulls  were  imported  by  Messrs.  Hum- 
phries and  Aston,  and  still  others  by  Mr.  F. 
W.  Stone,  of  Canada. 

It  would  be  an  interesting  study  to  take  the 
American  Hereford  Record  and  follow  the 
produce  of  these  two  cows.  It  would  be  a  sur- 
prise, even  to  those  who  are  familiar  with 
breeding,  to  find  what  a  large  proportion  of 
Herefords  in  the  country,  previous  to  late  im- 
portations, trace  to  these  two  cows. 

The  importation  referred  to  was  made  in 
1851 — thirty  years  ago.  Mr.  Aston  had  sold 
out  and  returned  to  England  before  I  entered 
on  the  breeding  of  Herefords.  Mr.  Humphries 
was  still  breeding,  though  in  feeble  health,  and 
continued  a  breeder  until  about  two  years  ago, 
whea  he  died,  having  at  the  time  of  his  death 
a  very  choice  herd,  though  not  a  large  one. 

This  stock  had  been  bred  by  Messrs.  Hum- 
phries and  Aston,  and  others  to  whom  they 
made  sales,  but  no  record,  beyond  the  private 
one  of  the  breeders,  had  been  kept.  My  pur- 
chases were  made  from  both  branches.  I 
should  state  that  in  dividing  the  stock,  the 
bull  "John  Bull"  464,  and  the  cow  "Victoria" 
went  to  Mr.  Humphries;  "Curly"  and  "Duch- 
ess" to  Mr.  Aston. 

I  had  the  stock  that  I  bought  recorded  in  the 
English  Hereford  Herd  Book,  and  this  led  to 
the  recording  by  other  breeders.  When  I  com- 
menced the  breeding  of  Herefords,  the  Hon. 
John  Merryman  was  a  breeder  in  Maryland, 
the  foundation  of  his  herd  being  from  Mr. 
Sotham's  importations.  Mr.  "F.  W.  Stone,  of 
Canada,  had  the  largest  herd  then  in  America 
or  Canada.  There  were  individuals  from  the 


IMS  T  0  R  Y     0  F     If  E  E  E  F  0  E  D     CATTLE 


283 


C.  S.  COOK, 

Of  the  firm  of  C.  W.  Cook  & 
Sons,  Odebolt,  la. 


Sotham  importation  scattered  over  the  country. 
Mr.  Phelps,  of  Pontiac,  Mich.,  had  a  few  from 
this  importation,  and  the  Crapo  estate,  at  Flint, 
Midi.,  had  one  of  the  largest  herds  in  the 
states.  Mr.  Shaw,  of  Chautauqua,  New  York, 
had  a  herd.  In  Maine  there  were  several  breed- 
ers, among  them  Mr.  H.  C.  Burlcigh.  As  my 
stock  came  to  a  marketable  age,  I  took  them  to 
Colorado  and  Texas  for  a  market.  The  Colo- 
rado sales  resulted  in  giving  the  breed  char- 
acter and  prestige, 
and  whenever  the 
bulls  were  used  they 
gave  satisfaction.  I 
think  it  was  the 
fall  of  1875  that 
two  car  loads  of 
grade  Hereford 
steers  were  sent 
from  Denver,  Col., 
to  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
direct  from  the 
range,  and  sold  for 
7  cents,  bringing 
nearly  $80  per  head. 
These  were  three- 
year-old  steers. 

It  has  been  found 
that  the  Herefords 
came  through  the  winters  on  the  plains  in  better 
condition  than  steers  of  any  other  breed.  This, 
I  think  it  is  safe  to  say,  is  becoming  nearly  or 
quite  the  universal  opinion  wherever  they  are 
known.  The  expense  of  taking  bulls  to  west- 
ern or  southwestern  centers  was  heavy,  but  there 
seemed  no  other  way  to  reach  a  trial  of  their 
capacity  for  the  range.  It 'proved  successful 
and  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  the  shortest  road 
to  success.  The  growing  popularity  of  the 
breed  provoked  opposition  mainly  and  almost 
exclusively  from  the  Shorthorn  men;  and  in 
those  days  I  had  an  idea  that  it  was  the 
province  of  live  stock  and  agricultural  journals 
to  bring  forth  the  facts  in  regard  to  the  merits 
of  different  breeds  of  cattle.  I  was  then  so 
modest  and  unassuming  that  I  questioned  the 
propriety  of  a  breeder  setting  forth  the  merits 
of  his  breed.  It  would  of  necessity  be  termed 
partisan  and  one-sided.  Under  this  feeling,  in 
a  business  letter  to  Geo.  W.  Bust,  the  then  edi- 
tor and  proprietor  of  the  "National  Live  Stock 
Journal,"  I  said:  "I  recognize  the  leading  posi- 
tion of  the  Shorthorn  interests  in  this  country; 
but  for  some  time  it  has  seemed  to  me  that  as  a 
journalist  you  ought  to  find  something  to  say 
in  the  interest  of  other  breeds.  As  a  breeder 
of 'Herefords,  and  believing  them  to  be  the  best 
breed  for  this  country,  I  am  somewhat  sur- 


prised that  they  do  not  command  the  attention 
.  of    the    stock    journals    and .  agricultural    so- 
cieties." 

I  then  quoted  facts  in  reference  to  their 
standing.  Mr.  Bust  commented  on  this  as  fol- 
lows : 

"It  is  not  for  us  to  urge  the  introduction  of 
either  Shorthorn  or  Herefords,  or  Devons  or 
Galloways,  to  the  exclusion  of  each  other  in  the 
beef  producing  districts.  If  there  has  been 
more  matter  published  in  relation  to  Short- 
horns than  other  breeds  have  been  favored 
with,  it  has  been  because  the  gentlemen  han- 
dling this  description  of  cattle  and  their  grades 
are  relating  their  experience  more  generally, 
and  because  they  have  succeeded  in  awakening 
a  public  interest  in  these  cattle,  which  is  con- 
tinually bringing  out  all  sorts  of  inquiry  about 
them  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  Of  course 
this  makes  considerable  of  the  Shorthorns  in 
the  papers.  But  how  about  Herefords?  We 
know,  of  course,  that  they  are  a  highly  merito- 
rious race  of  cattle;  that  their  owners  regard 
them  as  even  rivals  of  the  Shorthorns;  but 
when  a  person  asks  a  question  about  some  mat- 
ter connected  with  Shorthorns  it  is  not  proper 
for  us  to  suggest  that  perhaps  Herefords  will 
answer  his  purpose  as  well  or  better.  If  we 
would  direct  his  attention  to  them  by  some 
statement  as  to  their  merits,  where  are  we  to 
obtain  the  facts?  Are  we  to  say  that  during 
fifty-two  years  in  the  early  history  of  the 
Smithfield  Cattle  Club  the  Herefords  won  185 
premiums  against  82  won  by  the  Shorthorns? 
The  statement  is  a  good  one  for  Herefords,  if 
true,  but  will  scarcely  bear  repetition  on  all 
occasions,  and  at  best  is  only  one  item  in  the 
long  statements  which  American  farmers  re- 
quire to  convince  them  of  the  superiority  of 
any  race  of  cattle  over  their  commonest  scrubs. 
Who  are  raising  Hereford  steers?  What  do 
they  weigh  at  different  ages?  How  early  do 
they  mature  for  the  market?  Where  are  they 
sold?  What  did  they  bring?  What  did  scrubs 
do  on  the  same  keep?  and  what  did  they  weigh,, 
and  what  did  they  sell  for  on  the  same  day? 
and  what  was  the  net  difference  in  profit  result- 
ing from  the  use  of  Herefords  ? 

"Then,  again,  if  some  person,  by  some  sort 
of  accident,  acquires  a  suspicion  that  the  Here- 
fords are  a  superior  race  of  cattle,  and  has 
a  disposition  to  buy  them,  where  can  he  get 
animals  of  strictly  reliable  blood,  and  where 
is  the  public  record  by  which  he  can  satisfy 
himself  of  the  authenticity  of  the  pedigree 
offered  him?  If  he  buys  Jerseys,  he  can  find 
two  herd  books  published  in  this  country.  If 


284 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


he  buys  Shorthorns  he  can  find  three.  If  he 
buys  Devons  he  can  find  one." 

In  the  "National  Live  Stock  Journal"  for 
July,  1876,  pp.  303-4,  the  following  letter  ap- 
pears : 

"To  the  Editor  of  the  'Journal' :  In  the  last 
number  of  the  'Journal'  you  ask :  If  we  would 
direct  (an  inquirer's)  attention  to  them  (the 
Herefords)'  by  some  statement  as  to  their 
merits,  where  are  we  to  obtain  the  facts? 
*  *  *  What  do  they  weigh  at  different 
ages?  How  early  do  they  mature  for  the 
market  ? 

"It  is  proper  to  suppose  that  a  journal  of 
the  standing  of  the  'National  Live  Stock  Jour- 
nal' would  have  all  standard  published  reports 
of  the  breeding  and  fattening  of  cattle  and 
other  stock;  and  if  Mr.  Jones  comes  into  the 
office  and  inquires  as  to  the  merits  of  a  par- 
ticular breed  of  cattle,  or  writes  to  the  office 
for  such  information,  you  could  refer  to  re- 
ports, and  give  such  information,  if  such  in- 
formation existed. 

"In  this  country  the  Herefords  have  not 
such  a  record  published  and  compiled  as  would 
be  conclusive  and  full  as  to  their  merits;  but 
still  there  is  a  fair  record  in  this  country.  But, 
to  go  to  England,  there  is  a  record,  classified, 
compiled  and  published,  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  Smithfield  Club,  which  is  perhaps  the  most 
complete  and  trustworthy  that  exists  so  far  as 
it  goes.  And  in  quoting  from  this  report  I  will 
assume,  first,  that  the  merits  of  a  beef-produc- 
ing breed  must  be  judged  by  what  it  can  pro- 
duce as  a  beef  steer,  and  the  record  it  can 
show,  for  its  oxen  and  steers',  is  the  true  test  by 
which  the  trial  shall  be  made. 

"I  might  go  outside  of  the  record  of  the 
Smithfield  Club,  to  the  record  of  the  other 
English  societies,  where  the  Herefords  have 
been  shown  as  breeding  stock — and  at  some 
other  time  perhaps  I  may;  but  at  this  time  I 
will  confine  myself  to  the  Smithfield  report  of 
the  cattle  mainly: 

"The  first  show  of  this  Society  was  held  in 
1799.  The  records  of  that  year  were  incom- 
plete, but  from  other  sources  I  learn  that  Mr. 
Westcar  took  the  first  premium  with  a  Here- 
ford ox.  In  1800  the  Herefords  took  4 
premiums;  1801-2  the  record  is  incomplete; 
1803  the  Herefords  took  4  premiums;  1804  the 
record  is  incomplete;  1805  the  Herefords  took 
2  premiums;  1806  the  record  is  incomplete; 
1807-8-9  the  Herefords  took  7  premiums.  Up 
to  this  date  it  does  not  appear  that  the  Short- 
horn oxen  or  steers  took  a  premium.  With- 
out going  into  detail  for  each  year,  the  record 
up  to  1851  shows  that:  The  Hereford  oxen  and 


steers  took  185  premiums;  the  Shorthorn  oxen 
and  steers  took  82  premiums;  and  to  1857  the 
Hereford  oxen  and  steers  took  9  gold  medals; 
Shorthorn  oxen  and  steers  10,  and  from  1857 
to  1867,  Shorthorn  oxen  and  steers  took  15 
gold  medals;  Hereford  oxen  and  steers  11. 

"In  1869  Herefords  and  Shorthorns,  as  to 
weights,  compared  as  follows: 

Herefords.    Shorthorns. 
Under  2   yrs.   6   mos. 

weighed 1,781  Ibs.         1,648  Ibs. 

Under   3    yrs.    3    mos. 

weighed  1,936  Ibs,         1,976  Ibs. 

Over    3    yrs.    3    mos. 

weighed   2,228  Ibs.         2,200  Ibs. 

showing  the  Herefords  in  two  classes  heavier 
than  Shorthorns. 

"In  the  year  1875  the  two  breeds  compared 
as  to  weights  as  follows: 

Under  2  yrs.  6  mos. . .  1,485  Ibs.  1,565  Ibs. 
Under  3  yrs.  3  mos.  . .  2,036  Ibs.  1,982  Ibs. 

Over  3  yrs.  3  mos 2,169  Ibs.         2,281  Ibs. 

Extra  stock 2,524  Ibs.         2,290  Ibs. 

"The  three  heaviest  cattle  shown  in  1875 
were: 

1st,  Hereford,  weighing 2,624  Ibs. 

2d,  Shorthorn,  weighing 2,444  Ibs. 

3d,  Hereford,  weighing 2,420  Ibs. 

"I  have  confined  myself  to  figures  showing 
the  comparison  between  the  two  breeds  of 
Herefords  and  Shorthorns.  It  is  with  con- 
siderable labor  that  I  have  brought  together 
the  information  that  is  scattered  over  the  coun- 
try in  reference  to  Hereford  cattle.  As  a 
breeder  I  have  no  right  to  present  my  claims 
to  the  public  without  something  in  the  way  of 
facts  to  back  my  claims.  Because  I  can  see 
so  much  in  the  Herefords  I  have  no  right  to 
complain  because  others  don't  see  as  I  do.  I 
am  surprised  at  times,  but  I  am  so  sure  of  the 
time  coming  I  can  afford  to  wait. 

"As  early  as  April,  1873,  I  offered  to  help 
make  a  record  for  the  Herefords  and  Short- 
horns, as  compared  with  each  other,  as  beef 
cattle,  through  the  'Journal.'  I  have  in  several 
ways  repeated  the  proposition  from  time  to 
time  since.  I  now  repeat  the  offer  made  in  the 
'Journal'  of  April,  1873,  over  the  signature  of 
Miller  &  Powell.  It  is  true  that  there  is  no 
Hereford  Herd  Book  published  in  this  country, 
but  there  is  one  published  in  England,  and  that 
there  may  be  a  copy  accessible  to  inquiries  at 
the  live  stock  headquarters  in  this  country  I 
have  ordered  from  the  publisher  a  set  sent  to  the 
'National  Live  Stock  Journal,'  of  Chicago,  111. 

"A  prominent  breeder  of  Shorthorns,  while 
admitting  to  me  that  the  Herefords  were  bet- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


285 


ter  grazers  than  the  Shorthorns.,  says:  'You 
had  better  take  the  Shorthorns.'  'Why?'  'Be- 
cause it  is  easier  to  go  with  the  current  than 
against  it.'  I  have  heard  quite  lately  of  this 
same  breeder  paying  quite  fancy  prices  for 
Shorthorns.  » 

"There  is  one  point  I  should  be  glad  to  call 
your  attention  to,  and  that  is  the  make-up  of 
committees  at  our  fairs.  In  England  the  Here- 
ford men  claim  that  they  have  been  unfairly 
beaten  on  sweepstakes  and  champion  prizes, 

and  for  years  have 
sought  to  remedy 
this,  especially  at 
the  Smithfield.  Mr. 
T.  Duckham,  a 
prominent  H  e  r  e- 
ford  breeder,  and 
publisher  of  the 
English  Hereford 
Herd  Book,  suc- 
ceeded in  securing 
the  passage  of  the 
following  resolu- 
tion, to-wit: 

"'Resolved,  that 
the  judges  of  each 
breed  select  an  ani- 
mal that,  in  their 
judgment,  was  suit- 
able for. competition  for  the  champion  prize. 

"'Resolved,  that  each  committee  should 
depute  one  of  their  own  members  to  act  as 
judge  on  the  champion  prize  or  regard/ 

"These  resolutions  were  passed  at  the  meet- 
ing in  February,  1876,  and  will  be  in  operation 
at  the  next  December  meeting.  If  the  same 
or  similar  resolutions  should  be  passed  by  the 
managers  of  our  State  Societies,  it  would  be  a 
good  stride  towards  an  equitable  award  on 
sweepstakes  premium. — T.  L.  M." 

Editor's  Remarks:  "Of  course  our  corre- 
spondent will  understand  that  our  question  as 
to  what  Hereford  cattle  weigh  at  different 
ages  was  not  made  because  of  our  inability  to 
refer  to  statements  upon  this  point  in  the  agri- 
cultural text  books  of  the  day.  It  was  made 
for  no  other  purpose  than  to  indicate  the  ab- 
sence of  statements  covering  individual  experi- 
ence with  these  cattle  from  day  to  day, 'month 
to  month,  and  year  to  year.  It  is  these  state- 
ments, and  the  average  results  indicated  by 
them,  that  carry  conviction  to  the  public  mind, 
rather  than  results  achieved  by  different  breed- 
ers in  fitting  animals  for  show.  The  general 
public  places  the  highest  estimate  upon  what 
can  be  accomplished  where  cattle  are  handled 


A.  E.  COOK. 

Of  the  firm  of  C.  W.  Cook  & 
Sons,    Odebolt,    la. 


in  a  practical  manner  for  a  practical  purpose— 
i.  e.,  when  fed  for  beef  by  practical  men  with 
the  sole  object  in  view  of  producing  the  best 
beef  in  the  largest  quantity,  with  the  greatest 
economy.  But  sensible  people  require  some- 
thing more  than  the  assurance  that,  in  feed- 
ing animals  for  show  where  they  are  forced 
by  all  the  arts  and  appliances  the  owner  can 
command,  this  one  or  that  one  was  made 
to  object  a  greater  degree  of  obesity  than  an- 
other. The  statements  of  farmers  handling 
these  cattle,  supplying  daily  almost  fresh  de- 
tails concerning  their  merits,  is  what  is  wanted. 
We  desire  to  indicate  that  the  gentlemen  hand- 
ling Herefords  were,  in  this  respect,  neglect- 
ing the  true  interests  of  their  cattle. 

"As  to  the  proposed  test  of  the  comparative 
merits  of  Shorthorns  and  Herefords  as  feeding 
cattle,  we  fear  our  correspondent  will  never  be 
gratified  by  receiving  an  acceptance  of  his 
proposition.  No  person  has  such  an  interest 
in  Shorthorns,  considered  with  reference  to  the 
aggregate  interest,  as  will  justify  him  in  engag- 
ing in  this  matter.  Besides,  the  reputation  of 
Shorthorns  is  so  well  established  that  there 
would  be  but  little  for  them  to  gain  in  such  a 
contest.  Our  correspondent,  however,  has  two 
courses  open  to  him,  either  of  which  seems  to 
us  much  more  consistent  and  in  every  way 
preferable  to  a  'challenge'  for  a  public  and 
formal  test.  First,  he  can  go  on  quietly  and 
feed  some  Hereford  steers  for  market,  and 
when  they  are  sold  let  the  public  know  what 
they  weighed,  what  they  sold  for,  etc.,  and  just 
how  they  were  handled.  If  handled  as  ordi- 
nary prudent  farmers  handle  their  steers,  rea- 
sonable weights  will  go  much  further  towards 
increasing  the  reputation  of  the  cattle  than  a 
few  hundred  pounds  of  extra  weight  secured  by 
possible  forcing  or  pampering.  It  would  be 
desirable  to  have  a  statement  of  this  sort,  ac- 
companied by  a  statement  of  what  good  native 
steers  did  alongside  of  them,  for  the  contest  is 
not  so  much  between  Herefords  and  Short- 
horns as  between  them  and  the  common,  infe- 
rior stock  of  the  country.  If  the  general 
farmer  can  be  made  to  understand  that  there 
is  sufficient  difference  between  Herefords  and 
natives  to  justify  him  in  the  expense  of  se- 
curing Hereford  crosses,  the  future  of  the  Here- 
fords will  be  bright  enough,  no  matter  what 
that  of  the  Shorthorns  may  be.  The  second 
course  open  to  our  correspondent,  if  he  is 
really  desirous  of  a  test  between  Herefords  and 
Shorthorns,  is  to  buy  some  Shorthorns  and  feed 
them  alongside  of  the  Herefords,  and  then  pub- 
lish the  results.  If  there  should  be  any  Short- 
horn breeder  dissatisfied  with  the  result,  he 


286 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


could  buy  some  Herefords  and  repeat  the  ex- 
periment." 

Since  the  above  was  in  type  the  following 
has  been  received  from  the  same  gentleman: 

"I  hand  you  below  the  weight  of  Hereford 
fat  cattle  shown  at  the  Smithfield  shows  1871, 
1872,  1873 : 

1871.  Under  2  yrs.  0  mos 1,631 

1871.  Under  3  yrs.   3  mos 1,856 

1871.  Over  3  yrs.  3  mos 2,307 

1872.  Under  2' yrs.  6  mos 1,634 

1872.  Under  3  yrs.  3  mos 1,858 

1872.  Over  3  yrs.  3  mos 2,137 

"I  have  not  the  weight  classified  as  to  ages 
for  1873,  but  the  average  weight  of  all  ages 
was  1,934  Ibs.  I  also  hand  you  the  average 
weight  of  the  fat  cattle  shown  at  Bingley  Hall, 
Birmingbam,  in  1873,  and  these  weights  in- 
clude all  ages,  as  at  Smithfield,  the  same  year, 
1,950  Ibs. 

"The  heaviest  steer  shown  at  Smithfield  in 
1871  weighed  2,360  Ibs.;  in  1872,  2,626  Ibs.; 
in  1873,  2,538  Ibs.  The  heaviest  steer  showed 
at  Birmingham  in  1873  weighed  2,536  Ibs." 

And  again,  from  the  "National  Live  Stock 
Journal"  for  August,  1876,  pp.  349-50 : 

"To  the  Editor  of  the  'Journal' :  Referring 
to  your  remarks  on  figures  given  you  on  Here- 
fords  in  the  July  number,  I  had  been  led  to 
suppose  that  the  results  at  the  Smithfield  show 
were  the  most  authoritative  of  any  in  existence, 
and  I  had  supposed  that  you  had  been  living  in 
hopes  of  seeing  just  such  a  show  and  list  in  this 
country. 

"Now,  it  is  true  that  in  this  country  the 
Herefords  have  not  made  such  a  record  as  will 
be  conclusive  as  to  their  merits,  at  least  so  far 
as  the  number  is  concerned,  but  I  hand  you 
herewith  a  memorandum  which  will,  perhaps, 
show  what  they  could  do.  But  is  not  the  Eng- 
lish record  pertinent  and  to  the  point?  As 
to  comparing  Herefords  with  Shorthorns  and 
natives,  you  have  established  the  fact  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  majority  of  thinking,  prac- 
tical men,  that  they  are  better  than  the  na- 
tives, that  the  Shorthorn  bull  on  the  native 
cow  is  an  improvement,  that  the  cross  produces 
a  better  beef  steer,  which  by  grazing  and 
feeding  will  make  a  better  quality  and  greater 
quantity  at  a  less  cost.  I  assume  this  to  be  true 
and  therefore  do  not  care  to  travel  that  ground 
over  again.  But  taking  that  point  as  settled,  I 
now  assume  and  claim  that  the  Herefords  make 
a  better  cross,  in  the  hands  of  a  practical  man 
for  a  practical  purpose,  with  the  sole  object  in 
view  of  producing  the  best  beef  in  the  largest 
quantity  with  the  greatest  economy. 


"I  believe  it  is  admitted  by  the  best  informed 
cattle  breeders  that  the  Herefords  are  more 
hardy  and  better  grazers  than  the  Shorthorns. 
In  referring  to  the  Shorthorns  I  have  no  wish 
to  depreciate  their  merits.  1  admit  them.  They 
are  a  fine  raec  of  cattle,  and  the  breeders  of 
these  cattle  ^are  entitled  to  much  credit  for 
what  they  have  done.  There  is  perhaps  no  in- 
terest in  which  the  farmer  has  received  so  large 
a  benefit  as  has  come  from  the  efforts  of  the 
Shorthorn  breeder;  but  is  not  this  step  one  that 
leads  to  something  higher  and  better? 

"Now  you  are  aware,  perhaps  better  than 
anyone  else,  that  in  England — a  very  small 
country  compared  with  this — they  have  sev 
eral  breeds  of  cattle  which  are  pre-eminentl} 
the  best  for  the  district  in  which  they  are  bred, 
and  if  this  be  true  of  England  may  not  the 
supposition  be  raised  that  it  may  be  true  of  this 
country?  For  seventy-five  years  the  Herefords 
and  Shorthorns  have  been  the  leading  bed' 
breeds  in  England.  There  are  several  large 
shows  held  where  the  breeding  stock  has  been 
shown,  but  at  Smithfield  the  test  has  been  on 
the  fat  animal,  and  the  Hereford  as  a  fat  ox  or 
steer  has  occupied  a  leading  position,  and  I 
assume  that  it  is  between  these  two  breeds  in 
this  country  that  the  choice  must  be  made. 

"Rev.  J.  R.  Smythics,  a  prominent  Hereford 
breeder  in  England,  made  the  following  offer 
through  the  'Mark  Lane  Express,'  in  1849.  He 
offered  to  show  four  Hereford  steers,  whose 
ages  should  not  exceed  two  years  and  three 
months,  and  four  whose  age  should  not  exceed 
one  year  and  three  months,  at  the  next  Smith- 
field  show,  in  December,  against  eight  Short- 
horns and  eight  Devons  of  similar  ages,  for  a 
sweepstakes  of  one  hundred  sovereigns  for  each 
lot,  with  this  stipulation,  that  each  lot  shall 
have  been  bred  by  one  man,  and  that  they  shall 
have  lain  at  grass  at  least  four  months  that 
summer,  without  having  had  anything  but 
what  they  got  there.  He  says : 

"  'But  this  is  not  all.  I  am  willing  to  test 
their  hardiness  as  a  breeding  stock,  as  well  as 
their  feeding  properties.  In  order  .to  do  this, 
I  propose  to  turn  my  two-year-old  heifer,  which 
gained  the  first  prize  at  Norwich,  into  a  pasture 
with  the  two-year-old  Shorthorn  *and  two-year- 
old  Devon  heifer  which  obtained  the  first  prize 
in  their*  respective  classes,  and  let  them  remain 
there  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Society,  at  Exeter,  next  July,  giving 
them  nothing  but  what  they  can  get,  except 
a  little  hay  from  the  5th  of  November  till  the 
5th  of  May,  the  heifers  being  shown  for  sweep- 
stakes of  100  sovereigns  each.' 

"In  February,  1849,  Mr.  Smythies  made,  in 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


287 


the  'Mark  Lane  Express/  the  following  offer: 
'To  place  four  Hereford  calves  on  the  first  of 
May  next  in  the  hands  of  any  respectable 
grazier  in  the  Midland  Counties,  against  four 
Shorthorn  and  four  Devon  calves,  no  calf  to 
be  more  than  four  months  old  on  that  day. 
The  twelve  calves  to  be  turned  to  -grass  to- 
gether, and  to  have  nothing  but  grass  until 
the  20th  of  October  following,  and  then  to  be 
put  in  stalls  and  fed  as  the  grazier  thinks 
proper — but  the  food  to  be  weighed  to  each  lot 
— until  the  following  May,  when  they  shall  be 


number  belonging  to  any  two  breeders  of 
Shorthorns  or  Devons,  in  any  part  of  Great 
Britain,  for  100  sovereigns. 

"These  offers  were  made  but  never  accepted. 
As  to  my  offer  made  through  the  'Journal,'  you 
fear  that  I  will  never  be  gratified  by  its  ac- 
ceptance: 

"  'No  one  person  has  such  an  interest  in 
Shorthorns  considered  with  reference  to  the 
aggregate  interest  as  will  justify  him  in  en- 
gaging in  this  matter.  Besides,  the  reputation 
of  Shorthorns  is  so  well  established  that  there 


JOHN    PRICE     (COURT    HOUSE,     PEMBRIDGE,     ENG.). 
The  Elkington  cup  and  other  valuable  prizes  won  by  this  veteran  breeder. 


again  turned  to  grass,  and  have  nothing  but 
what  they  can  get  there  until  the  1st  of  Octo- 
ber; then  to  be  again  taken  into  stalls,  and  the 
food  given  them  weighed  as  before.  The  whole 
to  be  shown  as  extra  stock  at  the  Smithfield 
show,  and  after  the  show  to  be  slaughtered, 
the  four  beasts  which  pay  the  best  to  be  the 
winners.'  Mr.  S.  also  offered  to  show  100  Here- 
ford beasts,  the  property  of  Sir  Francis  Law- 
ley,  on  the  first  of  January,  1849,  and  the  same 
number,  which  were  the  property  of  Mr.  Aston, 
Lynch  Court,  on  the  same  day,  against  an  equal 


will  be  little  for  them  to  gain  in  such  a  con- 
test.' 

"This  is  perhaps  true.  But  is  there  in  this 
country  such  a  record  for  the  Shorthorns  as 
will  show  that  they  are  entitled  to  the  position 
they  claim?  The  different  branches  of  the 
family  claim  the  merit  is  in  them  only.  I  go 
on  quietly,  as  you  STiggest,  and  feed  some 
Hereford  steers,  but  such  tests  have  very  little 
value. 

"The  test  which  I  propose  will  have  a  value, 
not  only  to  the  breeders  themselves,  but  to  the 


288 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     C'ATTLE 


stock  interests  of  the  world,  and  it  is  a  test 
that  may  be  made  at  a  profit  to  the  breeders. 
On  the  ground  proposed  it  must  be  an  even 
test,  but  I  am  not  writing  for  the  acceptance 
of  the  offer.  Herefords  are  being  used  in  Colo- 
rado and  Texas.  In  due  time  the  steers  will 
come  forward.  Your  closing  proposition  is  for 
me  to  'buy  Shorthorns  and  feed  them  by  the 
side  of  my  Herefords,  as  a  test,  and  if  there 
should  be  any  Shorthorn  breeder  dissatisfied 
with  the  result,  he  could  buy  Herefords  and 
repeat  the  experiment/ 

"It  would  not  be  conclusive.  The  Smith- 
field  record  complete  comes  the  nearest  to  be- 
ing authoritative  of  any  that  has  come  under 
my  notice.  It  is  complete  in  giving  the  live 
weight  of  animals,  but  fails  in  this,  that  it 
does  not  give  the  cost  at  which  these  weights 
were  obtained. 

"Judge  Downing,  of  Denver,  Colorado,  in- 
formed me  that  he  sold  six  Hereford  grade 
steers  in  June  that  were  four  years  old  in  the 
spring,  weighing  1,800  pounds  each,  and 
twelve  others  and  three  heifers  weighing  a  frac- 
tion under  1,500  pounds  each,  none  of  them 
having  been  fed  at  all,  having  made  their 
weights  on  grass  alone,  except  they  may  have 
been  fed  some  hay  sometimes  in  storms. 

"Mr.  Church,  who  lives  near  Denver,  has 
turned  off  thirty  or  forty  grade  Hereford 
steers  for  several  years  past,  at  three  years 
old,  averaging  about  1,250  pounds  each,  that 
have  never  been  fed  anything  but  what  they 
themselves  have  taken  from  the  range,  and  one 
lot  of  these  steers  was  sold  in  Buffalo  at  7  cents 
a  pound. 

"Judge  P.  P.  Wilcox,  now  of  Denver,  says 
that  his  cattle  ran  with  a  herd  in  which  there 
was  a  grade  Hereford  bull,  and  from  him  he 
had  several  white-faced  calves,  and  that  these 
white-faced  calves  were  as  good  at  two  years 
old  as  his  others  at  three. 

"Another  prominent  stockman  in  southern 
Colorado  says:  'The  Hereford  cross  on  my  na- 
tive cattle  has  been  very  satisfactory.  They 
stand  the  winter  \\-ell,  take  on  flesh  rapidly,  and 
are  really  the  best  cattle  for  these  ranches  that 
I  have  ever  had  anything  to  do  with/ 

"Mr.  J.  Humphries,  of  Elyria,  Ohio,  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  careful  breeders  of  Here- 
fords in  this  country,  turned  off  at  different 
times  to  the  butchers  cows  and  steers,  and 
generally  at  Christmas,  the  cattle  having  run 
to  grass  through  the  season  and  fed  grain  for 
only  two  or  three  months  as  follows: 

Seven  cows,  average  weight 1,271  Ibs. 

Two-year-old  steers,  average  weight.  1,425  Ibs. 
Three-year-old  steers,  average  weight  1,914  Ibs. 


"Such  figures  are  good  as  far  as  they  go,  but 
they  are  not  conclusive  or  satisfactory.  The 
Hereford  breeders  in  England  have  repeatedly 
sought  to  make  a  test,  where  the  feed  and  care 
should  be  the  same,  but  have  failed  to  obtain. 
Now  in  England  the  Shorthorns  do  not  stand 
so  much  in  the  lead  of  all  other  breeds  as  to 
numbers  as  they  do  in  this  country.  At  the 
meeting  of  the  Bath  and  West  of  England  So- 
ciety, held  in  June,  at  Hereford,  there  were 
shown  of  Herefords,  160;  of  Shorthorns,  55; 
all  other  breeds,  88.  Without  going  into  detail 
as  to  the  show  you  will  permit  me  to  speak  of 
'Tredegar'  (5077)  2478,  a  Hereford  bull  that 
has  quite  a  noted  record  in  the  show  ring.  He 
was  shown  here  in  the  class  of  bull,  cow  and  off- 
spring. It  is  said  of  him  he  was  first  shown  at 
Newport  when  a  calf,  and  took  first  in  his 
class;  also  at  Bath  and  West  of  England,  at 
Bristol,  first;  next  at  the  Bedford  meeting  of 
the  Royal,  he  won  similar  honors,  and  first  at 
Dudley,  of  the  Worcestershire  meeting;  first 
and  special  at  Ledbury;  first  at  Croydon  of 
Bath  and  West  of  England's  Society,  and  the 
champion  prize  as  the  best  bull  of  any  breed; 
beating  that  well  known  prize  winner  in  the 
Shorthorn  classes,  'Sir  Ingram;'  then  at  the 
Taunton  meeting  of  the  Royal,  when  he  re- 
peated his  previous  performance,  and  at  Here- 
ford, in  the  show  following,  took  the  special 
prize  offered  for  best  Hereford  bull;  at  the 
Worcestershire  Society  he  also  won  first  prize 
for  the  best  bull  in  the  yard. 

"In  the  cows  it  says  of  'Rosalind/  unques- 
tionably the  most  beautiful  cow  in  the  yard: 
'She  was  five  years  old,  having  bred  three- 
heifer  calves,  having  from  a  calf  stood  first 
and  second  in  her  class,  and  won  some  seven 
special  and  champion  prizes  in  the  time/ 

"It  does  seem  to  me  that  the  breeders  of  two 
such  breeds  of  cattle  would  find  a  pleasure  in 
testing  their  merits  on  a  scale  that  would  at- 
tract the  attention  of  the  world,  not  only  of 
stockmen,  but  of  all  men.  And  the  breeders 
of  America  should  feel  that  they  were  the  men, 
and  that  America  was  the  ground  on  which  to 
make  the  test,  and  this  Centennial  year,  the 
year  to  inaugurate  and  perfect  the  plan  which 
should  test  the  merits  of  these  cattle.  I  will 
not  undertake  to  mark  out  a  plan,  but  will  you 
not  give  your  influence  for  such  a  trial?  One 
hundred  thousand  dollars  capital  would  be  suf- 
ficient— perhaps  $50,000  would  answer — per- 
haps less.  Such  a  test  would  be  worth  more 
than  all  the  awards  that  will  be  made  within 
the  next  ninety  days — or  all  the  awards  that 
have  been  made  for  the  last  twenty  years  by  all 
the  agricultural  societies  in  the  United  States. 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFOKD     CATTLE 


289 


It  is  well  to  do  as  our  fathers  have  done,  if 
they  have  done  right.  It  is  easier  to  .go  with 
the  current,  but  it  is  sometimes  wiser  to  go 
against  it.  Won't  you  try  it  on  this  question? 

"There  is  now  open  to  the  world,  and 
brought  into  the  world,  a  stock  country  the 
like  of  which  was  never  known  before.  It 
changes  or  will  change  the  whole  system  of 
breeding  and  the  question  must  and  will  be 
solved  as  to  the  breed  of  cattle  best  suited 
for  it. 

"Beecher,  111.  T.  L.  MILLER." 

Editor's  remarks:  "We  have  no  interest  in 
any  breed  of  cattle,  and  the  claim  of  superi- 
ority over  the  Shorthorn  advanced  by  our  cor- 
respondent on  behalf  of  the  Hereford,  is  a  mat- 
ter which  we  shall  leave  Shorthorn  breeders  to 
discuss  or  refute  for  themselves.  We  place  but 
a  slight  estimate  upon  the  results  of  the  Smith- 
field  show,  for  the  reason  that  the  animals  are 
fed  for  the  prize  without  any  reference  to  cost 
— they  are  stuffed  and  pampered,  and  brought 
into  the  very  highest  state  of  obesity,  regard- 
less of  expense.  The  result  in  a  contest  of  this 
kind  depends  quite  as  much  upon  the  judg- 
ment of  the  feeder  as  upon  the  merit  of  the 
animal.  What  is  wanted  is  information  about 
cattle  handled  in  a  practical  sort  of  way,  with 
a  practical  end  in  view;  such,  for  instance,  as 
information  about  what  general  farmers  can 
do  and  are  doing  with  their  stock.  We  should 
be  pleased  to  see  such  a  show  as  that  of  the 
Smithfield  Club  inaugurated  in  this  country. 
Not  because  we  believe  it  would  settle  any  dif- 
ference of  opinion  among  rival  breeders  as  to 
whether  the  stock  of  one  was  superior  to  that 
of  the  other,  but  because  it  would  demonstrate 
to  the  general  farmers  of  the  country  that  there 
is  a  substantial  benefit  to  be  derived  from  the 
use  of  improved  blood.  With  the  big  steers 
on  exhibition  weighed  by  judges,  and  all  the 
details  of  their  keep  published,  the  general 
farmers,  realizing  the  impossibility  of  ap- 
proaching such  results  with  their  native  stock, 
would  be  encouraged  to  secure  better  blood. 
Of  course  there  are  other  respects  in  which 
it  would  be  of  advantage,  but  the  above  is  the 
principal  benefit  to  be  derived  from  it. 

"We  know  nothing  of  the  challenges  to 
which  our  correspondent  refers — why  they 
were  made  or  why  they  were  not  accepted. 
We  beg  to  say,  however,  that  in  general  chal- 
lenges are  so  worded  as  to  seem  fair  on  their 
face,  while  coupled  with  'conditions'  which  no 
one  can  accept.  We  do  not  know  that  the  chal- 
lenges of  Mr.  S.  were  coupled  with  such  con- 
ditions as  they  were  only  briefly  stated;  but  the 
offer  to  feed  200  beasts  might  not  have  found 


a  man  in  England  able  to  comply  with  the  con- 
ditions. 

"And,  after  all,  a  trial  or  two  establishes 
nothing.  It  is  only  from  a  large  number  of 
trials,  embracing  all  manner  of  conditions,  that 
a  reliable  conclusion  can  be  formed.  These  ex- 
periments would,  of  course,  be  interesting,  al- 
though, considered  by  themselves,  not  very  im- 
portant.' We  should  be  pleased  to  see  the  ex- 
periment made,  as  we  are  always  pleased  to 
have  the  details  of  carefully  considered  feed- 
ing operations,  no  matter  what  kind  of  animals 
are  the  subjects. 

"We  think  there  is  a  public  record  in  this 
country  showing  the  Shorthorn  to  be  entitled 
to  the  high  estimation  in  which  it  is  held.  It 
is  the  record  made  up  by  the  general  farmers 
of  the  country  who  have  made  a  practical  test 
of  the  merits  of  the  breed  for  practical  pur- 
poses. So  far  the  test  has  simply  been  between 
the  Shorthorn  and  the  scrub.  There  is  no  pub- 
lic estimate  as  to  the  relative  value  of  Short- 
horns and  Herefords,  because  the  public  have 
not  sufficient  experience  with  the  Herefords  to 
form  such  an  estimate. 

"Our  own  opinion  is  that  it  is  not  so  much 
a  question  as  to  which  breed  is  superior  to  the 
other  in  itself,  as  to  which  breed  will  make  the 
most  valuable  cross  upon  our  inferior  native 
stock,  and  for  the  present  there  should  be  a 
market  for  all  the  bulls  of  both  breeds,  with- 
out engendering  any  rivalry  between  them. 

"The  details  given  by  our  correspondent,  of 
Hereford  beeves,  etc.,  are  full  of  interest.  We 
shall  cheerfully  publish  more  of  the  same  sort 
as  received.  -If  facts  enough  of  this  sort  are 
furnished,  the  general  farmers  of  the  country 
will  form  an  opinion  that  will  not  be  very  far 
out  of  the  way.  We  presume  the  grades  to 
which  our  correspondent  refers  in  speaking  of 
Colorado  were  from  the  Texan  stock  on  the 
dam's  side;  or  at  any  rate  from  dams  not  fully 
up  to  the  standard  of  our  native  cattle.  And 
it  should  also  be  remembered  that  Colorado 
pastures  are  somewhat  lighter  than  our  own." 

Again,  in  the  "National  Live  Stock  Journal" 
for  September,  1876: 

"Editor  of  the  'Journal':  'And,  after  all, 
a  trial  or  two  establishes  nothing.  It  is  only 
from  a  large  number  of  trials,  embracing  all 
manner  of  conditions,  that  a  reliable  opinion 
can  be  formed.  These  experiments  would,  of 
course,  be  interesting,  although,  considered  by 
themselves,  not  very  important/ 

"Thus  the  'Journal'  says,  on  page  350,  in 
reference  to  the  offers  made  by  Mr.  Smythies 
to  test  the  Herefords  against  the  Shorthorns 
and  Devons.  What  were  these  offers: 


290 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


"First,  to  take  four  Hereford  steers  whose 
ages  should  not  exceed  2  years  3  months,  and 

"Second,  four  Hereford  steers  whose  ages 
should  not  exceed  1  year  3  months,  against 
eight  Shorthorns  and  eight  Devons  of  similar 
ages. 

"Third,  to  take  his  two-year-old  Hereford 
heifer,  which  won  first  at  the  Royal  in  her 
class,  and  turn  her  into  pasture  with  a  two- 
year-old  Shorthorn  and  a  two-year-old  Devon, 
first  winners  in  their  class  at  the  same  meeting. 

"Fourth,  to  place  four  Hereford  calves  with 
four  Shorthorn  and  four  Devon  calves,  no  calf 
to  be  more  than  four  months  old. 

"Fifth,  to  show  200  Herefords— 100  from 


STEVEN  ROBINSON. 
Lynhales,    Herefordshire. 

each  of  two  herds  named — against  an  equal 
number  of  Shorthorns  or  Devons  belonging  to 
any  two  breeders  in  any  part,  of  Great  Britain. 
"Now,  what  would  these  tests  have  shown  if 
the  offers  had  been  accepted?  The  first  and 
second  would  have  shown  what  breed  would 
have  made  the  largest  gains  in  a  given  time 
.under  the  same  circumstances.  The  third 
would  have  shown  the  hardihood  of  the  differ- 
ent breeds,  by  taking  animals  that  had  been 
forced  to  large  weights  by  high  feed  and  turn- 
ing them  from  it  to  roughing  it.  The  fifth 


would  have  shown  what  the  different  breeds 
had  done  under  ordinary  breeding  care.  Would 
not,  then,  these  tests  have  shown  the  merits  of 
the  different  breeds  under  consideration,  so  far 
as,  the  wants  of  England  were  concerned — that 
is,  would  it  not  have  been  made  a  prima  facie 
case? 

"It  is  of  no  special  interest  to  the  public 
what  my  opinion  may  or  may  not  be,  unless  I 
can  show  a  reason  for  the  faith  that  is  in  me. 
And  a  test  is  not  conclusive  unless  made  with 
the  conditions  alike.  Mr.  Jones,  a  good,  care- 
ful breeder  and  feeder,  will  raise  a  half  dozen 
good  grade  Hereford  steers,  and  carry  to  large 
weights.  Mr.  Smith,  with  less  care,  will  raise 
a  half  dozen  Shorthorn  steers  and  make  light 
weights.  Now,  these  tests  made  in  the  usual 
manner  by  practical  men,  don't  prove  any- 
thing. Is  there,  then,  any  better  way  to  test 
the  merits  of  the  different  breeds  of  cattle, 
than  to  place  each  other  precisely  under  the 
same  circumstances?  To  the  large  majority  of 
steer  breeders  it  does  not  matter  what  Mr. 
Pickrell  can  make  thoroughbred  Shorthorn 
steers  weigh,  or  what  Mr.  Miller  can  make  a 
thoroughbred  Hereford  steer  weigh,  and  while 
it  is  important  that  Mr.  Pickrell  and  Mr.  Miller 
may  know  what  their  respective  breeds  can  do, 
still  it  is  very  much  more  important  for  the 
public  to  know  what  the  grades  are  doing  and 
can  do. 

"With  this  in  view  we  made  the  following 
proposition  through  'your  'Journal'  in  April, 
1873,  to- wit: 

"  'It  is  our  belief  that  the  Herefords  are  pre- 
eminently that  stock  that  must  be  used  for  im- 
proving the  large  herds  of  Colorado,  Kansas  and 
Texas.  As  beef  producers  in  this  country,  at 
least,  the  choice  will  lay  between  the  Shorthorns 
and  Herefords.  In  the  hands  of  some  men  it 
will  be  the  one,  and  in  those  of  others  the  other ; 
and  that  this  question  may  have  a  fair  solution 
we  hereby  propose  to  any  Shorthorn  breeder  to 
select  100  or  200  cows  in  this  state,  one-half 
to  be  served  by  a  Hereford  and  the  other  half 
by  a  Shorthorn  bull  and  the  progeny  to  be  cared 
for  alike  and  shown  at  our  State  Fair  at  two, 
three  and  four  years  old.  We  propose  further 
to  select  in  Colorado,  Kansas  or  Texas,  from 
500  to  2,000  cows,  and  serve  one-half  with 
Hereford  and  the  other  half  with  Shorthorn 
bulls,  and  their  progeny  to  be  kept  alike,  and  a 
portion  to  be  brought  to  our  State  Fair  at  two, 
three  and  four  years  old  each  year.  The  choice 
as  to  how  the  stock  shall  be  kept  we  will  give 
the  Shorthorn  breeders.  All  to  be  kept  alike; 
and  the  experiment  may  be  for  one  or  five 
years. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


291 


"  'We  believe  that  beyond  the  interest  the 
experiment  will  have  to  the  Hereford  and 
Shorthorn  breeders,  it  will  result  in  a  very  great 
good  to  the  entire  stock  interest  of  the  coun- 
try. Signed,  MILLER  &  POWELL, 

"'Beecher,  111.'" 

"Now  it  is  important,  in  a  test  that  shall  be( 
of  value,  to  make  the  basis  alike,  that  is,  to  start 
with  the  same  grade  of  cows — and  that  the  cir- 
cumstances of  their  keeping  should  be  alike. 
The  proposition  of  Miller  &  Powell  above  stated 
would  secure  this.  If  Mr.  Jones  starts  with  a 
high-grade  cow  and  Mr.  Smith  with  a  scrub, 
the  test  is  not  equal ;  now  if  no  one  breeder  has 
an  interest  sufficient  to  test  this,  then  let  our 
own  State  Society  offer  premiums  for  fat  steers 
without  regard  to  breed  or  grade,  that  will  in- 
duce the  farmers  of  the  state  to  compete  for 
such  premiums.  If  any  of  the  breeds  that  are 
before  the  public  are  worth  anything  to  the 
public,  it  consists  in  their  value  to  produce  a 
beef  steer.  Let  our  societies  make  a  class  for 
fat  cattle,  say:  Under  2  yrs.  6  mos,;  over  2 
yrs.  6  mos.,  and  under  3  yrs.  3  mos.;  over 
3  yrs.  3  mos.,  and  under  4  yrs.;  over  4  yrs.; 
for  fat  cows  that  have  bred  at  least  four  calves, 
and  offer  a  first,  second  and  third  on  each. 
There  will  be  fifteen  prizes,  and  the  farmers  to 
compete  for — say  as  follows: 

Steer  2  yrs.    6  mos $100,  $60,  $40 

Steer  3  yrs.    3  mos $100,  $60,  $40 

Steer  4  yrs $100,  $60,  $40 

Steer  over  4  yrs $100,  $60,  $40 

Fat  cow $100,  $60,  $40 

"There  is  only  $1,000,  and  it  is  my  belief 
that  it  will  create  more  interest  than  all  that  is 
now  done.  I  would  suggest  these  premiums  as 
only  preliminary  to  something  better,  and  let 
the  committee  to  pass  on  such  awards  be 
butchers  of  experience. 

"It  is  undoubtedly  the  large  and  main  fea- 
ture of  the  fairs — the  cattle  interest.  It  is 
desirable  to  have  pure  breeding,  and  of  such 
quality  as  to  carry  character  to  their  produce, 
and  it  is  desirable  to  follow  this  produce  and 
see  what  it  is  like.  In  1874  the  Illinois  State 
Society  paid  in  premiums  to: 

Beef  breeds,  thoroughbreds $1,860 

Fat  cattle 30 

Dairy  breeds   745 

Dairy  products Nothing 

Horses    '. 3,500 

"I  have  never  been  in  the  management  of  a 
State  Fair,  and  have  no  doubt  that  there  are 
reasons  that  govern  the  action  of  the  manage- 


ment that  I  cannot  see,  but  from  my  standpoint 
there  would  seem  to  be  occasion  for  a  change. 
Especially  does  this  seem  to  be  true  in  the  prod- 
uct of  the  beef  and  dairy  breeds  of  cattle. 

"T.  L.  MILLER/' 

The  foregoing  is  substantially  the  case  as 
made  in  1876.  The  Shorthorn  interest  had 
been  accepted  and  the  cattle  interest  of  the 
country  adjusted  to  it;  and  it  was  not  surpris- 
ing that  the  introduction  of  another  breed  that 
promised  to  interfere  with  and  supersede  that 
interest  should  meet  with  the  most  determined 
and  bitter  opposition.  This  had  been  manifest 
from  1839,  when  Mr.  Sotham  introduced  the 
Herefords  into  this  country  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 
With  the  press  and  agricultural  societies  in 
their  control,  it  was  not  strange  that  they  should 
be  intolerant,  and  that  a  personal  fight  should 
be  made  upon  anyone  who  should  press  the 
claims  of  a  rival  breed.  With  the  agricultural 
societies  under  their  management,  there  was 
no  difficulty  in  arranging  their  judges  and  ob- 
taining the  awards.  This  year  (1876)  the  Illi- 
nois State  Board  passed  on  the  comparative 
merits  of  the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns,  five 
prominent  Shorthorn  breeders  being  judges. 

When  the  agricultural  journals  permitted  the 
discussion  as  to  the  merits  of  the  Herefords  as 
compared  with  Shorthorns,  it  was  not  surpris- 
ing that  prominent  Shorthorn  breeders  should 
say,  "If  you  propose  to  make  a  Hereford  jour- 
nal of  your  paper,  let  the  Hereford  men  support 
it."  It  was  not  surprising  that  a  leading 
breeder  and  writer  should  say:  "The  question 
of  merit  as  to  -which  is  the  best  beef  breed,  has 
already  been  decided,  and  should  not  be  opened 
or  discussed."  It  was  not  surprising  that  un- 
der such  a  pressure,  journalists  that  had  been 
led  to  believe  the  claims  of  Shorthorn  breeders 
valid,  should  be  influenced,  and  that  while  they 
did  not  refuse  articles  that  were  intended  to  un- 
settle old  beliefs,  found  it  difficult  to  find  room 
for  them  in  their  papers.  That  a  journal  in  the 
interest  of  the  Hereford  movement  should  seem 
a  necessity,  was  not  strange.  The  necessity  ex- 
isting, the  "Breeders'  Live  Stock  Journal"  was 
established  and  put  upon  its  merits,  and  it  met 
the  necessity — not  under  any  false  statements, 
but  declaring  in  unmistakable  terms  its  belief 
in  the  merits  of  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle, 
and  its  determination  to  press  those  claims,  and 
show  why  they  were  the  best.  The  establish- 
ment of  this  journal  was  not  without  the  ex- 
penditure of  a  large  amount  of  labor  and 
money.  As  the  movement  that  placed  the  Here- 
fords on  the  plains,  and  put  them  at  work  where 
they  could  show  their  produce,  had  proved  a 
large  success  and  hastened  the  acceptance  of  the 


292 


HISTOKY    OF    HEKEFOKD     CATTLE 


breed,  so  the  establishment  of  the  "Breeders' 
Live  Stock  Journal"  cemented  and  systematized 
the  work. 

These  movements  were  my  individual  and 
personal  enterprises,  that  brought  returns  with 
them  to  a  certain  extent;  but  they  contributed 
largely  to  the  success  of  all  breeders.  They 
were  a  necessity  of  the  hour,  and  the  results 
have  shown  the  wisdom  of  the  course  pursued. 
The  publishing  of  the  American  Hereford  Kec- 
ord  and  the  compilation  of  the  work  was  under- 
taken and  carried  through  by  individual  enter- 
prise, without  any  other  aid  than  the  payment 
of  a  fee  for  entries  that  was  thought  sufficient. 

In  thus  reviewing  the  course  of  the  Heref ords 
during  an  eventful  decade  we  cannot  but  feel 
that  the  means  used  to  advance  their  interest 
was  fairly  well  selected,  and  the  results  reason- 
ably successful.  That  the  movement  was  a 
success  there  is  no  doubt.  This  is  evidenced  by 
the  character  of  the  men  called  together  at  the 
Hereford  Convention;  and  another  evidence  is 
found  in  the  manner  in  which  the  Herefords 
withstood  the  severe  weather  of  the  range  win- 
ters, which  put  the  seal  of  permanency  upon 
the  movement.  Each  step  that  was  taken  was 
not  in  the  beaten  track  of  others,  but  on  the 
contrary,  was  independent  of  the  movements  of 
other  breeders. 

The  placing  of  the  cattle  on  the  plains  was 
done  in  the  confident  belief  that  they  would 
stand  the  test  to  which  they  would  be  subjected, 
and  subsequent  events  have  fully  proved  this. 
The  establishing  of  a  journal  for  the  advocacy 
of  a  single  interest,  and  without  a  general  guar- 
antee fund,  is  another  experiment  that  is  usu- 
ally deemed  hazardous,  and  one  that  usually 
demands  a  guarantee  from  the  interest  which 
it  is  to  support,  but  the  "Journal"  became  a  suc- 
cess without  such  guarantee.  These  ends  were 
obtained  without  other  aid  than  the  merit  in- 
herent in  the  movement. 

Another  step  was  taken  outside  of  the  ordi- 
nary methods  pursued  by  breeders,  and  that  was 
the  establishment  of  an  exhibition  at  the  heart 
of  this  great  cattle  interest.  A  commodious 
building-  was  erected  in  which  to  place  speci- 
mens of  the  breed,  and  there  submit  them  to  the 
judgment  of  the  practical  cattlemen  of  the 
world.  The  seeming  necessity  of  such  a  move- 
ment lay  in  the  fact  that  the  Shorthorn  men 
had  for  half  a  century  been  organizing  state, 
district  and  county  agricultural  societies,  and 
under  these  inaugurating  fairs  or  live  stock 
shows,  and  under  the  management  of  these 


Shorthorn  judges  we  must  exhibit  our  stock,  or, 
if  we  were  not  satisfied,  stay  away. 

There  was  then  a  necessity  for  some  means 
by  which  we  could  place  our  stock  before  the 
world  of  cattle  breeders.  We  could  have  organ- 
ized an  opposition  agricultural  society,  but  that 
would  have  required  large  expense,  and  would 
'have  been  subject  to  the  same  drawbacks  as  po- 
litical reforms,  to-wit,  all  the  dead-beats  and 
old  fair  hacks  would  have  jumped  on,  and  we 
should  have  been  little  better  off,  and  another 
reform  would  soon  have  been  needed.  We  es- 
tablished a  simple  machine,  and  it  was  intended 
it  should  be  made  the  best  exhibit  possible,  and 
be  at  the  same  time  self-sustaining.  We  be- 
lieve it  the  best  move  that  could  •  have  been 
made.  We  thus  brought  our  own  cattle  before 
practical  men.  We  had  hoped — had,  indeed, 
expected — that  the  managers  of  the  Union 
Stock  Yards  would  have  gladly  extended  to  the 
Herefords  accommodations  for  such  an  exhibit ; 
but  they  thought  it  would  be  establishing  a  bad 
precedent,  and  declined  to  do  so.  We  were  thus 
obliged  to  take  the  most  convenient  location  we 
could  get,  using  for  a  time  such  accommodation 
as  could  be  obtained,  till  the  wisdom  of  the 
movement  was  fully  established. 

This  could  hardly  be  termed  a  new  move- 
ment, as  John  B.  Sherman  had  had  such  an 
exhibit  of  Shorthorns  for  several  years,  select- 
ing the  best  specimens  of  that  breed  to  place 
in  his  show  stable.  Thus  the  two  breeds  were 
brought  together  in  comparison — and  this  not 
for  one  week,  but  for  fifty-two  weeks  in  the 
year.  The  move  was  undoubtedly  a  good  one, 
and  gave  the  world  of  cattlemen  an  opportunity 
to  examine  the  Herefords  and  compare  their 
merits  with  specimens  of  Shorthorns  that  they 
were  familiar  with  and  can  find  in  the  yards. 
At  the  close  of  the  year  1881  we  summed  up 
the  situation  as  follows : 

"Keviewing  the  past,  what  is  the  outlook  for 
the  future?  The  standing  of  the  Herefords 
is  fully  established,  and  the  inquiry  for  them 
was  never  so  urgent  as  now. 

"The  breeders  of  cross-bred  and  grade  bulls 
have  sold  almost  their  last  animal,  and  if  there 
are  any  left  they  are  in  out-of-the-way  places. 
The  number  of  thoroughbreds  in  the  hands  of 
breeders  is  not  large,  and  there  would  have  been 
none  but  for  the  fact  of  a  late  opening  of 
spring  and  consequent  late  demand  for  grades. 
In  conclusion,  the  past  has  been  reasonably 
satisfactory,  and  the  outlook  for  the  future  is 
very  encouraging/' 


HISTOEY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


293 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

QUALITY  IN  BEEF;  SOUND  CONSTITUTION  INDISPENSABLE  TO  IT 


It  is  a  fact  in  history  that  never,  in  the 
years  that  preceded  these  Fat  Stock  Shows 
in  America,  had  the  attention  of  the  public  and 
the  interest  of  the  people  been  so  aroused  in 
the  matter  of  good  beef,  and  good  and  profita- 
ble beef  cattle,  as  at  this  time. 

Many,  from  not  having  examined  into  the 
subject,  thought  good  beef  was  a  matter  of 
chance  and  not  the  result  of  earnest  and  in- 
telligent effort.  The  Chicago  "Tribune"  had 
the  following  to  say,  in  regard  to  the  interest 
awakened  and  the  quality  of  beef: 

"That  the  Shorthorn  and  Hereford  forces 
are  being  marshalled,  thoroughly  equipped, 
and  better  disciplined  and  prepared  than  ever 
before  for  the  great  conflict  of  the  breeds, 
none  will  deny,  who  have  the  least  interest  in 
this  commendable  strife  between  the  two  rival 
breeds  of  beef  cattle.  The  general  public  in 
both  continents  will  never  duly  appreciate  the 
great  debt  they  owe  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock 
Show,  for  the  improvement  from  year  to  year 
in  the  quality  of  beef  that  will  be  exported 
from  this  market  as  the  result  of  the  emulation 
in  this  normal  school  for  the  feeder  and 
breeder. 

"And  as  other  countries  must  compete  in  the 
European  markets  with  this  class  of  goods,  they 
must  keep  pace  with  our  feeders  or  retire  from 
the  trade. 

"The  Shorthorn  breeders  have  not,  until 
very  recently,  manifested  much  interest  in  this 
contest,  which  has  already  created  a  boom  in 
the  Hereford  market,  that  has  at  least  seriously 
silarmed  the  thousands  of  breeders  of  this  fa- 
vorite class  of  cattle,  who  have  deceived  them- 
selves with  the  impression  that  they  had 
nothing  to  fear  from  the  handful  of  whitefaced 
breeders,  or  their  cattle. 

"The  number,  influence,  wealth,  unparalleled 
energy  and  enthusiasm  Hereford  advocates 
have  developed  so  suddenly  startled  the  stock 
breeders  of  the  country,  who  have  been  com- 
pelled to  recognize  the  excellence  of  the  com- 
paratively new  candidate  for  public  favor.  The 


previous  indifference  of  the  Shorthorn  men  as 
to  the  possibility  of  their  defeat  is  in  striking 
contrast  with  their  evident  anxiety  and  the 
earnest  efforts  being  made  at  this  date  to  spare 
no  pains  or  expense  to  regain  their  former 
prestige. 

"The  grade  Hereford  steer  Conqueror,  the 
Hereford  cow  Jennie  (fl  201),  and  other  re- 
markably fine  whitefaced  bullocks  exhibited 
during  the  past  four  years  at  the  Fat  Stock 
Show,  have  opened  the  eyes  of  the  most 
prejudiced  friends  of  Shorthorn  cattle  as  to  the 
necessity  of  preparing  a  much  better  class  of 
cattle  for  future  shows,  or  gracefully  confess 
a  most  humiliating  defeat." 

The  butchering  and  comparing  of  the  dif- 
ferent animals  at  the  Fat  Stock  Shows  brought 
intelligent  reports  from  able  men  and  made  it 
a  matter  of  record;  and  brought  to  the  people's 
notice  that  fat  could  be  marbled  between  the 
lean;  and  that  it  was  not  necessary  to  eat  blue, 
tough  meat,  if  only  the  right  quality  of  steers 
were  fed. 

It  was  our  great  aim  and  effort  to  show  that 
Herefords  possess  the  requisite  qualities  for  a 
beef  animal,  in  perfection. 

Prof.  Tanner  of  England,  in  a  lecture  de- 
livered before  the  Marshbrook  Improvement 
Society,  on  the  economical  production  of  meat, 
states  the  case  as  follows: 

"We  find  that  the  old  breeds  of  cattle,  the 
unimproved  breeds  of  cattle,  differed  very  ma- 
terially from  those  of  recent  date.  In  other 
words,  we  have  modified  by  careful  breeding 
the  powers  of  the  animals  we  raise  upon  our 
farms  for  doing  this  work.  The  difference  to 
be  observed  in  the  local  breeds,  which  were 
existing  in  different  parts  of  the  country  forty 
or  fifty  years  ago,  were  largely  traceable  to  the 
local  influences  of  soil  and  climate.  Since  then 
we  have  adopted  improved  and  more  valuable 
breeds,  and  they  have  succeeded  just  in  propor- 
tion as  they  have  been  introduced  into  districts 
that  suit  their  peculiarities  of  character.  For 
instance,  the  produce  of  the  Highlands  of  Scot- 


294 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


land  were  of  a  hardy  character,  and  as  we  come 
afterwards  to  other  exposed  lands,  we  have  the 
Welsh  and  the  Hereford  breeds  of  stock;  then, 
going  into  more  temperate  districts  we  have  the 
Shorthorns,  and  the  more  tender  but  nimble 
Devons,  and  so  on,  to  the  Channel  Islands 
stock.  But  the  point  is  this  :  that  all  this  pro- 
duce obtain  their  points  of  character  by  being 
brought  up  under  certain  conditions  to  which 
they  had  adapted  themselves,  but  when  the 
Shorthorns  were  sent  to  Scotland  they  were  un- 
suited  to  the  districts  and  they  perished." 

Prof.  Tanner  goes  on  to  say:  "Now  those 
habits,  those  points  of  character,  which  were 

existing  in  the  dif- 
ferent local  breeds, 
were  modified  to 
meet  the  require- 
ments of  more  ad- 
vanced farming. 
For  instance,  the 
old  system  of  al- 
lowing the  cattle  to 
remain  until  they 
were  four,  five,  or 
six  years  old,  be- 
fore they  were 
completed  for  the 
butcher,  gradually 
gave  place  to  a 
much  more  rapid 
habit  of  growth,  a 
growth  which 


SIR   JAMES   RANKIN,    M.    P., 
Bryngwin,  Herefordshire. 


more  prompt  and  speedy  throughout  its  en- 
tire range,  and  the  result  was  that  the  ani- 
mal was  finished  and  ready  for  the  butcher 
at  a  much  earlier  date.  The  tendency  of 
late  years  has,  therefore,  been  in  the  direc- 
tion of  so  altering  the  character  of  the  animals 
we  breed  that  they  become  quiet  and  docile, 
quite  disposed  to  take  their  food  without  rest- 
lessness, and  also  to  make  good  use  of  the  food 
which  is  supplied  to  them.  I  know  perfectly 
well  that  you  can  appreciate  the  weakness  of 
the  character,  both  of  the  Shorthorn  stock  and 
also  many  of  our  delicate  breeds  of  sheep,  es- 
pecially the  Leicester.  And  how  has  this  dif- 
ference arisen?  Largely  because  the  alteration 
made,  in  the  case  of  the  Shorthorn  cattle,  in 
early  years  had  been  carried  to  an  extent  which 
has  probably  —  but  I  will  not  say  probably  — 
which  really,  has  resulted  in  their  obtaining  a 
weaker  constitutional  character.  Where  breed- 
ers of  Hereford  cattle  have  excelled  is  this, 
they  have  kept  their  cattle  under  more  natural 
conditions,  and  as  a  consequence  by  keeping 
their  cattle  under  those  conditions,  they  have 
submitted  to  what  the  Shorthorn  breeder  would 


say  was  a  sacrifice,  during  this  time,  because 
they  have  not  made  their  stock  into  such  rapid 
fat-formers  as  the  Shorthorn  cattle  are. 

"If  you  breed  cattle  so  that  they  have  small, 
feeble,  or  imperfect  lungs,  you  must  not  expose 
such  cattle  to  rough,  cold  weather  with  the 
same  impunity  that  you  might  if  they  had 
larger  lungs  and  were  fully  capable'  of  main- 
taining the  warmth  of  the  body.  If  you  give 
them  small  lungs  they  become  unable  to  main- 
tain that  warmth  under  conditions  of  consider- 
able difficulty,  and  having  reduced  the  power 
of  the  lungs,  if  you  do  expose  it  to  inclement 
weather,  it  is  said  at  once  of  the  animal  that  it 
is  too  delicate,  and  why?  Because  you  have 
reduced  the  lungs  so  greatly  that  the  animal 
cannot  keep  up  its  warmth,  and  becomes 
'delicate,'  and  that  is  only  another  phrase  for 
saying  that  it  is  predisposed  to  disease.  Permit 
the  animal  to  become  delicate,  therefore,  and  it 
becomes  predisposed  to  disease.  And  just  in 
proportion  as  you  limit  the  exercise  that  cattle 
take,  by  keeping  them  in  their  confined  stalls, 
you  diminish  the  siz.e  of  the  lungs,  and  you 
make  them  incapable  of  resisting  the  conse- 
quence of  exposure.  Now  our  Shorthorn  cattle 
are  notoriously  more  delicate  than  your  Here- 
fords,  and  why  are  Herefords  more  hardy? 
Because  they  have  been  bred  and  brought  up 
under  conditions  which  allowed  them  greater 
freedom,  which  permitted  them  to  take  more 
exercise,  and  so  they  are  more  hardy. 

"This  is  one  point;  and  there  is  another 
point  which  has  helped  to  make  the  Hereford 
breed  what  it  is — there  has  been  greater  care 
shown  for  the  production  of  milk.  The  fatal 
error  which  was  accepted  by  the  majority  of 
Shorthorn  men  was  this:  We  are  breeding  to 
produce  meat,  and  milk  is  of  secondary  impor- 
tance; we  want  pedigree  animals  which  will  be 
of  very  high  value;  you  can  get  milk  from  very 
cheap  cows.  Now,  there  has  not  been  a  more 
fatal  opinion  in  connection  with  agriculture 
than  this.  The  production  of  milk  has  been 
looked  upon  as  of  secondary  moment,  and  just 
in  proportion  as  the  production  of  milk  has 
been  neglected,  so  will  you  find  the  breeding 
powers  of  the  animal  become  weaker  and  more 
uncertain.  It  is,  therefore,  because  of  the 
greater  care  that  has  been  shown  in  the  man- 
agement of  Hereford  cattle,  in  reference  to  the 
production  of  milk,  and  also  the  more  natural 
way  in  which  calves  have  been  allowed  to  be 
suckled  by  their  cows  and  to  run  with  them 
that  you  have  maintained  the  breeding  powers 
of  these  animals,  in  greater  excellence  and  in 
greater  power.  The  stronger  constitution  and 
the  better  breeding  character  of  the  Hereford 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFOKD     CATTLE 


295 


stock  is  largely  due  to  the  fact  that  while  you 
have  carried  improvements  forward,  you  have 
not  carried  them  to  such  an  extent  as  to  en- 
danger the  stability  of  the  breed  for  the  hardy 
character  which  it  originally  possessed,  and 
for  many  years  past,  it  has  been  my  pleasure  to 
refer  to  the  Hereford  breed  as  representing  the 
cuttle  of  which  .there  was  a  sufficient  power  for 
the  production  of  meat  rapidly,  without  it  be- 
ing accompanied  by  weakness  through  over 
feeding  and  neglecting  the  milk,  and,  depend 
upon  it,  the  great  future  of  this  breed  will  be 
determined  by  this  moderation  that  you  have 
shown  in  the  past.  There  is  nothing  peculiar 
to  the  Hereford  breed,  any  more  than  the 
Shorthorns,  to  prevent  you  going  too  far  in  the 
alteration  you  make  in  the  structure  of  the 
body,  and  in  its  general  healthy  character.  It 
is  quite  possible  for  you,  and  you  may  have 
seen  instances  of  it,  to  produce  a  Hereford 
quite  as  tender  and  as  delicate  as  the  most  frail 
of  the  Shorthorn  breed.  But  the  interests  of 
breeders  in  the  past  has  been  shown  by  carry- 
ing tho  improvements  to  a  reasonable  extent — 
making  them  good  flesh  formers,  good  feeders, 
but  not  overdoing  it  by  bringing  your  animals 
into  too  delicate  a  condition." 

Prof.  Tanner  concluded  by  saying :  "I  know 
that  some  of  the  breeders  of  Shorthorn  cattle 
will  think  that  I  am  doing  them  an  injustice,  in 
reference  to  the  quality  of  Shorthorn  beef,  but 
it  is  my  duty  to  speak  the  truth,  to  the  best 
of  my  ability  and  knowledge,  whether  it 
pleases  or  not;  and  I  feel  convinced,  that  the 
excessive  limitation  which  is  placed  upon  the 
Shorthorns,  tends  greatly  in  the  direction  of 
producing  beef  which  is  decidedly  of  an  in- 
ferior character.  We  know,  however,  that  it  is 
a  point  of  excellence  with  Hereford  breeders, 
that  you  are  rather  liberal  in  regard  to  exercise 
— you  allow  your  stock  to  take  rather  a  liberal 
amount  of  exercise,  and  this  is  really  a  loss  of 
food  producing  power;  but  you  cannot  have  it 
both  ways.  The  great  end  is  to  obtain  that 
happy  medium  that  gives  you  the  rich  flesh,  ac- 
companied by  a  fair  proportion  of  fat,  and  not 
to  fatten  to  such  an  extent  that  the  muscular 
growth  shall  attain  to  a  fatty  degeneration." 

We  present  Dr.  Sprague's  report  on  marbling 
qualities  of  beef  from  the  dressed  bullocks  at 
the  American  Fat  Stock  Show  and  from  others 
obtained  at  the  markets.  We  would  call 
special  attention  to  the  clause  which  we  have 
placed  in  italics: 

"So,  after  thoroughly  weighing  and  sifting 
every  feature  of  the  structure,  of  fiber  and  fat, 
in  the  two  breeds  as  represented  by  specimens, 
we  conclude  that  superiority  must  be  deter- 


mined by  EARLY  MATURITY,  POUNDS  OF 
GAIN  UPON  A  GIVEN  AMOUNT  OF 
FEED,  RELATIVE  WEIGHT  OF  OFFAL 
AND  OF  BEST  TO  POOREST  PARTS" 

Or  as  we  would  state  it,  economy  of  produc- 
tion and  value  of  product.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  the  Doctor  reached  the  rule  that  must  be 
the  true  test.  But  a  further  and  more  careful 
investigation  reveals  the  fact  that  by  the  touch 
and  handling,  the  quality  can  be  determined 
with  tolerable  accuracy.  The  butcher  of  long 
experience  by  the  eye  and  handling,  will  de- 
termine whether  the  animal  will  die  well  or 
not;  he  will  determine  with  almost  unerring 
certainty  on  the  points.  This  fact  is  well  es- 
tablished, but  there  is  as  much  difference  in 
butchers  as  there  is  in  any  other  calling.  We 
will  find  butchers  that  by  the  outside  of  the 
animal  will  tell  almost  to  a  certainty  what  is 
under  the  hide,  and  this  class  of  butchers 
should  be  called  for  judges.  Another  point: 
When  a  society  shall  reserve  the  right  to 
take  competing  bullocks  that  are  brought  be- 
fore them  for  slaughter,  then  will  they  reach 
results  that  will  be  valuable.  Dr.  Sprague 
says,  "The  butcher  is  the  only  one  that 
could  establish  the  presence  of  these  desirable 
qualities"  (marbling).  We  advocated  this  and 
urged  upon  the  attention  of  the  Illinois  State 
Board  of  Agriculture  the  necessity  of  making 
this  test.  An  offer  was  made  in  the  following 
language  in  1879  in  a  communication  to  the 
Board: 

"The  object  of  your  Board  is  to  determine, 
among  other  things,  the  comparative  value  of 
different  breeds  of  beef  animals.  Among  other 
ways,  expert  judges  of  beef  animals  are  called 
upon  to  pass  upon  the  merits  of  such  animals 
as  are  brought  before  them.  This  will  de- 
termine the  merits  excepting  the  errors  of 
judgment  and  prejudice  in  favor  of  different 
breeds.  To  correct  such  errors  and  prejudices 
if  any  exist,  I  will  submit  my  cattle,  that  have 
come  in  competition  with  other  breeds,  to  the 
direction  of  your  Board  to  be  slaughtered." 

We  agreed  with  Dr.  Sprague,  that  the 
butcher's  test  was  needed.  The  Board  could 
offer  such  premiums  as  would  make  it  an  object 
and  inducement  for  breeders  and  feeders  to 
bring  their  cattle  to  such  a  test. 

The  Duke  of  Bedford  did  this  over  seventy 
years  ago,  and  the  correctness  of  that  judgment 
has  been  recognized,  from  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent, by  the  graziers  and  butchers  of  England. 

At  the  request  of  the  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture of  Illinois,  Dr.  G.  Sprague  of  Chicago 
prepared  an  exhaustive  paper  giving  the  re- 
sults of  a  series  of  careful  microscopical 


296 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


examinations  of  samples  of  meat,  cut  from 
several  of  the  carcasses  butchered  at  the  Fat 
Stock  Show  held  at  Chicago  in  1880.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  the  breeders  of  Shorthorn 
and  Hereford  cattle  entered  several  head  of 
select  steers  of  the  two  breeds  in  a  contest  for 
the  slaughter  prize,  and  also  that  during  the 
deliberations  of  the  awarding  committee  the 
feeling  ran  very  high  as  to  the  relative  supe- 
riority of  the  meat.  The  microscopical  tests 
were  made  at  that  time,  but  not  so  thoroughly 
as  the  State  Board  desired.  The  able  paper  of 
Dr.  Sprague  has  been  condensed  as  follows,  and 
the  result  of  that  gentleman's  examinations  at- 


LOVING  CUP. 

Presented   to  Geo.    P     Morgan,   inscribed   as  follows:     Pre- 
sented to  Geo.  F.   Morgan,    Esq.,   by  a  few  breeders  in 
England,    in   recognition    of   his   labors   to   establish 
the    Herefords    in    America,    July    25th,    1883. 

tracted  great  attention  from  the  producers, 
meat  cutters,  and  consumers  of  the  country. 

Dr.  Sprague  introduces  the  paper  by 
anatomical  comparisons,  which,  although  tech- 
nically of  vast  importance,  do  not  relate  to  the 
merits  of  the  meat  examined,  and  he  then 
states  that: 

"The  specimens  examined  under  the  micro- 
scope, and  also  subjected  to  tests  by  cooking, 
were  taken  from  the  loin  at  the  point  of  di- 
vision of  the  fore,  and  from  the  hind  quarters 
of  the  two  and  three-year-old  Shorthorn  grades, 


and  -from  corresponding  parts  of  the  Hereford 
grades  of  like  ages,  these  being  animals 
slaughtered  and  dressed  in  competition  at  the 
recent  Fat  Stock  Show  in  this  city.  Specimens 
from  same  part  of  carcass  were  procured  of  a 
butcher  shop  on  Adams  street,  where  only  high- 
grade  steers  are  cut  up,  and  of  low  grade  from 
two  South  Division  shops,  and  also  from  the 
wholesale  department  of  West  Jackson  street.  A 
careful  examination  in  every  state  from 
moisture  to  extreme  dryness,  running  through 
a  period  of  ten  days,  shows  no  discernible  dif- 
ference in  color,  structure  of  fiber,  or  the 
equable  distribution  of  the  fat  vesicles  and  fat 
among  the  muscular  fibers  of  the  show  steers. 
So  after  thoroughly  weighing  and  sifting  every 
feature  of  the  structure  of  fiber  and  fat  in  the 
two  breeds,  as  represented  in  the  high  grades 
presented  as  specimens,  we  conclude  that  su- 
periority must  be  determined  by  early  maturity 
— pounds  of  gain  upon  a  given  amount  of  feed; 
relative  weight  of  offal,  and  of  best  to  poorest 
parts,  and  by  the  test  of  public  taste,  based 
upon  the  exterior  form  and  finish,  as  from  out- 
ward appearance  some  prefer  one  breed  and 
others  the  other.  The  specimens  of  high-grade 
steer  beef  procured  on  Adams  street  showed 
nearly  all  the  qualities  of  high  marbling  of  the 
exhibition  steers,  and  there  was  no  difference 
in  coloring,  fineness  of  fiber,  distribution  of  fat 
vesicles,  nor  in  flavor  or  odor  when  cooked, 
though  there  was  some  difference  in  the  degree 
to  which  the  fibers  were  filled  with  nutritive 
substance. 

THE    SCRUB    MEAT. 

"But  a  comparison  of  the  scrub  meat,  or  that 
part  of  it  known  as  scalawags,  with  the  high 
grade,  prompts  us  to  ever  in  the  future  turn 
our  backs  upon  and  refuse  to  take  upon  our 
plate  a  cut  from  the  class  referred  to.  The 
lean  fibers  from  this  class  of  carcasses  are  like 
rubber,  and  are  held  together  by  a  glutinous 
substance;  and  not  by  cellular  tissues  and  fat 
vesicles,  filled  with  fat  and  easily  separated,  as 
in  the  case  of  the  high-bred  steers.  The  speci- 
men pieces  of  the  scrub  meat — and  this  held 
good  with  the  six  examined,  commenced  to  curl 
as  soon  as  the  drying  process  commenced,  and 
in  three  days  the  pieces  were  curled  up  at  the 
edges  and  thoroughly  dry;  whereas  the  cuts 
from  the  high  grades  remained  moist  and  juicy, 
and  lay  flat  upon  the  paper,  though  on  hand 
three  or  four  days  before  the  others  were  pro- 
cured. When  dry  the  cuts  of  the  scrub  meat 
had  no  flexibility,  would  break  before  they 
would  bend,  and  when  cooked  were  without 
fat,  juiciness  or  flavor,  while  the  specimens 
from  the  high  grades  maintained  all  these 


HISTOEY    OF    HEREFOED    CATTLE 


297 


qualities  after  having  been  kept  for  a  full  week 
exposed  to  the  air." 

The  Doctor  made  a  practical  test  by  cooking 
samples  of  all  the  meats  referred  to,  and  his 
deductions  from  the  tests  are  simply  a  corrob- 
oration  of  the  opinion  that  the  HIGH-GRADE 
MKATS  ARE  THE  ONLY  ONES  FIT  FOR 
THE  TABLE. 

Upon  the  question  of  the  excessive  fatness, 
about  which  so  much  has  been  said  and  writ- 
ten, the  examiner,  after  minutely  describing 
where  this  excess  of  fat  is  to  be  found,  and  the 
immediate  cause  thereof,  says: 

"It  would  be  very  proper,  and  a  step  in  ad- 
vance, to  offer  a  prize  on  the  beast,  or  rather 
to  the  man  who  should  breed  and  rear  the 
beast,  capable  of  showing  the  highest  specimen 
of  marbling  with  the  least  accumulation  of  fat, 
merely  as  such,  outside  of  and  measurably  away 
from  the  muscles.  Men  can  express  their  likes 
and  dislikes,  it  costs  nothing  to  do  this,  but 
mere  expressions  of  opinion  cut  no  figure  in  so 
strictly  a  practical  matter  as  growing  meat  for 
the  million.  The  true  inwardness  of  the  sub- 
ject is,  as  a  rule,  very  imperfectly  understood, 
though  the  ways  of  getting  at  a  better  under- 
standing are  being  gradually  found  out.  The 
idea  entertained  by  some,  generally  vegetarians, 
that  fat  accumulated  in  the  system  is  the  re- 
sult of  fatty  degeneration  of  muscles,  is  er- 
roneous in  every  particular.  Fat  in  the  human 
system  and  in  all  animals  is  as  natural  an  ele- 
ment as  are  muscles  and  skin.  That  some  por- 
tion of  the  muscular  system  may  (as  is  oc- 
casionally the  case  with  the  heart,  which  is 
(hollow)  muscle)  be  the  seat  of  deposit  of 
an  unnatural  amount  of  adipose  matter,  caus- 
ing the  muscles  to  become  pale  and  the  heart's 
motion  feeble,  is  no  proof  that  all  fat  presents 
evidence  of  degeneration.  The  blood  in  perfect 
health  contains  fatty  elements  which  in  its 
rounds  are  given  off  and  taken  in  by  the  fat 
vesicles,  these  latter  holding  it  in  store.  The 
blood  also  carries  the  material  out  of  which 
linger  nails,  hoofs  and  hairs  are  made,  leaving 
tli is  at  the  proper  place  to  replenish  waste;  and 
it  would  be  just  as  proper  to  charge  the  hair 
and  the  finger  and  toe  nails  with  being  a  de- 
generation from  muscular  substance  as  to 
charge  this  to  the  usual  accumulation  of  fat 
in  the  system  of  man  or  beast. 

"Cattle  breeders  have  always  been  divided  in 
opinion  as  to  the  superiority  of  meat  grown 
upon  the  frames  of  bony  steers  which  are  pas- 
ture-fed. Some  breeders  claim  that  meat  thus 
made  must  of  necessity  be  of  a  better  quality  on 
account  of  the  continued  outdoor  exercise  af- 
forded and  the  natural  food  which  the  animal 


takes,  while  just  as  thorough  and  practical  men 
insist  upon  the  correctness  of  their  views,  that 

A    STALL-FED    STEEE 

would  produce  as  good,  sound,  hardy  muscle 
and  as  choice  meat  as  could  be  shown  upon  an 
animal  fed  in  the  open  air  and  upon  natural 
food."  After  stating  that  no  one  questions  that 
exercise  hardens  the  muscles,  the  Doctor  says: 

"The  notion  entertained  by  some  that  an 
animal  cannot  be  mainly  kept  in  a  stall  and  be 
made  to  produce  healthy,  sound  meat  is  a  non- 
sensical assumption  not  sustained  by  physi- 
ology, nor  is  it  by  experience.  That  such  an 
animal  is  liable  to  fatty  degeneration  is  equally 
nonsensical.  The  evidences  of  health  in  the 
stall-fed  ox  are  just  as  apparent,  under  reason- 
ably favorable  circumstances,  as  are  the 
evidences  of  soundness  in  an  apple  grown  in  a 
fixed  position  on  a  limb." 

Many  of  the  most  prominent  breeders  of  the 
country  pin  their  faith  upon  the  idea  that  they 
can  by  handling  ascertain  and  determine 
whether  an  animal  will  show  marbled  meat  and 
other  signs  of  good  blood  and  thorough  breed- 
ing. Because  a  steer  presents  a  soft  glossy 
hide,  and  the  proper  fullness  in  parts  that  in- 
dicate good  blood  and  equally  good  care,  these 
gentlemen  have  been  known  to  go  so  far  as  to 
wager  large  sums  of  money  that  animals  show- 
ing these  outside  signs  of  excellence  would, 
upon  being  butchered,  show  highly  marbled 
meat.  In  fact,  they  have  professed  to  be  able 
to  locate  this  choice  beef  before  death.  Dr. 
Sprague  held  that  this  was  not  only  impossible 
but  preposterous,  and  that 

THE  BUTCHER'S-  TEST  WAS  THE  ONLY  ONE 

that  could  establish  the  presence  of  these  de- 
sirable qualities.  Upon  this  subject  he  says: 
"We  acknowledged  to  having  looked  upon 
these  meat  tests  with  no  little  interest,  in  that 
we  hoped  to  prove  that  the  outward  signs  of 
a  fine  handler  would  point  quite  unerringly 
to  the  quality  of  the  meat  fibre  and  the  mar- 
bling of  it.  So  we  selected  a  steer  having  a 
soft,  mossy  coat  and  mellow  skin,  with  the 
other  indications  of  a  fine  handler  in  a  marked 
degree,  upon  which  to  apply  the  tests  so  long 
recognized  and  acted  upon  by  breeders.  This 
steer,  upon  being  cut  up,  gave  no  evidence  of 
any  higher  marbling  of  flesh  than  either^  of 
the  others,  no  matter  what  their  touch,  under 
the  hand.  Failing  to  find  corroborative  evi- 
dence in  this  regard,  we  applied  the  micro- 
scope with  care,  in  the  hope  of  discovering  a 
muscular  fibre  susceptible  of  minuter  division 
by  far  than  the  fibre  of  other  steers  in  the 


298 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


show  that  came  under  the  butcher's  hand.  In 
this  we  may  have  been  in  a  measure  successful, 
as  the  minute  filaments  of  the  muscular  fibre 
of  the  fine  handling  steer  appeared  under  a 
lens  of  high  power  to  be  a  little  finer  than 
others  possessed,  though  the  difference  was  not 
pronounced,  was,  in  fact,  slight,  not  manifest 
enough  to  base  a  distinction  upon.  This  will 
be  conceded  when  it  is  considered  that  the 
slight  difference,  if  any  existed,  was  only  dis- 
covered through  a  very  high  magnifying 
power  applied  to  a  single  filament,  being  the 
100th  division  at  least  of  a  single  minute 
muscular  fibre.  One  object  of  this  examination 
has  been  to  discover,  if  practicable,  outward 


GOOD    BOY    (7668)    76240. 
Bred  by  Earl  of  Coventry. 

signs  that  would  point  with  tolerable  certainty 
to  the  inner  structure  during  the  life  of  the 
animal,  that  we  might  be  able  to  predict,  while 
the  animal  was  upon  its  feet,  what  its  fibre 
would  be  upon  the  block,  and  the  extent  to 
which  this  would  be  marbled. 

"Hence,  it  is  quite  fitting,  at  this  stage  of 
the  discussion,  to  refer  to  the  fact  that  the 
deer,  as  well  as  many  other  animals,  have  ex- 
ceedingly soft  coats  and  pliable  skins,  yet  no 
marbling  of  the  flesh.  These  facts  have  their 
bearing,  and  point  distinctly  to  the  need  of 
more  lessons  and  closer  study.  We  should 
think  it  doing  violence  to  intimate  that  a  steer 
of  coarse  outward  texture  and  heavy  bone, 
would  show  flesh  of  equal  quality  with  one  pos- 
sessed of  a  moderate  bone  and  general  marks 
of  fine  texture  upon  the  surface.  But,  as  for 
any  difference  observable  in  the  exterior  struc- 
ture of  the  steers  shown  at  the  late  exhibition 
appearing  to  indicate  a  finer  flesh  fibre,  or 
better  degree  of  marbling,  we  think  the  evi- 
dence brought  out  through  the  tests  upon  the 
interior  structure  point  not  very  distinctly  to 
either  beast. 

"It  occurs  to  us  to  hint,  in  conclusion,  that 
the  Board  of  Agriculture  should  require  ex- 


periments upon  low  as  well  as  high-grade 
meats,  and  that  these  tests  should  include  the 
careful  cooking  and  testing  of  the  cooked 
samples.  This  test  is  applied  to  all  other  kinds 
of  food  entered  for  prizes.  Our  bread,  butter, 
cheese  and  preserve  making  do  not  now  need 
the  safeguards  of  prizes  and  tests  nearly  so 
much  as  do  our  meats,  as  the  differences  in  the 
latter  are  so  imperfectly  understood,  even 
among  the  better  class  of  consumers." 

We  give  herewith  the  outlines  fairly  repre- 
senting these  two  breeds — Hereford  and  Short- 
horn— at  the  heart-girth,  (ff  201a)  supposing 
them  to  be  cut  in  two  parts,  at  that  point.  It 
will  be  noticed  that  drawing  a  line  horizon- 
tally across  the  centers  of  these  two  cuts,  the 
greatest  weight  of  the  Hereford  is  above,  and 
of  the  Shorthorn  below  such  line. 

We  represent  also  a  cut  of  a  Hereford  cow, 
and  have  drawn  the  lines  as  they  appear,  and 
marked  and  numbered  the  different  cuts. 
(flSOlb.) 

The  line  running  from  the  neck  to  the  but- 
tock would  correspond  with  supposed  line 
across  the  circular  outline,  and  above  this  we 
may  term  the  top. 

In  this  cut  may  be  found  the  prevailing  or 
usual  form  of*  the  Hereford.  They  are  always 
better  topped,  or  in  other  words  they  are  the 
best  in  the  best  parts. 

The  parts  numbered  1,  2,  3  and  9  are  always 
better  in  weight  and  quality  in  the  Herefords 
than  in  the  Shorthorn;  10  and  11  are  equally 
good  as  to  weight,  and  better  in  quality.  On 
this  the  advocate  of  the  Shorthorn  would  take 
issue,  for  if  in  any  point  they  have  a  show 
of  quality  with  the  Hereford,  it  is  at  this 
point;  12  (the  thigh  or  round)  with  the  Here- 
ford is  heavier  on  the  inside  and  lighter  on 
the  outside,  while  the  Shorthorn  is  lighter  on 
the  inside  and  heavier  on  the  outside,  giving 
the  Hereford  the  largest  amount  of  good  beef 
here. 

The  parts  4  and  5  are  better  in  the  Here- 
ford than  in  the  Shorthorn,  and  in  the  Here- 
ford better  than  2  in  the  Shorthorn ;  3  is  where 
the  fore  roasts  are  cut  from,  and  where  the 
Hereford  makes  his  weight  of  fore  quarter  40 
per  cent  thicker  meat,  and  of  the  best  quality. 
The  top  of  the  cow  in  the  circle  outline — broad 
and  full  in  the  crops — is  the  rule  with  the 
Hereford  and  the  exception  with  the  Short- 
horn. And  good  meat  is  carried  nearer  to  the 
horns  and  hocks  on  the  Hereford  than  on  the 
Shorthorn.  The  value  of  the  Hereford  on  any 
market  where  known  is  above  that  of  the 
Shorthorn  because  he  is  better  in  the  best 
places. 


H1STOKY     OF    HEKEFOKD    CATTLE 


299 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

TEETH  AS  INDICATIVE  OF  THE  AGE  OF  CATTLE. 
STOCK  SHOW  COMPARISONS 


SOME  FAT 


We  think  it  will  be  granted  without  con- 
troversy, that  if  a  three-year-old  is  shown 
as  a  two-year-old,  and  a  four-year-old  as  a 
three-year-old,  and  a  five  or  six-year-old  in  the 
four-year-old  class,  there  is  ground  for  a 
very  decided  protest  from  the  owners  of  the 
cattle  that  are  exhibited  at  their  right  ages. 
In  this  connection,  at  the  risk  of  being  tedious, 
we  shall  introduce  considerable  testimony  as 
to  the  reliability  of  the  teeth  as  indicators  of 
age  in  cattle,  and  as  to  irregularity  and  error 
in  the  ages  of  Shorthorn  steers,  against  which 
Herefords  were  unfairly  compelled  to  show. 
We  will  also  reproduce  cuts  of  teeth  to  better 
bring  out  this  method  of  computing  ages. 
This  we  first  brought  out  in  the  "Breeders' 
Journal."  In  those  days  the  "battle  of  the 
1)  reeds"  was  a  reality,  "a  condition  and  not  a 
theory,"  as  some  "milk  and  water"  adherents 
of  the  cattle  trade  would  have  us  now  believe. 

Steers  were  exhibited  at  the  Fat  Stock  Shows, 
that,  allowing  all  due  latitude  for  reasonable 
variation,  carried  around  with  them  in  their 
mouths  conclusive  evidence  as  to  their  fraudu- 
lent ages.  It  only  needed  to  be  utilized  and 
made  a  part  of  the  showing  to  put  them  in  the 
class  to  which  they  belonged. 

To  show  that  the  age  of  animals  has  been 
made  a  study  by  educated  and  perfectly  re- 
liable men,  we  were  at  much  pains  to  procure 
from  the  highest  source  obtainable  the  latest 
and  best  information  of  the  age  of  animals  as 
shown  by  their  teeth. 

While  in  England  we  found  that  Prof. 
Brown,  who  is  at  the  head  of  the  Veterinary 
Department  of  the  British  Government,  had 
published  under  the  auspices  of  the  Eoyal  Agri- 
cultural Society  cuts  showing  the  ages  of  meat- 
producing  animals.  These  cuts  agree  substan- 
tially with  the  cuts  published  herewith.  From 
these  cuts  exhibitors,  judges  and  visitors  at  cat- 
tle shows  may  be  enabled  to  judge  of  the  cor- 
rectness of  the  ages  of  animals  which  are  ex- 
hibited. 


The  steers  exhibited  by  the  T.L.  Miller  Co.  in 
November,  1882,  at  two  years  and  nine  months, 
showed  only  four  permanent  incisors;  at  three 
years  and  nine  months  only  six;  and  so  far 
as  we  have  examined  we  have  found  the  same 
results. 

Mr.  John  Price,  of  Court  House,  Pemb  ridge, 
England,  had  two  steers,  one  three  years  and 
six  weeks,  which  had  four  full  incisors,  and  the 
adjoining  calf  teeth  were  still  firm  in  their 
sockets.  Another  steer  at  two  years  and  five 
months  had  four  permanent  incisors,  and  two 
outside  ones  not  yet  fully  grown.  It  will  be 
noticed  that  Prof.  Brown  and  his  associates 
acted  as  inspectors  for  English  exhibitions  with 
power  to  disqualify  animals  from  exhibition. 

"Early  maturity,"  says  Prof.  Brown,  "is  the 
sine  qua  non  of  breeders  and  exhibitors  of  farm 
stock,  and  it  is  one  of  the  objects  of  agricul- 
tural societies  to  encourage  them  in  their  efforts 
to  produce  breeds  which  reach  a  state  of  per- 
fect development  at  a  comparatively  youthful 
period. 

"In  order  that  judges  of  stock  may  be  in  a 
position  to  decide  between  animals  of  un- 
doubted merit,  the  age  is  in  all  cases  to  be  taken 
into  account;  and  it  is  presumed  that  of  the 
competing  animals,  which  are  in  other  respects 
equal,  the  youngest  will  receive  the  palm. 

"Whether  or  not  the  practice  is  invariably  in 
conformity  with  this  theory  may  be  open  to 
question,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  prin- 
ciple is  correct,  and  in  order  that  it  may  be  car- 
ried into  effect  it  is  necessary  to  inform  the 
judges  of  the  exact  age  of  each  animal  in  every 
class. 

"No  argument  is  required  to  show  that  the 
breeder's  certificate  would  afford  the  most  re- 
liable evidence  of  an  animal's  age  if  scrupulous 
exactitude  and  honesty  were  inherent  human 
qualities;  it  is  equally  obvious  that  in  their 
absence  the  evidence  of  a  certificate  is  more 
calculated  to  mislead  than  to  assist  the  judg- 
ment. 


300 


FIG.   1. 


CALF'S   TEETH  AT 
BIRTH. 


"It  will  probably  be  conceded,  that  persons 
who  are  concerned  with  the  breeding  and  feed- 
ing of  animals  are  not  always  free  from  risk  of 
error,  and  it  certainly  can  be  proved  by  the 
logic  of  facts  that  all  are  not  scrupulously  exact 
in  such  matters  as  the  statement  of  an  animal's 
age.  It  therefore  becomes  necessary  to  supple- 
ment or  correct  the  exhibitor's  certificate,  by 

such  evidence  as  the 
animal  itself  affords; 
and  by  common  con- 
sent, the  periodical 
changes  to  which 
the  teeth  are  sub- 
ject, are  accepted  as 
indications  of  age, 
only  second  in  value 
to  positive  proof  of 
the  date  of  the  ani- 
mal's birth. 

"How  far  the  cul- 
tivation of  breeds, 
by  artificial  selec- 
tion and  high  feed- 
ing, has  influenced 
the  development  of 
the  teeth,  in  com- 
mon with  other  organs  connected  with  nutritive 
functions,  can  only  be  inferred  from  the  great 
difference  which  exists  between  the  accounts  of 
the  older  veterinary  writers  on  dentition  of  ani- 
mals and  the  facts  which  are  familiar  to  the 
few  experts  of  this  generation  who  have  taken 
the  trouble  to  investigate  the  subject  for  them- 
selves. 

"In  this  country  the  most  popular  writer  on 
veterinary  science  was  Mr.  Youatt,  whose  works 
on  the  horse,  ox,  sheep  and  pig  were  published 
by  the  Society  for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful 
Knowledge.  Youatt's  remarks  on  the  teeth  are 
copied  almost  verbatim  from  M.  Girard's  work 
on  dentition ;  and  it  may  be  without  hesitation 
asserted,  that  if  Girard's  description  of  the 
teeth  of  the  ox,  sheep  and  pig  were  correct  at 
the  time  when  they  were  written,  an  improved 
system  of  breeding  and  feeding  must  have  oc- 
casioned a  very  remarkable  change  in  the  rate 
of  development  of  the  teeth.  In  the  year  1850 
I  commenced  some  investigations  on  the  ani- 
mals which  were  bred  on  the  Royal  Agricul- 
tural College  Farm,  for  the  common  purposes  of 
supplying  milk  and  meat,  and  not  especially  for 
purposes  of  exhibition.  The  cattle  on  the  farm 
were  chiefly  Shorthorns,  the  sheep  were  Cots- 
wolds,  and  the  pigs  Berkshires,  and  none  of  the 
animals  were  at  that  time  referred  to  as  pedi- 
gree stock,  nor  were  they  fed  on  the  forcing 
system.  The  observations  of  the  first  few 


months  of  1850  sufficed  to  establish  the  fact 
that  the  teeth  of  cattle,  sheep  and  swine  were 
developed  at  much  earlier  periods  than  those 
which  were  stated  in  Youatt's  remarks,  copied 
from  Girard. 

"From  the  animals  on  the  college  farm  the 
inquiry  was  extended  to  Mr.  Stratton's  valu- 
able stock  near  Swindon,  and  to  Mr.  Kearsey's 
ram  flock  at  Rodmarten.  Among  the  more 
highly  cultivated  animals  on  these  farms  the 
process  of  dentition  was  not  found  to  be  more 
forward  than  among  the  stock  on  the  college 
farm;  and  it  is  not  generally  more  forward  at 
the  present  time,  after  an  intervening  period  of 
over  thirty  years  of  high  feeding  and  careful 
breeding,  in  the  improved  races  of  cattle,  sheep 
and  swine  than  it  was  then. 

"The  contention  of  exhibitors  is,  that  excep- 
tional development  is  so  frequent  during  denti- 
tion as  to  disturb  any  calculations  which  are 
based  on  a  rule.  In  reply  it  may  be  stated  that 
the  most  competent  observers  do  not  accept  that 
view.  On  the  contrary  they  are  aware  that  the 
alleged  exceptions  do  not  often  bear  a  critical 
investigation.  Numerous  inquiries  have  from 
time  to  time  been  made  in  compliance  with  the 
urgent  demands  of  owners  of  disqualified  ani- 
mals, and  those  who  have -been  most  sedulous  in 
searching  for  the  truth  are  aware-  how  vague 
and  incomplete  the  evidence  in  support  of  the 
owner's  certificate  has  been  in  most  cases.  Not 
uncommonly  the  entry  has  been  proved  to  be 
incorrect,  and  in  the  few  cases  where  the  de- 
cision of  the  expert 
has  been  reversed,  it 
has  been  done,  only, 
on  the  plea  that  the 
exhibitor  should 
have  the  benefit  of 
the  doubt. 

"Whenever  a  con- 
siderable number  of 
disqualifications  oc- 
cur at  the  principal 
agricultural  shows, 
the  aggrieved  ex- 
hibitors avail  them- 
selves of  the  aid  of 
the  press  to  vindi- 
cate their  systems  of 

recording  the  ages  of  their  animals,  and  to  show 
how  impossible  it  is  for  any  mistake  to  happen. 
In  no  case,  however,  within  my  own  recollec- 
tion, have  any  useful  facts  been  brought  to 
light  as  the  result  of  these  periodical  effusions. 

"On  the  occasion  of  the  exhibition  of  the 
Smithfield  Club  in  1881  several  pens  of  pigs 
were  disqualified,  and  some  of  the  .exhibitors 


3T205 

FIG. 


2.      CALF'S    TEETH    AT 
SECOND   WEEK. 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


301 


FIG.    3.    CALF'S    TEETH    AT 
THIRD    WEEK. 


expressed  their  views  on  the  subject  of  denti- 
tion, as  indicative  of  the  age,  in  the  agricul- 
tural press.  Mr.  James  Howard,  M.  P.,  wrote 
a  letter  to  the  'Agricultural  Gazette/  from 
which  the  following  paragraph  is  quoted  : 

"  'According  to  my  own  observation  the  den- 
tition varied  much  according  to  families,  and 
to  a  considerable  extent  in  the  same  family,  but 
in  the  majority  of  cases  dentition  in  the  same 

litter  is  tolerably 
uniform  when 
three  months  old; 
at  six  months  the 
boars,  and  particu- 
larly the  more  ro- 
bust ones,  show  a 
marked  forward- 
ness;  at  nine 
months  the  denti- 
tion is  often  very 
varied;  at  twelve 
months  some  of  the 
pigs  of  the  same 
litter  will  show  a 
state  of  dentition 

from  two  to  three  months  in  advance  of  others, 
and  also  in  advance  of  the  condition  laid  down 
in  Prof.  Simond's  treatise/ 

"This  definite  statement  of  the  results  of  his 
own  observations,  by  an  eminent  breeder  and 
exhibitor,  was  far  too  important  to  pass  over 
without  notice.  It  will  be  observed  that  Mr. 
Howard's  remarks  had  reference  to  the  most 
critical  ages,  viz.,  six  months,  nine  months  and 
twelve  months,  and  I,  perhaps  not  unreason- 
ably, indulged  a  hope  that  I  might  obtain  an 
exact  account  of  the  particular  variations  which 
had  been  noted  at  the  ages  named.  I  therefore 
wrote  to  Mr.  Howard  for  the  information.  In 
reply  Mr.  Howard  enclosed  a  memorandum 
from  his  farm  manager,  expressing  at  the  same 
time  his  regret  that  he  did  not  take  notes,  add- 
ing that  the  farm  manager  is  a  most  reliable 
and  truthful  man. 

"The  memorandum  from  the  farm  manager 
is  as  follows: 

"  'Britannia  Farm,  Bedford,  Mar.  1,  1882. 
"  'The  subject  of  dentition  as  indicating  the 
ages  of  pigs  was  first  brought  under  my  notice 
when  a  pen  of  your  pigs  were  disqualified  at 
Birmingham  show  some  years  ago,  and  to  prove 
for  my  own  private  satisfaction  whether  it 
could  be  relied  upon,  I  from  time  to  time  ex- 
amined litters  when  in  my  possession.  I  should 
think  my  examinations  extended  for  about  three 
years,  and  I  know  proved  conclusively  to  my 
mind  that  no  reliance  can  be  placed  on  the 
dentition  of  a  litter  as  a  true  test  of  the  age. 


I  kept  no  account  or  notes  of  my  examinations 
at  that  time,  not  thinking  it  would  come  to 
such  prominence  as  at  the  present  time.  The 
results  were  as  given  by  you  in  a  former  letter, 
from  which  the  enclosed  paragraph  is  taken.' 

"The  enclosed  paragraph  referred  to  was  the 
paragraph  (quoted  above)  from  Mr.  Howard's 
letter  to  the  'Agricultural  Gazette/ 

"Another  inquiry,  which  was  instituted  about 
the  same  time  as  the  above,  ended  in  an  equally 
unsatisfactory  manner. 

"Mr.  Sanders  Spencer  informed  me  that  he 
had  in  his  possession  a  pig  of  one  year  old 
which  had  the  lateral  permanent  incisors.  As 
such  an  abnormal  state  of  dentition  had  not 
been  seen  before  an  opportunity  was  sought  to 
inspect  this  dental  phenomenon.  Unfortu- 
nately the  application  was  made  too  late.  Mr. 
Spencer  wrote  in  response: 

"'Holywell  Manor,  St.  Ives,  Hunts, 

"  'February  6,  1882. 

"  'The  yelt  I  mentioned  to  you  on  Thursday 
failed  to  breed,  so  she  was  sold  to  our  village 
butcher,  to  whom  I  will  today  apply  and  try 
to  obtain  from  him  or  the  purchaser  the  lower 
jaw  of  the  pig  and  will  forward  it  to  you 
if  not  damaged,  as  they  usually  are  by  the 
butcher  when  chopping  off  the  snout.  I  be- 
lieve I  did  not  mention  to  you  the  circum- 
stances that  one  of  the  yelt's  central  incisors 
(temporary)  was  broken  off,  so  that  the  ab- 
normal dentition  may  have  been  caused  by  ac- 
cident/ 

"The  promised  specimen  was  not  obtained, 
but  in  reply  to  another  letter  of  inquiry  Mr. 
Spencer  wrote  as  follows: 

"  'After  finding  the  yelt  had  cut  her  perma- 
nent lateral  incisors,  I  examined  her  molars, 
but  found  nothing 
unusual  in  their  de- 
velopment. Nos.  1 
and  2  were  very 
much  worn,  and 
seemed  quite  ready 
to  move  for  the  per- 
manent ones.  No. 
5  looked  very  white, 
but  was  apparently 
fully  grown/  '; 

"It  appears  from 
the  above  remarks 
that  the  state  of 
dentition  in  respect 
of  the  molar  teeth  was  exactly  what  it  is  ex- 
pected to  be  at  the  age  of  one  year,  while  the 
incisors  indicated  the  animal  to  be  six  months 
older.  That  such  a  specimen  was  lost  must 
remain  a  subject  of  regret. 


FIG.    4. 


CALF'S    TEETH    AT 
1  MONTH. 


302 


HISTOEY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


FIG.  5. 


CALF'S  TEETH  AT 
8  MONTHS. 


"It  is  not  intended  in  anything  which  has 
been  stated  to  question  the  fact  of  the  occur- 
rence of  irregularities  in  the  dentition  of  the 
animals  of  the  farm.  On  the  contrary,  my  sub- 
sequent remarks  will  contain  references  to 
numerous  and  remarkable  exceptions  to  the  rule 
of  development  of  the  teeth  of  different  animals. 
It  is,  however,  contended  that  the  expert  is  per- 
fectly familiar  with  the  exceptions  and  knows 
exactly  how  to  make  allowance  for  them  in 
forming  his  opinion  of  an  animal's  age.  Any 
one  of  common  intelligence  can  become  an  ex- 
pert in  judging  the  age  by  the  teeth  if  he 

chooses  to  devote 
some  years  to  the 
patient  and  critical 
study  of  the  sub- 
ject, but  until  he 
has  thus  qualified 
himself  he  ought 
not  to  assume  the 
right  to  criticise 
opinions  based  on 
evidence  which  he 
cannot  appreciate. 
The  events  of  the 
last  exhibition  of 
the  society  at  Read- 
ing, without  refer- 
ring to  similar 

cases  which  have  been  sufficiently  numer- 
ous in  past  years,  suffice  to  prove  that 
what  ought  to  be  the  unquestionable  evi- 
dence of  a  breeder's  certificate  cannot  al- 
ways be  accepted  without  hesitation.  At  the 
last  show  eight  pens  of  pigs  were  absolutely 
disqualified,  and  exhibitors  were  cautioned  in 
respect  of  the  pigs  in  seven  other  pens.  Pigs 
which  were  shown  under  the  condition  that  they 
should  not  exceed  two  months  had  the  dentition 
of  three  months  and  six  months  respectively. 
Pigs  shown  under  six  months  had  the  one-year- 
old  teeth  well  up,  and  other  in  the  same  class 
had  the  dentition  of  eight  and  nine  months. 
One  man  was  seen  to  move  a  pig,  after  the  in- 
spection was  finished,  from  an  old  class  into  a 
younger  one.  The  attempt  to  secure  for  the 
animal  a  better  position  than  it  was  entitled  to 
really  led  to  its  disqualification,  a  conse- 
quence which,  however  unpleasant  for  the  ex- 
hibitor, is  not  the  most  serious  outcome  of  the 
attempted  fraud.  Such  proceedings  as  those 
which  have  been  referred  to  naturally  tend  to 
excite  universal  suspicion,  which  may  often  fall 
unjustly  and  without  sufficient  reason. 

"In  one  sense  it  may  be  considered  satisfac- 
tory that  from  the  first  disqualifications  have 
been  recorded  chiefly  in  respect  of  the  pigs  of 


a  few  exhibitors,  who  year  after  year,  in  spite 
of  warning,  persisted  in  trying  how  far  they 
might  presume  on  the  forbearance  of  the  in- 
spectors, urging  in  reply  to  all  remonstrances 
that  it  would  not  answer  for  one  or  two  to  'show 
straight'  unless  they  all  agreed  to  do  so. 

"The  great  majority  of  exhibitors  during  the 
last  twenty  years  have  not  given  any  grounds 
of  complaint,  and  in  many  instances,  notably 
among  the  pigs  exhibited  by  Her  Majesty,  by 
the  Royal  Agricultural  College,  and  by  Messrs. 
Howard,  the  development  of  the  teeth  has  been 
rather  below  than  in  advance  of  the  rules  which 
have  been  laid  down  as  the  result  of  long  ex- 
perience. Altogether  the  evidence  of  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century  justifies  the  statement 
that  the  evidence  of  age  which  is  afforded  by 
the  teeth,  without  being  absolutely  irrefragable, 
is  the  most  reliable,  under  all  the  circum- 
stances, which  can  be  obtained." 

THE   TEETH   OF   THE   OX. 

"In  the  front  of  the  mouth  of  the  ox  there 
are  eight  incisors  or  cutting  teeth  in  the  lower 
jaw  only,  an  elastic  pad  of  fibrous  tissue,  cov- 
ered with  mucous  membrane,  takes  the  place 
of  teeth  in  front  of  the  upper  jaw.  The  inci- 
sors may  be  distinguished  as  centrals,  or  first 
pair;  middles,  or  second  pair;  laterals,  or  third 
pair,  and  corners,  or  fourth  pair;  the  same 
term  being  equally  applicable  to  the  temporary 
and  permanent  organs. 

"Temporary  incisor  teeth  are  easily  distin- 
guished from  permanent,  chiefly  by  their  size. 
The  fangs  of  the  temporary  incisor  teeth  are 
much  shorter  than  those  of  the  permanent  in- 
cisors, but  this  fact  is  not  to  be  recognized  until 
the  teeth  are  removed  from  the  jaw.  No  ques- 
tion is  likely  to  arise  in  the  mind  of  the  ex- 
aminer as  to  the  distinction  between  temporary 
and  permanent  organs;  in  fact,  the  common 
term  broad  teeth,  as  applied  to  the  latter,  suffi- 
ciently indicates  their  prominent  feature. 

"Molar  teeth  are  named  first,  second  or  third, 
according  to  their  position.  In  the  temporary 
set  there  are  three  molars  on  each  side  of  the 
upper  and  lower  jaws,  and  in  the  adult  these 
teeth  are  changed  for  permanent  organs,  while 
three  additional  teeth,  the  fourth,  fifth  and 
sixth  in  position,  all  of  which  are  permanent 
teeth  from  the  first,  are  added,  making  the  full 
set  of  permanent  molar  teeth  six  in  each  side 
of  the  upper  and  lower  jaws. 

"In  the  mouth  of  the  calf  at  birth  the  tem- 
porary teeth,  molars  and  incisors  are  all  so  far 
advanced  that  they  may  be  seen  in  outline  under 
the  gum,  and  commonly  the  cutting  edges  of 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


303 


the  incisors  and  a  few  points  of  the  molars  are 
uncovered. 

"The  advance  of  the  teeth  and  the  receding 
of  the  gums  proceed  very  rapidly  after  birth, 
and  at  the  age  of  one  month  the  temporary 
teeth,  viz.,  eight  incisors  in  the  lower  jaw  and 
three  molars  in  each  side  in  the  top  and  bottom 
jaws,  are  fully  developed. 

"No  accurate  opinion  of  the  age  of  a  calf  can 
be  formed  from  the  observation  of  the  state  of 

dentition  between 
the  ages  of  one  and 
six  months,  when 
the  fourth  molar  is 
cut;  but  during 
this  period  the 
jaws  expand,  the 
incisor  teeth  grad- 
ually become  less 
crowded,  and  the 
space  between  the 
third  molar  and 
the  angle  of  the 
jaw  increases  as 
the  fourth  molar, 
which  is  the  first 
advances  to  occupy  its 


FIG.   6.  CALF'S  TEETH  AT  11 
MONTHS. 


tooth, 


permanent 
space. 

"At  the  age  of  six  months  the  fourth  molar 
is  well  developed,  but  it  is  in  close  contact  with 
the  angle  of  the  jaw,  and  the  posterior  sur- 
face is  not  quite  free  from  the  covering  of  the 
gum. 

"Between  six  and  twelve  months  old  there 
are  no  important  dental  changes,  the  incisor 
teeth  become  worn,  and  as  the  jaws  increase  in 
size  there  is  more  space  left  between  them,  but 
it  is  not  possible  to  assert  from  the  state  of  the 
incisor  teeth  whether  an  animal  is  under  or 
over  the  age  of  one  year.  (Fig.  7.) 

"Shortly  after  one  year  the  fifth  molar  be- 
gins to  make  its  appearance,  and  at  fifteen 
-months  it  is  well  up.  The  appearance  which 
the  fifth  molar  presents  at  this  age  is  very  much 
like  that  of  the  fourth  molar  at  the  age  of  six 
months.  The  new  tooth  is  in  close  contact  with 
the  angle  of  the  jaw,  and  the  gum  covers  the 
extreme  posterior  part  of  its  surface. 

"No  change  occurs  in  the  incisors,  except  that 
which  is  caused  by  the  wear  of  the  teeth  and 
the  growth  of  the  jaw,  until  the  age  of  one 
year  and  eight  or  nine  months,  at  which  time 
the  two  central  teeth  are  loose,  and  the  first 
broad  teeth  sometimes  begin  to  project  through 
the  gum.  In  very  forward  animals  the  central 
permanent  incisors  are  cut  at  the  age  of  a  year 
and  seven  months,  but  they  are  never  level  with 
the  other  incisors  before  one  year  and  ten 


months,  and  their  perfect  development  is  in- 
dicative of  the  age  of  two  years. 

"The  illustration  (Fig.  10)  was  taken  from 
a  Shorthorn  heifer  at  the  age  of  one  year  and 
ten  months,  and  may  be  accepted  as  indicative 
of  the  general  appearance  of  the  incisors  at 
that  age. 

"While  the  first  pair  of  permanent  incisors 
are  advancing  to  take  the  place  of  the  tem- 
porary teeth,  the  sixth  and  last  permanent 
molars  push  their  way  through  the  gum,  and  at 
the  age  of  two  years  are  in  position.  Any  error 
of  opinion  as  to  the  age  which  might  arise  from 
the  premature  cutting  of  the  central  permanent 
incisors  may  be  corrected  by  reference  to  the 
state  of  the  molars. 

"The  sixth  molar  takes  the  position  de- 
scribed, and  the  first  and  second  permanent 
molars  take  the  places  of  the  temporary  teeth; 
this  change,  in  my  experience,  does  not  usually 
occur  until  the  animal  is  a  month  or  two  over 
two  years  of  age. 

"From  two  years  and  three  months  to  two 
years  and  six  months  the  second  pair  of  broad 
teeth — the  middle  permanent  incisors — occupy 
the  place  of  the  corresponding  temporary  teeth 
in  all  the  cultivated  breeds.  Instances  of  late 
dentition  present  themselves  from  time  to  time 
in  which  the  middle  permanent  incisors  are  not 
cut  until  the  animal  is  approaching  three  years 
old.  There  is  consequently  a  possible  variation 
of  six  months  in  the  time  of  the  appearance  of 
these  teeth. 

"In  the  illustration   (Fig.  12)  the  ordinary 


.IT  210 

FIG.    7.     YEARLING'S  TEETH   AT   12   MONTHS. 

condition  of  the  incisor  at  two  years  and  six 
months  is  shown. 

"It  must  be  understood  in  reference  to  the 
appearance  of  the  second  pair  of  broad  teeth 
that  an  expert,  looking  at  a  mouth  which  cor- 
responds to  the  drawings,  will  conclude  that  the 
animal  is  two  years  and  a  half  old,  but  if  he  is 
required  to  certify  that  the  age  is  under  or 
above  that  period  he  must  proceed  to  inspect 
the  molar  teeth,  and  take  into  account  the  ani- 


304 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


FIG.  8.  YEARLING'S  TEETH 
AT  15  MONTHS. 


inal's  pedigree,  its  sex,  and  its  general  condi- 
tion of  development. 

"If  the  animal  in  question  is  a  bull  of  one 
of  the  cultivated  breeds,  and  has  been  forced 
to  a  state  of  early  maturity,  it  may  be  expected 
that  the  second  pair  of  permanent  incisors  will 
have  been  cut  at  two  years  and  four  months ; 
and  if  either  of  the  anterior  temporary  molars 
remain  in  their  places,  the  conclusion  that  the 
animal  is  under  two  years  and  a  half  will  be 
strengthened. 

"Shortly  after  the  first  and  second  molars  are 
cut  the  third  makes  its  appearance;  occasion- 
ally it  appears  be- 
fore the  others, 
and  the  animal  at 
the  age  of  three 
years  will  have 
three  anterior  mo- 
lars nearly  level 
with  the  other 
teeth,  but  showing 
no  signs  of  wear. 

"The  eruption 
of  the  third  pair  of 
permanent  incisors 
may  occur  at  any 
time  between  two 
years  and  six 

months  and  three  years  of  age.  In  cultivated 
breeds  they  are  present  as  a  rule  before  the  ani- 
mal is  three  years  old,  and  occasionally  they 
will  be  found  well  developed  after  two  years 
and  a  half.  In  fact  the  anterior  molars  afford 
more  reliable  evidence  of  the  age  between  two 
and  a  half  and  three  years  old  than  is  furnished 
by  the  incisors. 

"The  fourth  pair  of  broad  teeth,  the  corner 
permanent  incisors,  are  more  subject  to  varia- 
tion in  the  time  of  cutting  than  the  third  pair. 
In  well  bred  cattle  they  take  the  place  of  the 
temporary  teeth  soon  after  the  completion  of 
the  third  year,  but  in  bulls  they  are  not  uncom- 
monly present  at  two  years  and  ten  months  old, 
while  in  some  instances  they  are  not  cut  until 
three  years  and  nine  months  old.  Very  little 
reliance,  indeed,  can  be  placed  on  the  evidence 
of  the  corner  incisors,  and  the  examiner  is  com- 
pelled to  refer  to  the  molar  teeth  for  the  pur- 
pose of  correcting  his  opinion. 

"With  the  eruption  of  the  corner  permanent 
incisors,  the  fourth  pair  of  broad  teeth,  the 
permanent  dentition  of  the  ox  is  completed,  and 
after  this  period  the  changes  in  the  form  of  the 
teeth  which  are  due  to  attrition  will  assist  the 
examiner  in  forming  an  opinion  of  the  age,  but 
no  exact  estimate  can  be  based  on  such  evidence. 
The  five-year-old  ox  will  show  a  considerable 


amount  of  worn  surface  in  the  central,  middle 
and  lateral  incisors,  and  the  cutting  edge  of 
the  corner  teeth  will  be  marked  by  a  line  of 
wear,  but  no  one  would  attempt  to  determine 
whether  or  not  an  animal  were  under  or  above 
the  age  of  five,  and  as  the  years  increase  the 
difficulty  of  judging  the  age  by  the  appearance 
of  the  teeth  is  not  diminished.  The  teeth  be- 
come narrower  and  more  widely  separated  from 
each  other  year  after  year,  but  the  changes  are 
not  sufficiently  well  marked  to  enable  the  ex- 
aminer to  accept  them  as  reliable  evidence  of 
age." 

The  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agriculture  were 
given  a  chance  to  put  themselves  on  record  as 
to  whether  they  wished  to  have  their  records  of 
any  value  as  to  weights,  gain  per  day  and  early 
maturity  of  the  cattle  exhibited  at  the  Chicago 
Fat  Stock  Show.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
the  money  of  the  people  of  Illinois  was  used 
by  this  board.  We  appeared  before  the  State 
Board  of  Agriculture  at  their  annual  meeting 
held  at  Springfield,  January,  1883.  We  then 
presented  them  with  the  following  written  state- 
ment of  facts: 

"To  the  Honorable  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture of  the  State  of  Illinois:  At  the  late  Fat 
Stock  Show  held  at  Chicago  I  called  the 
attention  of  President  Scott  to  the  fact  that 
cattle  were  on  exhibition  at  fraudulent  ages, 
and  requested  of  him  that  he  would  bring  the 
information  to  the  board  to  the  end  that  they 
might  take  such  action  in  the  matter  as  would 
protect  the  board,  the  exhibitor  and  the  public 
from  the  effect  of  such  fraudulent  entries. 
Whether  he  brought  the  matter  to  the  notice 
of  the  board  or  not  I  am  not  informed,  and,  so 
far  as  I  know,  no  action  was  taken  on  the  in- 
formation. 

"The  interview  that  I  refer  to  was  on  the 
first  day  of  the  show.  I  again  called  his  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  D.  M.  Moninger  of  Iowa 
had  on  exhibition  a  steer  called  the  'Champion 
of  Iowa'  at  715  days  old,  or  one  year  11 
months  and  15  days  old;  that  the  steer  had 
six  full  teeth,  while  he  was  not  entitled,  if  his 
age  was  correctly  stated,  to  have  more  than 
two  full  teeth,  that  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son  had  a 
steer  entered  as  715  days  old  that  had  but  two 
full  teeth,  and  that  the  T.  L.  Miller  Company 
had  a  steer  entered  as  714  days  old  which  only 
had  two  full  teeth.  These  two  steers  had  teeth 
that  corresponded  with  the  age  that  they  were 
entered  at,  while  the  teeth  of  Mr.  Moninger's 
would  indicate  that  he  was  full  three,  if  not 
a  four-year-old  steer. 

"I  had  several  of  the  steers  examined,  but  I 


HISTORY     OF     HERETO ED     CATTLE 


305 


FIG.  9.  YEARLING'S  TEETH 
AT  18  MONTHS. 


wish  now  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that 
not  onlv  was  the  steer  'Champion  of  Iowa'" 
entered  at  a  fraudulent  age,  but  that  1  have 
ascertained  that  the  steers  'Tom  Brown'  and 
'Grinnell,'  so  called,  and  numbered  in  the  cata- 
logue published  by  your  society  111  and  113, 
were  butchered  by  Messrs.  Eastland  &  Duddles- 
ton,  of  Chicago,  and  that  the  teeth  of  these 

two  steers,  which 
are  now  in  my  pos- 
session, show  "Tom 
Brown'  to  have 
been  at  least  five 
years  old,  the  steer 
'Grinnell'  to  have 
been  at  least  four 
years  old,  by  the 
usual  standard  au- 
thorities, instead 
of  two  and  three 
years  old,  as  shown 
in  the  catalogue, 
and  these  ages  may 
be  established  by 
comparison  with 
living  animals  of  today.  I  also  call  your  atten- 
tion to  the  entries  of  Messrs.  H.  &  I.  Groff,  of 
Klinira,  Can.,  for  animals  Nos.  15,  17,  18,  as  902 
days  old,  1,265  and  1,305  days;  the  first  entered 
as  two-year-old,  the  others  as  three-year-olds. 
"These  animals  were  slaughtered  by  Mr. 
John  Ford,  and  from  him  I  purchased  the 
heads,  from  which  I  took  the  teeth  which  I 
presented  to  you  today.  These  teeth,  by  the 
uMial  standard  authorities,  would  show  them 
to  be  from  five^o  six  years  old,  and  by  compar- 
ing them  with  living  animals  of  today  these 
conclusions  would  be  sustained. 

"Believing  that  your  board,  with  the  exhibits 
you  are  making,  should  go  forth  to  the  world 
with  truthful  results,  and  that  it  is  your  desire 
to  protect  the  exhibitors  who  comply  honestly 
with  your  rules,  and  that  you  will  not  seek  to 
avoid  the  responsibilities,  by  the  technical  form 
in  which  the  information  may  reach  you,  I 
have  appeared  before  you  with  the  witnesses, 
to-wit,  the  teeth  of  the  bullocks.  And  I  charge 
these  exhibitors,  to-wit:  Mr.  I).  M.  Moninger 
and  Messrs.  H.  &  I.  Groff,  with  the  entering 
of  the  cattle  under  false  and  fraudulent  ages, 
for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  the  committee,  the 
public  and  to  obtain  a  reward  by  misrepresenta- 
tion, j.  T.  L.  MILLER." 

The  report  of  the  committee  to  whom  the 
matter  was  referred  placed  themselves  on  record 
as  follows: 
"To  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture : 

"Your  committee,  to   whom   the  communi- 


cation of  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller  in  regard  to  the 
matter  of  determining  the  age  of  animals  ex- 
hibited at  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1882,  and  com- 
plaining of  the  action  of  the  president  of  this 
board  in  a  particular  case  involving  that  ques- 
tion was  referred,  beg  leave  to  say  that, 
primarily,  Mr.  Miller  himself  failed  to  do 
what,  by  his  own  statement  was  clearly  his  duty, 
in  not  bringing  his  complaint  to  the  attention 
of  the  board  in  a  manner  recognized  by  the 
established  rules  of  which  he  was  undoubtedly 
cognizant.  Mr.  Miller  could  not  have  been 
ignorant  of  his  own  plain  duty  as  an  exhibitor, 
and  having  failed  to  protest  in  any  proper  form 
against  the  exhibition  of  any  animal  or  animals 
he  mentions,  the  board  has  not,  in  his  mere 
verbal  complaints,  any  ground  to  institute  an 
investigation,  or  to  do  any  act  which  could  be 
made  to  imply  a  doubt  as  to  the  correctness  of 
the  statement  of  any  other  exhibitor.  In  other 
words,  your  committee  believe  that  the  rules 
relating  to  this  subject  are  clear  and  practical, 
and  that  Mr.  Miller  perfectly  understood  what 
his  rights  and  duties  were  in  the  premises ;  that 
the  president  did  exactly  what  the  board  had 
a  right  to  expect  its  executive  officer  to  do,  and 
certainly  gave  not  the  slightest  occasion  for  the 
complaints  made  by  Mr.  Miller,  and  therefore 
recommend  that  no  further  action  of  this  board 
in  the  premises  is  demanded. 

J.  IRVING  PEARCE, 
JOHN  VIRGIN, 
JOHN  P.  REYNOLDS, 

Committee/' 

It  can  be  seen  from  this  that  they  cared 
nothing  for  the  facts  in  the  case,  but  shielded 


FIG.  10.  YEARLING'S  TEETH  AT  22  MONTHS. 


themselves  behind  a  technicality,  that  a  written 
protest  was  not  entered  the  day  the  verbal  pro- 
tests were  made.  We  then  wrote  the  following 
on  the  subject,  which  will  more  fully  explain 
how  much  those  in  interest  knew  of  the  subject 


306 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


before  and  during  the  continuance  of  the  Fat 

Stock  Show: 

"Editor  'Breeders'  Journal': 

"My  relation  to  this  interest  is  well 
known,  but  in  this  article  I  propose  to 
confine  myself  clearly  and  closely  to  the 
Fat  Stock  Show  of  1882.  There  has 
been,  through  the  live  stock  journals,  in 
the  interest  of  the  Shorthorns,  a  great  blowing 
of  trumpets  and  a  heralding  as  to  what  that 
interest  was  to  do  at  the  coming  show.  On  the 
13th  of  November  exhibitors  commenced  com- 
ing in  with  their  stock,  and  between  that  and 

the  16th  items  of  in- 
terest in  relation  to 
the  entries  were  gen- 
erally known.  When 
I  came  into  the  exhi- 
bition building  on 
Thursday  morning, 
the  16th,  I  was  in- 
formed that  large 
numbers  of  the 
Shorthorns  were 
entered  under  their 
actual  ages.  Ascer- 
taining in  a  few  in- 
stances by  examina- 
tion that  these  re- 
ports were  true,  I 
called  upon  President 
Scott  and  found  him  presiding  at  a  meeting  of 
the  State  Board  of  Agriculture.  He  met  me  in 
the  ante-room  (ft  202)  and  I  advised  him  that, 
from  the  best  information  that  I  could  get, 
there  were  a  great  many  cattle  in  the  show 
older  than  the  entries  would  indicate.  I  asked 
him  to  bring  the  matter  before  the  board  and 
have  them  take  the  initiatory  steps  to  ascertain 
the  truth  of  these  reports.  He  said  to  me  that 
the  proper  way  to  get  it  before  the  board  was  by 
protest.  I  replied  that  it  was  not  proper  to  put 
that  responsibility  upon  the  exhibitors,  and  of- 
fered to  place  the  animals  I  had  on  exhibition 
under  any  test  that  the  board  might  see  fit  to 
make,  and  put  myself  and  herd  under  any  ex- 
amination that  they  might  direct.  Mr.  Scott, 
however,  called  my  attention  to  this  section: 
'In  case  of  protest,  notice  must  be  given  to  the 
superintendent  >of  the  department  before  or 
during  the  examination  of  the  animal  or  article 
protested,  and  a  written  statement  setting  forth 
the  reasons  for  protesting,  verified  by  affidavit, 
must  be  filed  with  the  secretary  on  the  day  that 
the  notice  is  given/ 

"After  leaving  Mr.  Scott  I  met  Mr.  J.  H. 
Sanders  of  the  'Breeders'  Gazette/  and  called 
his  attention  to  the  fact  that  entries  of  animals 


FIG.  11.     TEETH  AT  24 
MONTHS. 


were  made  under  their  actual  ages,  and  said 
to  him  that  I  had  just  come  from  Mr.  Scott, 
to  whom  I  had  given  notice  of  the  fact,  and 
asked  him  (Sanders)  to  use  his  influence  to 
see  that  examinations  were  made  to  see  if  such 
fraud  existed,  and  if  so  to  see  that  it  was  ex- 
posed, to  which  proposition  he  gave  his  assent, 
and  said  that  he  would  do  all  that  he  could  in 
the  matter.  Nothing  was  done  by  the  board. 
Mr.  Sanders  at  an  early  day  became  the 
medium  through  which  a  cane  was  presented 
to  Messrs.  D.  M.  Moninger  and  J.  D.  Gillette, 
Shorthorn  exhibitors  at  this  show. 

"I  had  determined  two  years  ago  that  this 
matter  of  entering  animals  under  their  ages 
should  be  exposed.  A  year  ago  my  health  was 
such  that  I  was  not  able  to  attend  the  exhibi- 
tion, but  of  the  animals  that  were  slaughtered 
that  year  the  mouths  were  all  preserved  and 
properly  labeled  and  given  to  the  secretary  of 
the  board,  by  him  taken  to  Springfield.  These 
showed  that  the  Shorthorns  were  of  a  greater 
age  than  the  Herefords.  The  secretary  says 
that  he  sent  them  to  his  house  to  be  boiled  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  the  flesh  from  the  bones 
and  thus  putting  them  in  a  shape  for  preserva- 
tion. This  process  destroyed  them  and  their 
identity.  I  have  only  to  say  in  reference  to  it 
that  this  being  the  true  version  of  their  de- 
struction it  showed  a  want  of  judgment.  I  had 
in  the  course  of  the  last  year  given  notice  that 
I  should  make  special  efforts  to  expose  any 
fraud  that  should  be  made  by  entering  cattle 
under  their  actual  ages.  Wishing,  however,  to 
take  no  advantage  of  the  board,  or  of  the  ex- 
hibitors, I  thus  gave  President  Scott  notice  of 
the  fact  that  fraudulent  entries  were  made,  and 
called  the  attention  of  Mr.  Sanders,  the  editor 
of  the  leading  Shorthorn  organ,  to  the  fact, 
and  there  rested  the  case  until  the  last  day  but 
one  of  the  show,  when  I  called  President  Scott's 
attention  again  to  the  fact  that  Mr.  D.  M. 
Moninger,  of  Galvin,  Iowa,  had  a  steer  entered 
as  a  yearling,  called  the  'Champion  of  Iowa/ 
and  numbered  in  their  catalogue  as  112,  which 
was  a  long  three-year-old  or  over,  and  cited  to 
him  the  fact,  that  for  the  age,  he  should  have 
but  two  permanent  teeth,  while  in  fact  he  had 
six;  and  that,  besides  this  error,  there  were 
others  that  were  much  older  than  they  were 
entered  for.  He  again  called  my  attention  to 
the  fact  that  it  was  a  duty  of  the  exhibitor  dis- 
satisfied to  come  before  the  board  with  a  pro- 
test, as  specified  in  Section  5,  (fl203)  hereto- 
fore quoted.  I  advised  him  that  I  did  not  come 
before  the  board  as  a  protestor,  and  called  his 
attention  to  Section  12,  which  reads  as  follows: 

"  'Awarding  committees  are  instructed  that 


HI'S  TORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


307 


if  they  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  any  ex- 
hibitor, by  false  entry  or  otherwise,  attempts 
to  deceive  the  committee  or  the  public  and  ob- 
tain an  award  by  misrepresentation,  they  shall 
report  the  fact  at  once  to  the  superintendent  of 
the  department,  who  shall  report  the  same  to 
the  board,  who  may  expel  such  exhibitor  for 
fraud  for  at  least  two  years.'  He  declined  to 
take  any  action  except  I  should  come  to  him 
as  prescribed  in  Section  5. 

"I  then  went  to  the  Hon.  John  P.  Reynolds, 


ST215 
PIG  12.     TEETH  AT  2  ?EARS  AND  6  MONTHS. 

a  member  of  the  board,  and  called  his  attention 
to  these  facts,  and  to  the  fact  that  I  had  seen 
the  president  and  lie  declined  to  take  any  ac- 
tion, and  that  I  should  bring  the  matter  before 
the  Hereford  Society,  which  was  to  meet  that 
evening,  and  ask  of  them  to  take  some  definite 
action  in  reference  to  these  frauds.  He  after- 
wards saw  Mr.  C.  M.  Culbertson  and  referred 
to  the  conversation  I  had  had  with  him,  and 
risked  of  Mr.  Culbertson  that  the  Hereford  So- 
ciety should  take  no  action,  and  that  he  would 
see  that  an  investigation  was  made  into  these 
facts.  In  the  evening  of  this  day  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Hereford  Society  I  brought  up  the 
fact  of  this  steer  in  particular,  and  stated  that 
there  were  many  other  entries  in  the  show  that 
were  fraudulent,  and  asked  what  action  might 
be  taken  on  the  merits  of  these  entries.  Mr. 
Culbertson  then  reported  the  request  of  Mr. 
Reynolds  that  no  action  should  be  taken,  and 
that  he  would  endeavor  to  have  an  investigation 
made  in  reference  to  the  charges  as  to  the 
fraudulent  entries  of  the  Moninger  steers.  At 
the  meeting  of  the  board  on  the  following  day 
the  matter  was  brought  up.  As  I  understood, 
President  Scott  opposed  the  action  being  taken 
for  the  reason  that  it  had  not  come  before  the 
board  in  the  form  and  manner  prescribed  by 
the  rules,  to- wit :  by  protest  of  a  competing  ex- 
hibitor. This  view  appears  to  have  prevailed, 
and  no  action  was  taken  to  ascertain  ages  of  the 


steers  on  exhibition  at  this  show.  The  proba- 
bilities are  that  but  for  this  promise  of  Mr. 
Reynolds  the  Hereford  Society  would  have 
taken  some  definite  action  to  determine  the 
ages  of  the  Moninger  steers  and  others.  The 
Hereford  Society  owed  it  to  themselves  to 
secure  a  thorough  investigation  as  to  the  ages 
of  the  cattle  on  exhibition.  It  was  generally 
understood  among  the  exhibitors  that  the  Short- 
horns were  entered  under  their  actual  ages.  Mr. 
Moninger's  cattle  in  particular  were  examined 
in  comparison  with  other  cattle  in  the  show,  es- 
pecially with  the  Herefords. 

"This  was  known  as  well  by  some  members 
of  the  board  as  by  the  exhibitors  at  the  show. 
In  my  interview  with  Mr.  Scott  I  took  the 
ground  that  it  was  the  board's  business  to  pro- 
tect the  exhibitors,  and  that  they  had  no  right 
to  compel  the  exhibitors  to  protect  themselves. 
Following  these  efforts  to  get  justice  from  the 
board,  I  found  that  two  of  Moninger's  steers 
had  been  butchered  and  three  cattle  exhibited 
by  Messrs.  Groff,  of  Canada,  had  also  been 
slaughtered  by  Messrs.  Eastland  &  Duddles- 
tcn.  These  were  111  and  113  of  the  exhibition 
catalogue;  111  known  as  'Grinnell'  and  113  as 
'Tom  Brown.'  The  others  were  15,  17  and  18 
of  the  exhibition  catalogue,  and  were  slaugh- 
tered by  Mr.  Ford.  These  teeth  I  took  before 
the  State  Board  at  its  meeting  on  the  second 
Tuesday  in  January;  first  in  an  interview  with 
Messrs.  Scott  and  Reynolds  at  Mr.  Scott's 
rooms  in  the  Leland  House,  Springfield,  and 
afterwards  the  full 
board  at  the  agricul- 
tural rooms  in  the 
State  House.  The 
indications  as  to  the. 
age  of  these  animals 
was  discussed  as 
shown  by  these 
teeth,  and  after- 
wards put  in  form, 
formally  charging 
fraud  upon  the  ex-' 
hibitors,  as  per  the 
statements  herewith, 
and  with  the  report 
of  the  committee,  no.  13.  TEETH  AT  3  YEARS. 
Hon.  J.  P.  Rey- 
nolds, J.  Irving  Pearce  and  John  Virgin. 
."This  is  substantially  the  case  as  it  pro- 
gressed. I  was  desirous  that  the  board  should 
know  these  facts,  and  hoped  that  when  it  was 
brought  before  them  they  would  recognize  the 
necessity  of  taking  action  on  the  information. 
With  the  same  hope  in  view,  the  matter  was 
brought  to  them  on  the  last  day  but  one  of  the 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


FIG.  14.  TEETH  AT  4  YEARS. 


show;  and  still  with  the  same  hope,  action  was 
deferred  by  the  Hereford  Society,  and  with 
the  same  hope  1  brought  the  proof  as  exhibited 
by  the  teeth  of  these  five  animals  to  Messrs. 
Scott  and  Reynolds  individually  and  before 
going  before  the  board.  I  had  no  doubt  that 
when  the  matter  was  fully  presented  to  the 
board  they  would  take  the  facts  as  the 
basis  upon  which  to  start  an  investigation  to 
determine  whether  the  frauds  had  been  com- 
mitted or  not.  I  confess  to  some  surprise  that 
the  committee  named  should  have  made  a  report 

that  would  carry 
the  impression  that 
if  I  wished  to 
bring  this  matter  to 
a  test  it  should  come 
in  shape  of  a  protest 
as  the  cattle  were 
brought  into  the 
ring  for  exhibition. 
It  is  true  that  I  had 
the  right  to  make 
a  protest  as  suggest- 
ed by  the  committee, 
but  it  was  not  at  all 
obligatory  upon  me 
to  do  it.  It  is  true 
that  the  board  have  a  rule  that  requires  of  the 
judges  if  they  think  an  exhibitor  by  false  entry 
or  otherwise  has  attempted  to  commit  a  fraud, 
shall  report  it  to  the  superintendent  of  the 
cattle  department,  and  he  shall  report  it  to  the 
board,  and  they  may  expel  such  exhibitor  from 
exhibiting  for  two  years,  but  this  would  not  be 
supposed  to  confine  the  board  in  taking  cog- 
nizance of  fraud  to  these  two  processes. 

"I  prepared  engravings  of  the  teeth,  which 
are  recognized  by  long-established  authorities  as 
indicating  very  closely  the  age  of  cattle,  at  dif- 
ferent periods  of  their  existence,  and  with  these 
engravings  the  views  of  Prof.  Youatt's  History 
of  British  Cattle,  which  was  published  in  1834. 
He  says  at  page  279,  in  reference  to  the  rings  on 
the  horns  indicating  the  age:  'These  rings, 
proving  the  first  growth  of  the  horns  at  the 
base,  have  been  considered  as  forming  a  crite- 
rion by  which  to  determine  the  age  of  the  ox. 
At  three  years  old  the  first  one  is  usually  ob- 
served. At  four  years  old,  two  are  seen,  and  so 
on,  one  being  added  each  succeeding  year.  Thus 
is  deduced  the  rule  that  if  two  were  added 
to  the  number  of  rings  the  age  of  the 
animal  would  be  given.  These  rings,  however, 
are  perfectly  distinct  only  in  the  cows.  They 
do  not  appear  in  the  ox  until  he  is  five  years 
old,  and  often  in  the  bull  they  are  either  not 
seen  until  five  or  they  cannot  be  traced  at  all. 


These  rings  are  not  all  distinct  even  in  the  cow. 
The  three-year  or  first  may  be  so,  but  then 
comes  a  succession  or  irregularities  of  surface 
that  can  scarcely  be  said  to  be  rings,  and  which 
it  is  impossible  to  count.  Another  circumstance 
which  must  also  be  taken  into  account,  is  that, 
the  heifer  goes  to  the  bull  when  she  is  two  years 
old  or  a  little  before;  after  that  time  there 
is  an  immediate  change  in  the  horn  and  the 
first  ring  appears,  so  under  the  rule  a  three- 
year-old  would  carry  the  mark  of  a  four-year- 
old.  To  this  may  be  added  that  after  the  beast 
is  six  or  seven  years  old  these  rings  are  so 
irregular  in  their  appearance,  and  so  little  to 
be  depended  upon,  that  the  age  indicated  by 
the  two  horns  is  not  always  the  same.  I  have 
repeatedly  seen  a  difference  of  one  year,  and 
in  some  instances  I  could  not  make  the  horns 
agree  by  two  years  at  least.  Further,  regard- 
ing this  process  of  nature,  it  is  far  too  irregular 
for  any  certain  dependence  to  be  placed  upon 
it;  it  is  a  mere  general  rule  with  far  too  many 
exceptions.  There  is  also  a  certain  instrument 
called  the  rasp,  the  use  of  which  has  been  said 
to  have  made  many  an  arm  ache  a  little  before 
a  large  cattle  fair.  What  human  being  can  tell 
whether  the  ring  farthest  from  the  head  has 
or  has  not  been  removed,  or  whether  the  second 
may  not  have  followed  the  first?  If  the  rasp 
is  fine  and  gently  used,  and  a  little  dirt  with 
or  without  soap  is  rubbed  over  the  part,  there 
is  nothing  to  tell  tales,  except  the  rather  too 
great  smoothness1  of  the  horns  thereabouts,  and 
this  is  said  to  be  obviated  by  giving  the  whole 
of  the  horn  a  smooth  and  polished  appearance. 
We  have  never 
liked  these  small, 
smooth,  polished 
horns.  That  art 
had  been  at  work 
no  one  could  deny, 
and  we  were  un- 
charitable enough 
to  suspect  that  the 
removal  was 
oftener  employed 
in  the  removal  of  a 
defect  than  in  the 
heightening  of  a  «iT2i8. 
beauty.  Dealers  are  FIG.  15.  TEETH  AT  5  YEARS. 
not  so  bad  as  horse 

merchants,  but  strange  stories  have  been  told 
of  them.  We  are  less  scrupulous  in  describ- 
ing this  deception  because  we  shall  presently 
speak  of  a  method  of  judging  cattle  where 
no  roguery  can  lead  us  astray.'  This  is 
Prof.  Youatt's  view  of  the  unreliability  of 
judging  the  age  of  cattle  by  the  horns.  'As 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


309 


to  the  teeth/  he  says,  'far  surer  marks  are 
presented  in  the  teeth,  and  where  there  can  be 
little  deception  from  the  hands  of  dealers  (or 
exhibitors),  for  their  interest  would  generally 
lead  them  to  give  'a  more  youthful  appearance 
than  nature  has  allowed.'  (I  have  preferred 
to  commence  with  the  ages  of  the  calf  as  indi- 
cated by  the  teeth,  although  these  have  not  an 
especial  bearing  upon  the  question  which  in- 
duced the  presentation  of  these  evidences.) 
"Youatt  says:  'The  mouth  of  the  new-born 


FIG.  16.    TEETH   OF  SHORTHORN  "CANADIAN  CHAM- 
PION." 
I  (Exhibited  as  3  years  6  months  15  days.) 

calf  presents  an  uncertain  appearance,  depend- 
ing on  the  mother  having  exceeded  pr  fallen 
short  of  the  period  of  utero-gestation.  Some- 
times there  will  be  no  vestige  of  teeth,  but  gen- 
erally either  two  central  incisors  will  be  pro- 
truding through  the  gums,  or  they  will  have 
arisen  and  attained  considerable  bulk.  (Fig. 
1.)  About  the  middle  or  close  of  the  second 
week  a  tooth  will  be  added  on  either  side,  mak- 
ing four  incisors,  as  seen  in  Fig.  2.  At  the 
expiration  of  the  third  week  the  animal  has  six 
temporary  incisors  or  front  teeth,  as  seen  in 
Fig.  3.  At  a  month  the  full  number  of  in- 
cisors will  have  appeared.  (Fig.  4.)  These 
are  the  temporary  or  milk  teeth.  The  enamel 
will  be  seen  covering  the  whole  crown  of  the 
tooth,  but  not  entering  into  its  composition,  as 
in  the  horse;  and  it  will  be  observed  that  the 
edge  is  exceedingly  sharp.  The  only  indication 
of  increasing  age  will  be  the  wearing  down  of 
these  sharp  edges,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
bony  substance  of  the  tooth  beneath. 

"  'The  two  corner  teeth  will  scarcely  be  up 
before  the  center  teeth  will  be  a  little  worn. 
At  two  months  the  edge  of  the  four  central 
teeth  will  be  evidently  worn;  yet,  as  the  wear- 
ing is  not  across  the  top  of  the  tooth,  but  a 
very  little  out  of  the  line  of  its  inner  surface, 
the  edge  will  remain  nearly  or  quite  as  sharp 
as  before.  At  three  months  the  six  central 
teeth  and  at  four  months  the  whole  set  will 


be  worn,  and  the  central  ones  most  of  all,  but 
after  the  second  or  third  month  the  edge  of 
the  teeth  will  begin  to  wear  down,  and  there  will 
be  more  of  a  flat  surface,  with  a  broad  line  in 
the  center. 

"  'About  this  time  a  change  will  begin,  but 
very  slowly  to  be  seen.  The  central  teeth  will 
not  only  be  worn  down  on  their  edges,  but  the 
whole  of  the  tooth  will  appear  diminished.  A 
kind  of  absorption  will  have  commenced.  There 
will  be  a  little  but  increasing  space  between 
the  teeth.  The  face  of  the  tooth  will  likewise 
be  altered,  the  inner  edge  will  be  worn  down 
more  than  the  outer,  and  the  mark  will  change 
from  the  appearance  of  a  broad  line  to  a 
triangular  shape.  The  commencement  of  this 
alteration  of  form  and  diminution  of  size  may 
be  traced  to  about  the  fourth  month.  Our  cut 
gives  a  representation  of  the  two  central  in- 
cisors at  eight  months.  (See  Fig.  5.)  The 
central  teeth  are  now  not  above  half  the  size 
of  the  next  pair,  and  they  are  evidently  les- 
sened. At  eleven  months  the  process  of  dimi- 
nution will  have  extended  to  the  four  central 
teeth  in  the  manner  represented  in  the  cut. 
(See  Fig.  6.)  The  vacuities  between  them  will 
now  be  evident  enough.  Cut  (Fig.  8)  gives  the 
mouth  of  a  steer  fifteen  months  old.  Cut  (Fig. 
9)  gives  the  curious  and  diminutive  appear- 
ance of  all  the  incisors  in  a  bullock  eighteen 
months  old.  It  would  appear  difficult  for  him 
to  obtain  sufficient  food  to  support  himself  in 
good  condition.  It  is  somewhat  so,  and  it  may 
be  in  a  great  measure  owing  to  these  changes 
in  the  teeth  and  the  difficulty  of  grazing  that 
young  beasts  are  subject  to  many  disorders  from 
seven  to  eight  months  upwards,  and  are  so 
often  out  of  condition.  Thev  contrive,  however, 


1220 
FIG.    17.      MOUTH    OF    "CANADIAN    CHAMPION." 

to  make  up  for  this  temporary  disadvantage  by 
diligence  in  feeding,  and,  to  allude  for  a 
moment  to  another  animal,  we  have  known 
many  a  not  only  broken-mouthed  but  toothless 
ewe  to  thrive  as  well  as  any  of  the  flock,  for 
she  was  grazing  all  the  day  and  ruminating  all 
night.  • 

"'At  this  time,  eighteen  months  old,  the 
corner  teeth  will  not  be  more  than  half  their 
natural  size;  the  center  ones  will  be  yet  more 
diminished,  and,  as  the  cut  very  plainly  repre- 


310 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


sents,  the  vacuities  between  them  will  be  almost 
equal  to  the  width  of  the  teeth.  The  faces  of 
the  teeth  also,  such  faces  as  remain,  will  be 
lengthened;  the  triangular  mark  will  diminish, 
principally  in  the  central  teeth,  while  a  line, 
more  or  less  deeply  shaded,  will  begin  to  appear 
around  the  original  mark. 

"  'All  this,  while  the  second  set  of  teeth,  the 
permanent  ones,  have  been  growing  in  their 
sockets  and  approaching  towards  the  gums,  but 
not,  as  is  said  to  be  generally  the  case  with 
other  animals  and  with  the  human  being  in 
particular,  pressing  upon  the  roots  of  the  milk 
teeth,  and  causing  them  to  be  absorbed,  until 
at  length,  losing  all  hold  in  the  socket,  they 
fall  out.  The  process  of  absorption  commences 
here  in  the  whole  milk  tooth,  and  as  much  in 
the  crown  or  body  of  it  as  at  its  root. 

"'The  process  of  general  diminution  seems 
now  for  a  while  retarded;  it  is  confined  to  the 


1T221 


FIG.  18.     TEETH  OF   "KING  OF  THE  WEST." 
(Exhibited  as  3  years  7  months  15  days.) 

central  teeth,  and  they  gradually  waste  away 
until  they  are  no  larger  in  the  body  than  crow 
quills.  About  the  expiration  of  the  second  year, 
or  a  little  before,  the  milk  teeth  are  pushed 
out,  or  give  way,  and  the  two  central  perma- 
nent teeth  appear.'  I  have  here  given  Prof. 
Youatt  on  the  growth  and  absorption  of 
the  teeth  generally  termed'  calf  teeth  up 
to  the  time  that  the  animal  reaches  two 
years  old.  Prof.  Youatt  says:  'It  will  be 
seen  here  that  about  the  expiration  of  the 
second  year  the  milk  teeth  are  pushed  out 
and  the  central  permanent  teeth  appear.'  We 
wish  our  readers  to  note  the  process  of  teeth 
formation  for  the  first  two  j^ars  of  calf  life. 
I  have  now  reached  a  point  where  I  begin  to 
touch  upon  the  teeth  indications  as  to  the  age 
of  cattle  entitled  to  enter  for  exhibition  at  the 
Fat  Stock  Shows. 


"The  illustration  (Fig.  11)  gives  the  mouth 
of  a  two-year-old.  'The  two  permanent  central 
incisors  are  coming  up,  and  the  other  six  milk 
teeth  remain.  The  bone  front  of  the  lower  jaw 
is  taken  away  in  order  that  the  alveoli,  or  cells 
for  the  teeth,  may  be  exposed.  The  second  pair 
of  incisors  have  almost  attained  their  proper 
form.  The  third  pair  are  getting  ready,  but  the 
jaw  is  not  yet  sufficiently  widened  for  the  de- 
velopment of  the  fourth  pair.  The  process  of 
absorption  will  still  be  suspended  with  regard 
to  the  two  outside  pairs  of  teeth,  but  will  be 
rapid  with  regard  to  the  second  pair,  and  a 
little  before  the  commencement  of  the  third 
year  they  will  disappear.' 

"The  illustration  (Fig.  13)  represents  a 
four-year-old  beast  with  four  permanent  in- 
cisors and  four  milk  teeth.  Now  the  remaining 
milk  teeth  will  diminish  very  fast,  but  they 
show  no  disposition  to  give  way,  and  at  four 
years  old  there  will  be  six  permanent  incisors, 
and  often  apparently  no  milk  teeth,  but  if  the 
mouth  is  examined  the  tooth  that  should  have 
disappeared  and  the  tooth  that  is  to  remain 
until  the  next  year  are  huddled  close  together 
and  concealed  behind  the  new  permanent  tooth. 
They  often  are  a  source  of  annoyance  to  the 
animal,  and  the  tooth  whose  turn  it  was  to  go 
must  be  ,drawn. 

"It  is  proper  here  to  state  that  a  four-year- 
old  mouth  is  as  represented  (in  Fig.  14).  It 
contains  six  permanent  incisors  and  two  milk 
teeth.  Now  this  latter  engraving  (Fig.  14) 
corresponds  with  the  mouth  of  Mr.  Moninger's 
steer  called  'Champion  of  Iowa,'  entered  as  a 
yearling,  or  715  days  old.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  fifth  year  the  eight  permanent  in- 
cisors will  be  up,  but  the  corner  ones  will  be 
small. 

"Another  illustration  (Fig.  15)  gives  a  five- 
year-old  mouth,  or  perhaps  one  a  month  or  two 
over  five  years;  so  that  the  beast  cannot  be 
called  full-mouthed,  namely  all  the  incisors, 
until  it  is  six  years  old.  'It  will  be  seen,  how- 
ever, in  this  mouth  of  five  years,  that  the  two 
central  pairs  are  beginning  to  be  worn  down  at 
the  edges,  and  that  in  a  flat  direction  or  some- 
what inclining  inside.' 

"I  will  not  follow  Mr.  Youatt  further,  as  I 
reach  the  full  limit  in  which  cattle  should  be 
exhibited  for  premiums  at  this  show,  and  the 
further  age  is  exhibited  by  absorption  and  teeth 
growing  longer  and  having  the  appearance  of 
being  longer  with  spaces  between ;  that  is,  there 
commences  from  this  time  on  a  gradual  absorp- 
tion and  wearing  away  of  the  teeth. 

"Referring  to  the  December,  1882,  'Breeders' 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


311 


Journal/  it  will  be  noticed  that  H.  &  I.  Groff 
entered  an  animal,  No.  15,  of  the  exhibition 
catalogue,  as  dropped  May  the  27th,  1880,  and 
another,  No.  17,  May  29,  1879,  and  No.  18  as 
April  the  19th,  1879.  This  makes  No.  15  two 
years  six  months  and  two  days  old.  I  present 
a  cut  (Fig.  20),  which  shows  the  mouth  of  this 
animal,  'Young  Aberdeen,'  stall  15,  and  I  be- 
lieve him — Prof.  Youatt  being  the  authority — 
to  be  five  years  old.  I  also  present  a  cut  (Fig. 
21)  showing  the  outside  of  'Young  Aber- 
deen's' teeth,  and  that  absorption  has  already 
begun.  I  also  present  cut  (Fig.  16),  which  is 
taken  from  the  mouth  of  the  steer  'Canada 
Champion/  who  stood  in  stall  No.  17  in  the  ex- 
hibition catalogue,  and  a  cut  (Fig.  17),  which 
shows  the  outside  of  the  same  mouth  and  from 
the  same  steer  'Canada  Champion/ 

"Another  cut  (Fig.  18)  was  from  the  mouth 
of  the  steer  entered  in  the  exhibition  catalogue 
as  No.  18.  One  half  of  the  mouth  was  destroyed 
in  slaughtering,  but  the  other  half  answered 
equally  well  as  though  the  whole  were  present. 
The  cut  (Fig.  19)  shows  the  outside  of  the 
same  mouth.  Nos.  17  and  18,  by  referring  to 
the  exhibition  catalogue,  were  entered  as  fol- 
lows: No.  17,  as  dropped  May  29,  1879,  and  as 
1,265  days  old,  or  three  years  six  months  and 
five  days  old;  No.  18,  dropped  April  19,  1879, 
1,305  days  old,  or  three  years  seven  months 
and  fifteen  days  old.  My  next  cut  (Fig.  22) 
is  the  mouth  of  the  steer  entered  in  the  exhibi- 
tion catalogue  as  111,  and  as  dropped  February, 
1880,  and  as  1,011  days  old,  or  two  years  nine 
months  and  21  days.  Another  cut  (Fig.  23) 
shows  the  front  view  of  the  teeth  of  this  ani- 
mal, both  cuts  showing  the  full  mouth  of  eight 
teeth.  Cut  (Fig.  24)  is  from  the  steer  entered 
as  No.  113,  dropped  August  28,  1879,  and  1,174 
days  old,  or  three  years  three  months  and  four 
days  old.  Fig.  25  shows  the  outside  of  the 
same  mouth.  Figures  22  and  23  were  from  the 


1222 


FIG.    19,    OUTSIDE    VIEW    OF    MOUTH    OF 
THE   WEST." 


'KING    OF 


mouth  of  the  steer  that  Mr.  Moninger  called 
'Grinnell.'  The  Figures  24  and  25  are  from 
the  mouth  of  the  steer  Mr.  Moninger  called 
'Tom  Brown.'  From  the  outside  view  of  'Tom 
Brown's'  mouth  it  will  be  perceived  that  the 
teeth  begin  to  show  space  between  them,  giving 
them  a  long  appearance,  and  showing  how  ab- 


sorption has  commenced.  Now  I  wish  to  call 
attention  to  the  exhibit  of  T.  L.  Miller's,  as 
shown  on  page  715  in  the  December  number  of 
this  journal.  The  Messrs.  Groff's  'Young 
Aberdeen/  No.  15  in  the  catalogue,  two  years 
and  six  months  old,  has  a  full  mouth.  Nos.  78, 
79,  80  and  81  (Miller's  exhibit)  are  two  years 
eight  months  old,  and  two  years  seven  months 
old.  Each  of  these  animals  (Herefords)  had 


FIG.     20.      TEETH    OF    SHORTHORN    "YOUNG    ABER- 
DEEN." 
(Exhibited  as  2  years  6  months  2  days.) 

only  four  permanent  teeth.  They  are  entered 
as  practically  the  same  age  as  Nos.  15  and  111 
(Shorthorns),  which  had  full  mouths  of  eight 
teeth. 

"Referring  again  to  Nos.  83  and  84  (Here- 
fords),  T.  L.  Miller's  exhibit,  one  three  years 
eight  months,  and  the  other  three  years  nine 
months  old,  reaching  well  up  towards  four 
years  old,  had  but  six  permanent  teeth  each, 
while  17,  18  and  113  (Shorthorns)  had  a  full 
mouth  of  eight  teeth,  and  a  clear  indication 
that  absorption  had  already  commenced.  I 
wish  to  call  attention  still  further  to  the  fact 
that  the  following  numbers  in  the  exhibition 
catalogue,  85,  86,  87,  88,  89  and  90  (Here- 
fords),  all  reached  up  well  towards  four  years 
old,  no  one  of  which  had  but  six  permanent 
teeth.  Mr.  Moninger's  'Champion  of  Iowa' 
(Shorthorn)  had  a  mouth  corresponding  to 
Fig.  14,  while  No.  74  (Hereford)  of  the  exhibi- 
tion catalogue,  dropped  Dec.  1,  1880,  714  days 
old,  or  one  year  eleven  months  and  twenty- 
four  days;  and  entry  22,  dropped  Nov.  30, 
1880,  715  days  old,  or  one  year  eleven  months 
and  twenty-five  days  old;  neither  of  these  had 
but  two  permanent  teeth.  From  the  indica- 
tions of  teeth  development  in  many  animals  I 
have  already  examined,  where  the  birth  of  the 
animals  was  recorded  at  the  time  of  the  birth, 
I  find  very  little  variation  from  the  authority  of 
Prof.  Youatt,  laid  down  fifty  years  ago.  Sev- 
eral of  the  animals  that  were  exhibited  by 


312 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Mr.  Moninger  and  others  in  the  Shorthorn 
interest  were  examined,  and  from  the  teeth 
indications,  show  the  entries  to  be  as 
fraudulent  as  those  presented  by  the  exhi- 
bition of  these  cuts.  I  ask  the  careful  at- 
tention of  painstaking  and  experienced  cat- 
tlemen, who  keep  a  correct  record  of  the 
births  of  their  cattle,  and  I  ask  of  these 
men,  if  they  will  give  me  the  facts  that 
will  prove  or  disprove  the  correctness  of  Prof. 
Youatt's  authorities.  I  shall  strike  off  an  edi- 
tion of  these  cuts,  and  a  form  for  entries, 
showing  the  ages  from  two  to  four  years  old, 


11224 


FIG.     21.       OUTSIDE    VIEW     OF    MOUTH     OF    "YOUNG 
ABERDEEN." 


as  recorded  at  the  time  of  birth,  and  as  indi- 
cated by  the  teeth.  In  figuring  the  years, 
months  and  days  of  the  ages  of  the  above 
steers,  I  have  taken  the  age  in  days  and  divided 
it  by  thirty,  to  give  the  number  of  months, 
and  that  by  twelve  to  give  the  number  of  years. 
I  propose  to  follow  these  issues  until  the  ex- 
hibitors at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  shall  each  and 
all  of  them  come  with  honest  ages,  honestly 
entered. 

"I  propose  to  follow  these  until  the  State 
Board  shall  not  rest  on  technicalities  and  com- 
pel exhibitors  to  protect  themselves;  I  expect 
to  follow  it  until  the  acting  president,  for  the 
time  being,  dare  act  upon  information,  and 
investigate  fraud  by  whomsoever  perpetrated. 
I  expect  to  follow  these  issues  until  it  will  be 
disreputable  for  any  exhibitor  to  carry  away 
funds  not  honestly  obtained.  I  expect  to  fol- 
low these  until  it  shall  be  disreputable  to  par- 
ticipate in  cane  presentations  to  exhibitors 
who,  come  before  this  show  in  a  fraudulent 
manner.  From  this  on  I  shall  not  be  an  ex- 
hibitor at  this  show  until  these  things  are 
accomplished,  but  I  do  recognize  that  the  show 
is  one  of  the  most  important  ever  inaugurated 
in  this  or  any  other  country,  and  I  shall  do 
all  that  is  within  my  power  to  make  it  re- 
spectable, reputable  and  authoritative.  I  asked 
some  years  ago  an  English  Hereford  breeder, 
why  they  did  not  make  a  more  reputable  show 
at  Smithfield,  in  London,  England.  His  reply 
was  that  the  show  was  so  strongly  under  Short- 
horn influence  that  there  was  no  chance  to 
show  successfully.  I  hope  that  this  influence 
is  broken  at  this  show.  At  any  rate,  I  moved 


at  the  Hereford  Society  meeting  in  November, 
that  $2,000  be  raised  to  be  offered  in  premiums 
to  the  Hereford  exhibitors  at  this  show.  I 
wish  to  say  that  I  believe  this  sum  will  be 
raised;  Hereford  breeders  owe  it  to  the  ex- 
hibitors to  see  that  they  are  properly  compen- 
sated for  their  labor  and  expense  in  fitting  for 
this  show.  The  successful  exhibitor  reaps  a 
benefit  by  the  honors  he  may  obtain  at  this 
show,  still  it  is  true,  nevertheless,  that  breed- 
ers, as  a  whole,  receive  a  benefit.  No  one 
knows  better  than  myself  the  expense  and  care 
that  there  is  in  preparing  and  going  through 
with  a  successful  exhibit.  While  I  am  not  an 
exhibitor,  I  shall  expect  to  contribute  freely 
for  this  purpose;  when  I  am  an  exhibitor,  if 
the  time  shall  come  again,  I  shall  expect  then 
my  share  of  contribution  and  hope  that  I  may 
be  the  recipient  of  at  least  a  portion  of  the 
fund.  It  is  hardly  to  be  expected  that  Here- 
ford exhibitors  can  show  yearlings  against 
Shorthorn  three-year-olds,  or  Hereford  two- 
year-olds  against  Shorthorn  four  or  five-year- 
olds,  or  Hereford  three-year-olds  against 
Shorthorn  five  or  six-year-olds;  in  the  past 
Hereford  exhibitors  had  this  to  do,  at  least 
they  had  a  large  difference  against  them. 
With  the  State  Board  composed  of  Shorthorn 
breeders  and  very  largely  under  Shorthorn  in- 
fluence the  exhibitor  who  proposes  to  expose 
the  workings  of  these  influences  can  hardly  be 
expected  to  receive  impartial  treatment.  I 


^225 


FIG.     22.       TEETH     OF     SHORTHORN     STEER     "GRIN- 
NELL." 
(Exhibited  as  2  years  9  months  21  days.) 

recognized  this  long  ago,  and  feel  that  I  can 
meet  these 'issues  more  effectively  by  not  being 
an  exhibitor  than  by  being  one.  I  am  not  dis- 
posed to  make  any  promise  at  present  as  to 
what  I  may  or  may  not  do.  I  do  expect,  how- 
ever, to  do  all  I  can  to  place  the  Herefords  in 


313 


the   position   which   they  are  entitled  to,   the 
leading  heef  producers  of  the  world. 
"I  am  yours  truly, 

"T.  L.  MILLER." 

Directly  after  the  Fat  Stock  Show  (1882), 
we  found  the  following  statements  in  sub- 
stance in  several  of  the  Chicago  papers: 

"The  Illinois  State  Veterinarian,  Dr.  N.  H. 
Paaren,  was  called  upon  to  decide  the  question 
raised  during  the  Fat  Stock  Show  by  Mr.  T. 
L.  Miller,  of  Beecher,  as  to  the  age  of  some  of 


1226 


PIG.  23.     OUTSIDE  VIEW  OF  MOUTH  OF  "GRINNELL." 

the  steers  exhibited  by  Mr.  D.  M.  Moninger,  of 
Iowa.  Dr.  Paaren  decided,  after  a  careful  ex- 
amination, that  there  was  in  the  condition  of 
the  mouths  of  the  animals  nothing  to  prove 
that  they  were  older  than  Mr.  Moninger  stated. 
He  considered  that  a  system  of  feeding  which 
would  make  a  steer  less  than  two  years  old 
weigh  nearly  a  ton  would  hasten  the  develop- 
ment of  the  mouth  in  a  corresponding  degree. 
In  this  view  he  is  supported  by  a  number  of 
eminent  veterinarians." 

Hardly  believing  that  Dr.  Paaren  could 
have  examined  the  steers,  and  given  as  decided 
an  opinion  as  this  article  would  indicate,  I 
wrote  him  the  following  letter: 

Beecher,  111.,  Dec.  2,  1882. 
Dr.  N.  H.  Paaren, 

My  Dear  Sir :  I  notice  by  the  Chicago  "Trib- 
une" that  you  examined  some  of  the  steers  of 
D.  M.  Moninger  as  to  their  ages,  and  that  you 
found  nothing  to  prove  they  were  older  than 
Mr.  Moninger  entered  them  for.  Does  the  ar- 
ticle  referred  to  in  the  "Tribune"  properly  rep- 
resent your  action  and  your  views?  If  you  will, 
be  so  kind  as  to  advise  me  of  the  fact,  and  at 
whose  solicitation  you  examined  them,  and 
when,  and  which  of  the  steers  you  examined. 
The  ages  of  these  steers  will  have  the  fullest 
canvass,  and  I  am  having  cuts  prepared  repre- 
senting the  teeth  of  cattle  from  birth  to  ten 
years  old,  as  given  by  the  best  authorities,  and 
I  propose  to  verify  this  testimony  by  actual 
comparison  with  living  animals  from  a  large 
range  of  herds  in  this  country  and  England. 
You  are  probably  aware  that  Mr.  Moninger 
entered  a  bullock  715  days  old,  and  that  Mr. 


Potts  entered  another  715  days  old.  Mr.  Mon- 
inger's  steer  had  six  teeth  fully  developed, 
while  Mr.  Pott's  steer  had  two.  You  will  rec- 
ognize that  Mr.  Pott's  steer  has  a  mouth  cor- 
responding with  the  age  he  gave  him,  while 
Mr.  M/s  had  a  mouth  that  Youatt,  on  page 
322,  gives  to  a  four-year-old,  and  that  Youatt 
and  Martin  give  to  a  three-years  past,  and 
that  Allen,  in  his  American  Cattle,  gives  to  a 
four-year-old.  Very  truly  yours, 

T.  L.  MILLER. 

I  received  from  him  in  reply  the  following: 

Chicago,  111.,  Dec.  8,  1882. 
T.  L.  Miller,  Esq.,  Beecher,  111., 

Dear  Sir:  Your  favor  of  December  2d,  ad- 
dressed to  the  care  of  the  Prairie  Farmer  Com- 
pany, just  received.  I  only  call  at  the  above 
office  once  a  week  which  accounts  for  delay  in 
receiving  your  letter. 

In  regard  to  your  question  about  the  age  of 
certain  bullocks,  at  whose  solicitation  I  ex- 
amined them,  and  when  and  which  of  the 
steers  I  examined,  I  have  only  this  to  say: 
Having  accidentally  learned  that  a  contro- 
versy existed  in  regard  to  the  age  of  certain 
animals  exhibited  at  the  recent  Fat  Stock 
Show  in  Chicago,  my  curiosity  led  me  to  have 
some  of  Mr.  Moninger's  steers,  said  to  be  sub- 
jects of  controversy,  pointed  out  to  me,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  a  bystander  I  examined 
their  mouths  as  to  their  age.  In  two  of  the 


ST227 


FIG.    24.     TEETH   OF  SHORTHORN    "TOM  BROWN." 
(Exhibited  as  3  years  3  months  4  days.) 


animals  examined  I  found  but  one  year's  dif- 
ference in  their  age;  and  this  is,  in  fact,  all 
that  I  know  about  them.  I  know  neither  of 
these  animals  by  name,  number,  or  otherwise; 
furthermore,  Mr.  Moninger  was  not  present  at 
the  time;  my*  examination  was  not  made,  at 
that  gentleman's  instigation;  in  fact,  I  am 
not  acquainted  with  him  and  never  spoke  to 


314 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


him  to  my  knowledge,  and  he  knew  nothing 
about  my  intention  to  examine  any  of  his 
stock.  I  repeat  it — the  examination  of  said 
bullocks  was  entirely  a  private  matter  with  me. 
not  intended  for  publication  or  use  in  any 
way,  and  it  is  much  against  my  wish  to  be 
drawn  into  the  controversy  in  a  matter  with 
which  I  had  nothing  whatever  to  do,  officially 


or  otherwise.  That  I  may  not  be  misunder- 
stood in  this  matter,  I  will  say  in  conclusion, 
that  I  should  have  had  no  objection  to  exam- 
ine the  said  animals  in  the  presence  of  both 
you  and  Mr.  Moninger;  in  fact,  would  have 
preferred  that  to  my  present  position. 
Yours  respectfully, 

N.  H.  PAAREN,  M.  D. 


ST228 


FIG.  25.     OUTSIDE  VIEW  OF  MOUTH  OF  "TOM 
BROWN." 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


315 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

205A  HEREFORD  ITEMS  IN  THE  EARLY  EIGHTIES 


The  decade  ending  1890  saw  great  activity 
in  the  Hereford  interest,  and  if  full  extracts 
could  be  made  from  the  agricultural  and  stock 
journals  of  that  time,  they  would  make  good 
contemporaneous  history. 

We  cannot  hope  to  give  a  full  account  of  all 
the  movements  of  Herefords  in  those  days, 
but  will  give  some  extracts  from  the  press  of 
that  time. 

HEREFORDS  WANTED   IN  AMERICA. 

At  the  Shorthorn  Convention,  held  at  La- 
fayette, Ind.,  1880,  Judge  Jones  reported  that 
Shorthorns  were  preferred  over  Jerseys,  Here- 
fords  and  other  breeds  in  England.  Did  the 
Judge  get  this  information  from  Shorthorn 
breeders  in  England?  Did  he  learn,  while 
there,  that  there  were  some  500  head  of  Here- 
fords  bought  for  exportation  to  America,  and 
that  among  the  purchasers  were  Mr.  Cochrane, 
of  Canada;  Mr.  Earl,  Mr.  Raub,  Mr.  Fowler 
and  Mr.  Sample,  all  of  Lafayette,  Ind.,  men  of 
large  wealth,  of  large  experience  in  the  cattle 
business  as  packers,  graziers  and  feeders?  Did 
he  learn  that  C.  M.  Culbertson,  of  Chicago,  a 
packer  of  thirty  or  forty  years'  experience,  and 
a  large  grazier  and  feeder,  and  that  Mr.  Ben 
Hershey,  a  man  of  large  experience  and  great 
wealth,  and  one  who  owns  a  large  herd  of  Jer- 
seys in  Iowa,  were  large  purchasers?  That 
T.  L.  Miller,  of  some  reputation  and  experi- 
ence as  a  Hereford  breeder,  was  a  large  pur- 
chaser? That  Messrs.  Simpson  &  Grudgell,  of 
Missouri,  were  there  purchasing  Herefords? 
All  of  these  from  this  country.  Did  he  hear  of 
any  Shorthorns  being  bought  for  America? 
The  Judge  may  say  that  these  were  Americans, 
and  he  was  saying  what  Englishmen  preferred. 
We  will  quote  what  the  "Mark  Lane  Express" 
says:  "There  are  few  graziers  in  England  who 
would  buy  Shorthorn  bullocks  if  they  could 
get  Herefords." —  The  Breeders'  Journal. 

ECONOMY   OF   KEEP. 

The  Kentucky  "Live  Stock  Record"  said  that 
five  Hereford  bullocks,  three,  years  old  or  over, 


could  be  fed  where  four  Shorthorn  bullocks 
could. 

HEREFORDS  WANTED  ON  THE  PLAINS. 

The  "National  Live  Stock  Journal"  said: 
"Breeders  of  Shorthorn  cattle  may  not  safely 
shut  their  eyes  against  the  fact  that  the  Here- 
fords have  made  tremendous  strides  in  public 
favor  within  the  past  five  years,  and  that  such 
of  our  ranchmen,  on  the  western  plains,  as 
have  tried  them,  almost  unanimously  give 
them  the  preference  over  the  Shorthorns,  be- 
cause, as  they  express  it,  they  are  'better  wrest- 
lers,' that  is,  they  are  better  adapted  to  the 
conditions  under  which  cattle  axe  compelled  to 
exist  on  these  plains  than  are  the  Shorthorns. 
This,  we  feel  called  upon  to  say,  is  the  almost 
universal  verdict  of  the  ranchmen  that  we  have 
met,  in  the  past  two  years,  and  we  have  met 
very  many  of  them." 

HEREFORDS    AT    LONDON. 

The  "Mark  Lane  Express"  of  England,  in 
noticing  the  letter  of  a  Shorthorn  breeder, 
written  from  England,  and  appearing  in  the 
"Breeder's  Gazette,"  saying  that  London  sales- 
men could  not  sell  Hereford  bullocks  in  that 
market,  says  of  the  writer  that  it  is  no  wonder 
that  he  did  not  give  his  name,  and  that  the 
only  difficulty  the  London  salesmen  experience 
with  regard  to  Hereford  bullocks,  is  in  getting 
enough  of  them;  and  that,  as  grass-fed  beef, 
there  is  nothing  that  comes  into  London  that 
can  touch  the  Hereford.  We  should  not  be  at 
all  surprised  if  the  writer  of  the  article  re- 
ferred to  was  a  resident  in  or  near  Chicago, 
instead  of  being  a  steward  and  judge  at  Smith- 
field.  If  he  had  held  the  two  positions,  then 
the  charge  that  has  been  made  of  Shorthorn 
influence  in  the  management  of  that  show  has 
this  to  support  the  charge. — Breeder's  Journal. 

PEDIGREE    CRAZE. 

The  "National  Live  Stock  Journal"  struck  a 
blow  at  the  Shorthorn  pedigree  craze  and  prac- 
tically endorsed  Mr.  Sotham's  teachings  at  this 
time  by  saying: 


316 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


"Time  was  when  the  supposed  to  be  expert 
in  pedigrees  would  walk  about  the  sale  ring, 
catalogue  in  han'd,  and  when  a  magnificent 
specimen  of  the  Shorthorn  race,  compact,  ro- 
bust, smooth,  blocky  and  vigorous  was  led  in, 
would  shake  his  head  ominously  and  say  to  his 
neighbor,  in  a  patronizing  way:  'Oh,  yes,  she 
is  a  grand  cow  certainly;  but  look  here — '  and 
away  back,  some  six  or  perhaps  ten  generations 
removed,  he  would  put  his  finger  on  the  name 
of  Mrs.  Motte,  and  say:  'Seventeen.'  That 


RARE     SOVEREIGN     (10499)     81118. 
Bred  by  Earl   of   Coventry. 

would  settle  if;  and  the  grand  cow,  a  prize 
winner  herself,  and  descended  from  a.  race  of 
prize  winners,  would  be  knocked  down  at  $150. 
And  then,  when  a  little  long-legged,  effeminate 
looking  heifer  was  led  into  the  ring,  wheezing 
and  coughing,  half-dead  with  tuberculosis,  the 
expert's  eye  would  brighten  and  he  would  sing 
out:  'Here's  royalty  for  you!  Look  at  that 
pedigree  —  perfectly  straight,  without  an  out- 
cross,'  and  the  devotees  of  fashion  would  vie 
with  each  other  in  their  eagerness  to  show 
that  they  knew  what  they  were  about,  until 
the  worthless  beast  was  carried  well  up  into 
the  thousands  of  dollars.  They  bought  this 
Shorthorn  because  she  was  straight  Bates,  and 
rejected  that  because  she  had  this  or  that  out- 
cross  five  or  ten  generations  back,  although  of 
the  two  the  latter  was  much  the  better  animal. 
A  good  pedigree  is  one  which  commences  with 
a  good  animal  standing  before  you,  and  runs 
back  through  an  ancestry  consisting  of  good 
animals  only;  and  the  better  the  individual 
and  the  longer  the  pedigree  made  of  such  in- 
dividuals only,  the  better  the  pedigree." 

HEREFORD    BREEDERS    SHOW    UNTIRING    ENERGY. 


Mr.Coburn,at  that  time  an  active  Shorthorn 
partisan  and  supporter,  wrote  as  follows: 
To    the   Editor    of   the    "Breeders'   Gazette": 

The  breeders  of  Shorthorns  have  not,  at  any 


one  of  the  four  Fat  Stock  Shows  held  at  Chi- 
cago, been  represented  at  all  as  the  numbers 
and  well  known  merits  of  their  cattle  would 
justify.  The  Shorthorns  have  been  frequently 
beaten  by  the  Herefords — of  which  there  are 
comparatively  few — not,  as  we  think,  because 
the  Herefords  are  so  much  better  in  any  re- 
spect, but,  first,  because  they  are  valuable  cat- 
tle, and  secondly,  but  not  least,  because  they 
are  in  the  hands  of  a  few  men  who  believe  in 
them,  and  who  are  energetic,  rich  and  intensely 
aggressive.  They  have  money — some  of  them 
money  made  in  other  than  the  cattle  business 
— and  they  know  how  to  use  it  along  in  obtain- 
ing the  choicest  specimens  of  their  favorite 
breed,  or  to  combine  it  with  wind,  oil  cake 
and  printer's  ink,  in  the  exact  proportions  that 
will  best  accomplish  their  ends — viz.,  capture 
the  prizes  from  the  Shorthorns  and  persuade 
people  to  buy  the  Herefords.  They  have  had  a 
.goodly  share  of  success,  and  they  have  earned 
it,  not  by  having  a  breed  of  cattle  pre-emi- 
nently the  best,  but  by  what  the  world  calls 
their  enterprise;  something  that  has  much  to 
commend  it,  especially  when  something  besides 
wind  is  to  be  in  it.  We  like  the  "untiring 
energy"  feature  of  their  methods,  and  like 
their  cattle;  but  what  we  started  out  to  say 
was  that  the  Shorthorn  breeders  must  be  seized 
of  that  same  spirit  and  go  to  work,  not  neces- 
sarily to  make  anything  new,  but  make  the 
most  of  the  material  already  in  their  hands,  or 
at  future  Fat  Stock  Shows  they  will  be  left 
so  far  out  in  the  cold  that  nothing  less  than  a 
search-warrant  will  find  them  in  time  for  the 
next  round-up.  Unless  they  rouse  themselves 
to  a  sense  of  the  true  condition  of  these  affairs; 
to  the  fact  that,  while  they  have  been  resting 
on  their  old-time  honors  and  laurels,  the  other 
fellows  have  made  ready  to  retire  with  their 
baggage,  cups,  cake  and  all  the  fresher  laurels 
and  honors,  they  are,  indeed,  to  be  commis- 
erated. 

The  zeal  and  spirit  possessed  and  displayed 
by  the  Hereford  men  in  the  last  few  years, 
backed  up  by  plenty  of  money  and  a  few  good 
animals,  will  win  whether  the  Herefords  are 
generally  the  best  cattle  or  not.  The  owners  of 
Shorthorns  owe  it  to  themselves  and  to  the 
great  interest  they  represent  to  make  a  proper 
effort  to  maintain,  at  least,  the  fair  fame  and 
name  of  their  life-long  favorites.  It  can  be 
easily  done,  and  there  will  be  no  better  time  to 
make  a  beginning  in  that  direction  than  now. 
The  competitors  are  already  in  active  motion 
with  a  view  to  coming  out  first  best.  What 
can  the  Shorthorn  men  say  in  response? 

There    ought   to   be   three   hundred   model 


HIST  OK Y  OF  HEBEFQED  CATTLE 


31' 


Shorthorns,  representing  the  herds  of  twenty 
different  states,  at  the  Chicago  Show  of  1882, 
and  five  hundred  in  1883/ 

F.  D.  COBURN, 
Topeka,  Kan. 

AMBROSE  STEVENS  SAYS  "OLD  WAY^S  THE  BEST." 

The  "Kentucky  Live  Stock  Record,"  in  an 
article  on  Cattle  in  America,  says :  "Now,  what 
are  our  resources  for  the  great  improvement  of 
cattle  ?  Mainly  it  rests  with  the  Shorthorns.  Of 
the  improved  breeds  fitted  to  add  to  the  beef 
production,  he  is  now  the  chief  one.  He  exists 
in  so  much  larger  numbers  than  does  any  other 
breed,  that  he  must  of  necessity  be  the  chief 
source  of  reliance  in  improvement,  even  if  it 
be  claimed  that  another  race  was  better.  But 
no  other  race  has  shown  equal  value  in  im- 
proving inferior  cattle.  Seventy  years  since, 
the  Shorthorn  was  only  known  in  a  very  lim- 
ited region  of  his  own  country — England. 
Now  he  dominates  in  it  everywhere,  every 
other  race  as  the  source  of  improvement  of  our 
inferior  cattle.  He  has  been  in  America,  in 
forty  to  fifty  years,  the  chief  source  of  im- 
provement of  our  inferior  cattle.  He  has  in 
this  country  at  present  such  a  lead  as  an  im- 


prover that  no  child  to-day  born  will  see  his 
position  diminished 

"But  there  is  a  movement  to  introduce  more 
largely  the  Hereford  as  a  source  of  improve- 
ment. There  will,  this  year  of  1880,  be  not 
less  than  five  hundred  of  them  imported  to 
America.  We  are  glad  to  see  this.  We  shall 
have  the  Hereford  put  alongside  the  Short- 
horn in  some  measure,  here,  to  show  their  rela- 
tive value.  No  one  who  has  seen  Herefords 
will  deny  their  great  merit  as  beefmakers.  But 
the  question  is,  will  they  make  head  against 
the  Shorthorn  any  better  in  America  than  they 
have  in  England?  In  the  native  home  of  the 
two  races,  the  Shorthorn  has  almost  already 
supplanted  the  Hereford  as  the  source  of  im- 
provement in  market  cattle.  Can  the  Here- 
ford make  head  in  America  against  the  Short- 
horn, while  he  has  failed  to  do  so  in  has  own 
country?  We  think  not."  .... 

Commenting  on  this,  the  "Breeder's  Jour- 
nal" said: 

The  editor  of  the  "L.  S.  Record's"  Cattle  De- 
partment has  been  conversant  with  the  means 
that  have  been  used  to  give  the  Shorthorns 
popularity  in  England  and  America,  and  to  cry 
down  and  write  down  every  other  breed  from 


MISSOURI    FARM    SCENE. 
"Noontifhe." 


• 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


1834  to  this  time.  He  knows  that  Rev.  H. 
Berry  wrote  what  purported  to  be  Youatt's 
History  of  English  Cattle.  He  knows  that 
Rev.  Henry  Berry  was  editor  of  the  "Farmer's 
Magazine"  of  London,  and  a  prominent  Short- 
horn breeder  at  the  same  time.  He  knows  that 
at  this  time  (1834)  the  impartial  historian 


STOCK    BULLS    ON    A    KANSAS    FARM. 
Property  of  the  late  C.  S.  Cross,  Emporia,  Kan. 

could  have  found  material  in  the  record  of  the 
Herefords    that   would   have    placed   them,    in 
England,  so  far  ahead  of  the  Shorthorns  that 
they   (the  Shorthorns)    would  not  have  a  re- 
spectable second-rate  position.    He  knows  that 
the  Shorthorn  breeders  were  the  active  organ- 
izers of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  Eng- 
land in  1839,  and  it  was  organized  for  the  pur- 
pose of  forwarding  the  Shorthorn  interest.  And 
he  knows  that  it  has  been  held  and  worked  by 
the  Shorthorn  breeders  of  England  from  then 
until  now.  He  knows  the  New  York  fair  was  or- 
ganized in  1841  for  the  same  purpose,  and  has 
been  worked  in  that  interest  from  then  until 
now,  and  that  for  a  large  portion  of  that  time 
he  was  an  active  worker  in  that  interest  in  that 
society.     He  knows  that  from  1834,  whenever 
the  Hereford  and  Shorthorn  should  come  into 
fair  contest,  whether  in  England  or  America, 
that  the  Hereford  would  take  the  first  or  top 
place.     Very  few  men  in  America  are  so  fa- 
miliar with  the  process  by  which  the  Short- 
horns have  taken  position  in  this  country  and 
England  as  Ambrose  Stevens,  cattle  editor  of 
the  "Kentucky  Live  Stock  Record" ;   and  still, 
knowing  these  facts,  he  claims  for  them  pre- 
eminence.    There  is  not  a  Shorthorn  breeder 
in  Kentucky  that  dare  bring  their  cattle  to  a 
test  with  the  Herefords.     [And  the  "Journal" 
might  have  added  that  Mr.   Stevens  was  the 
editor  of  the  revised  and  abridged  American 
edition  of  Youatt.— T.  L.  M.] 


IIEKEFOKDS    SPREADING. 

The  American  "Cultivator"  (1883)  said: 
"Though  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle  has 
not  as  yet  been  extensively  introduced  into  this 
section  of  the  country,  its  excellencies  are  com- 
manding the  situation  at  many  other  points, 
notably  in  England,  Australia,  South  America 
and  in  our  western  country.    It  is  a  matter  of 
record  that  not  only  in  the  London  market 
have  they  been  quoted  at  from  one  to  two  cents 
a  pound  above  the  Shorthorns,  but  the  record 
of  the  Smithfield  show  is,  that  the  Hereford 
steer  has  a  record  over  the  Shorthorn,  and  the 
same  record  shows  that  the  Hereford  steer  has 
made  as  good  weights  as  the  Shorthorn  at  any 
given  age.     And  now  the  Bath  and  West  of 
England  Society  has  awarded  the  two  cham- 
pion prizes  for  the  best  male  and  female  in  the 
show,  to  the  Herefords.     Coupling  this  with 
the  fact  that  during  the  same  record  he  has 
always  brought  better  prices,  and  another  es- 
tablished fact  that  he  has  always  been  a  more 
economical  feeder  and  grazier,  is  it  not  strange 
that  the  press  and  agricultural  societies  have 
not  been  more  ready  to  encourage  them? 

"A  recent  sale  of  one  hundred  Hereford 
bulls  in  England  for  shipment  to  the  grazing 
regions  of  Buenos  Ayres  shows  the  estimation 
in  which  this  famous  stock  is  there  held.  The 
Herefords  have  made  more  rapid  progress  in 
public  favor  at  the  west  in  the  last  five  years, 
than  ever  was  made  by  any  other  breed  of  cat- 
tle in  America  in  the  same  time.  In  Colorado 
and  Wyoming  there  are  several  herds  of  from 
30,000  to  70,000  head,  that  are  using  all  the 
Hereford  bulls  they  can  get,  and  already  at  the 
Union  Stock  Yards  at  Chicago  and  at  St.  Louis 
and  Kansas  City  Stock  Yards,  these  steers  are 
commanding  the  top  prices,  while  five  years 
ago  they  were  not  known  in  these  yards.  In 
five  years  more  they  will  be  quoted  at  all  the 
markets,  as  they  have  been  in  the  London 
market  in  England  for  the  last  one  hundred 
years  or  thereabouts. 

"The  Hereford  cattle  are  tough,  hardy  and 
thrive  on  a  diet  both  in  quality  and  quantity 
that  would  be  unprofitable  in  the  Shorthorns. 
The  cattle  are  very  large  sized,  make  excellent 
beef,  are  fair  milkers,  especially  when  crossed 
with  other  kinds,  and  are  withal  quite 
handsome,  being  red  bodied  with  white  mark- 
ings and  white  face,  the  latter  being  an  invari- 
able mark  of  the  kind." 

BUTCHERS    REGULATE    THE    AMOUNT    OF    MEAT 
CONSUMED. 

The  "Pittsburgh  Stockman"  is  a  good  paper 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


319 


for  cattlemen.     The  following  is  from  its  col- 
umns (1880)  : 

"Butchers  regulate,  to  a  greater  extent  than 
most  people  imagine,  the  amount  of  meat  con- 
sumed in  the  city  markets.  Let  the  supplies 
of  stock  be  light  or  liberal,  they  are  in  some 
way  disposed  of,  without  customers  seeming  to 
be  stinted  or  overstocked.  Given  the  same 
number  of  families  to  supply,  the  retailer  will 
work  off  one-half  more  meat  on  them  at  one 
time  than  another.  The  facts  of  the  matter 
are  about  thus:  The  butcher  goes  to  market 
and  finds  cattle  scarce  and  high,  and  is  satisfied 
that  he  cannot  come  out  even  on  his  purchases. 
But  his  trade  must  be  supplied,  and  he  calcu- 
lates his  needs,  selects  a  few  steers,  and  pre- 
pares to  make  a  very  little  beef  go  a  long  ways; 
his  customer  calls  for  two  or  three  pounds  of 


number  in  a  week  of  glutted  markets.  The 
heathen  Chinee  is  not  alone  in  his  peculiarity 
'for  ways  that  are  dark,  and  for  tricks  that  are 
vain.' '; 

JUDGE  JONES,  THE  DOUBTER  (f  207A). 

We  took  the  following  from  the  "Kansas 
Farmer"  (1881),  written  by  the  Shorthorn 
breeder  and  advocate,  Judge  T.  C.  Jones,  of 
Ohio:  "Speaking  of  the  demands  for  Here- 
fords  in  this  country,  Judge  T.  C.  Jones,  writ- 
ing to  the  'London  Live  Stock  Journal/  says 
that  'it  is  to  be  observed,  in  the  first  place,  that 
it  is  of  recent  origin,  that  it  cannot  be  predicted 
what  the  future  of  the  business  will  be,  or 
whether  the  Herefords  will  be  so  well  adapted 
to  the  hardships  and  privations  of  our  wild 
ranges  as  now  anticipated.  The  Hereford 


BARNS    AND    FARMING    LANDS. 
Weavergrace  Farm  of  T.  F.   B.  Sotham,  Chillicothe,  Mo. 


meat,  and  the  piece  is  intentionally  cut  a  half 
pound  lighter  than  ordered,  and  the  buyer 
'makes  it  do.'  Again  he  goes  to  market  and 
finds  it  overstocked.  Cattle  are  plenty  and 
cheap,  and  he  sees  a  good  thing,  buys  heavily, 
and  goes  to  work  to  dispose  of  the  product.  A 
piece  weighing  two  or  three  pounds  is  again 
wanted  at  the  block,  and  by  cutting  a  little 
thicker  three  or  four  pounds  are  handed  over 
to  the  buyer,  who  again  'makes  it  do/  Three 
out  of  four  customers  will  say  nothing  about 
the  extra  pound  or  two,  and  a  skillful  salesman 
will  thus  work  off  hundreds  of  pounds  extra  in 
a  single  day.  The  same  tricks  are  employed  in 
small  stock.  We  have  known  a  single  butcher 
in  this  city,«who  usually  kills  sixty  to  seventy- 
five  sheep  in  a  week,  to  use  nearly  double  that 


breed,  like  other  improved  wild  breeds  of  Brit- 
ish cattle,  has  been  much  improved  of  late 
years,  and  will  not  endure  the  hardships  it  was 
compelled  to  undergo  in  some  quarters  fifty  or 
a  hundred  years  ago;  and  it  is  not  likely  that 
it  will  prove  more  profitable  than  crosses  of 
the  Shorthorn  breed,  under  a  system  which  al- 
lows a  large  percentage  of  the  unimproved 
cattle  of  the  plains  to  perish  from  hunger  and 
the  severity  of  the  cold  every  winter.  It  is, 
moreover,  believed  by  a  majority  of  intelligent 
observers,  that  the  range  method  of  producing 
beef — barbarous  alike  in  its  influence  upon 
man  and  beast — will  prove  an  ephemeral  busi- 
ness. The  grass  in  these  wild  and  unenclosed 
districts  is  scanty  and  really  nutritious  but  a 
few  months  in  the  year,  so  that  vast  ranges 


320 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


are  required — it  is  said  from  three  to  five  acres 
— to  graze  a  single  sheep.  The  most  of  the 
varieties  being  annuals,  the  re-seeding  neces- 
sary is  each  year,  of  course,  diminished  by 
heavy  stocking;  we,  therefore,  have  reports  of 
increasing  scarcity  of  grass  in  all  the  older 
districts.  It  is,  in  fact,  the  general  opinion  of 
men  best  informed  in  regard  to  the  system  of 
beef  production,  that  it  has  already  reached  its 
maximum.' >:  To  which  our  "Breeder's  Jour- 
nal" added  : 
"Judge  Jones  will 
do  well  to  get  as 
well  posted  on 
Herefords  as  on 
Shorthorns,  and 
he  will  then  know 
that  the  Here- 


JOHN    V.    FARWELL. 
Chicago. 


fords     are     doing 
well        on        the 
plains ;   and   that, 
while     Shorthorns 
are    dying,    Here- 
fords     are     thriv- 
ing; and  by  refer- 
ring     to     our 
September     num- 
ber   he    will     see 
that   grade   Here- 
fords  from  the  plains  are  selling  at  $5.25  per 
hundred  pounds,  while  grade  Shorthorns  from 
the  same  range  are  selling  at  $3.60." 

WILLIAM  WARFIELD'S  WARNINGS  (j[208A). 

The  "National  Live  Stock  Journal"  published 
an  article  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Warfield,  of 
Lexington,  Ky.,  the  great  Shorthorn  breeder 
and  advocate.  Mr.  Warfield,  in  answering  his 
own  inquiry,  "Is  the  future  of  the  Shorthorn 
interest  to  be  a  great  one?"  opens  his  article 
as  follows: 

"That  is  a  question  which  has  been  present- 
ing itself  to  my  mind  for  solution  over  and 
over  again  during  the  last  few  months.  Clearly 
its  answer  depends  on  many  things.  But  all 
these  many  cluster  about  and  depend  on  just 
one,  namely,  the  conception  which  Shorthorn 
breeders  have  of  what  Shorthorn  breeding  is — 
what  immediate  purpose  they  have  in  prosecut- 
ing the  work — to  what  ulterior  end  they  make 
it  tend.  In  other  words,  it  is*exceedingly  plain 
that  the  future  of  the  Shorthorn  interest  is 
now  in  a  peculiarly  serious  sense,  in  the  hands 
of  Shorthorn  breeders.  It  will  become  just 
what  they  make  it  become.  And  it  is  not  so 
much  energy  that  is  now  needed  in  them,  as 
intelligence,  wisdom,  and  above  all,  honesty — 


honesty  to  themselves  and  the  interest  in- 
trusted to  their  charge. 

"Breeders  may  determine  that  there  is  noth- 
ing but  money,  and  money  for  them,  to  be  got- 
ten out  of  Shorthorns.  If  so,  the  future  of 
the  interest  is  not  a  bright  one.  Men  will 
begin  to  look  at  everything  from  the  point  of 
view  of  gambling;  will,  if  possible,  rouse  fan- 
cies and  fashions,  for  this  color  or  this  strain, 
which  they  can  supply,  and  having  roused 
them,  will  pander  to  them  and  lose  no  en- 
deavor to  keep  them  at  fever  heat,  and  the  end 
will  be — the  end  of  Shorthorns.  Breeders  in 
this  case  will  be  simply  beasts  of  prey,  preying 
on  the  community.  Their  interests  ought  not 
to  succeed;  and  by  the  stern  logic  of  history, 
which  always  works  itself  out,  their  prosperity 
will  be  feverish  and  very  short-lived.  If  this 
is  what  the  Shorthorn  business  is  to  be  made,  I 
for  one,  want  none  of  it,  and  will  be  among 
the  first  to  cry  out  upon  it,  and  to  help  choke 
it  out,  like  a  noisome  reptile. 

"Breeders  may,  however,  and  doubtless  will 
(I  have  great  confidence  that  they  will)  take 
another  view  of  the  matter.  They  may  remem- 
ber that  beef  is  now  the  real  staff  of  life.  They 
may  remember  that  America  is  to  supply  and 
is  already  beginning  to  supply  the  world  with 
beef.  They  may  remember  that  the  Short- 
horn race  has,  by  constant  proving,  been 
shown  to  be  the  best  beef-producing  race  of 
cattle,  and  that  it  has  in  it  still  further,  per- 
haps indefinite,  capabilities  of  improving  in  the 
same  direction.  And,  remembering  all  this, 
they  may  determine  to  prosecute  the  business, 
because  they  see  in  it  a  livelihood,  and,  may- 
hap, riches;  but  they  will  determine  to  prose- 
cute it  for  this  purpose  and  after  this  fashion, 
viz.,  in '  order  that  they  may  furnish  a  race  of 
stock  that  will  make  the  most  and  best  beef  at 
the  least  cost,  and  so  that  they  may  improve 
the  stock  of  the  country  by  their  breeding.  If 
breeders  look  at  the  matter  in  this  way,  they 
are  benefactors  of  their  country  and  of  the 
world.  Their  efforts  ought  to  succeed,  and  by 
the  fine  logic  of  history  their  prosperity  will  be 
steady  and  long-lived.  In  a  business  point  of 
view,  this  case  differed  from  the  former  one 
exactly  thus:  That  was  the  true  Shorthorn 
policy,  this  is  the  true  long-sighted  policy. 
While  it  is  morally  true,  therefore,  that  there 
is  an  indefinite  deal  more  of  nobility  in  this 
cause  than  in  that,  it  is  equally  economically 
true  that  there  is  an  infinite  deal  more  of 
money  in  it  also.  It  offers  no  sudden  wealth, 
but  it  offers  steady  progress  in  both  kinds  of 
success. 

"This,  then,  is  what  I  mean  by  saying  that 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


321 


it  depends  on  the  conception  of  breeding  taken 
by  breeders,  as  to  what  the  future  of  the  Short- 
horn interest  will  be.  Let  me  refer  before  clos- 
ing to  what  seem  to  me  some  dangers  now 
standing  in  the  road  of  progress  in  the  right 
direction,  or  threatening  to  take  up  position 
there.  And,  first  of  all,  I  would  name  the  in- 
ordinate rage  of  fancy  pedigree — often  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  better  pedigrees.  If  we  were 
to  breed  to  stock  some  nobleman's  park,  with 
slim,  deer-like  fawns,  or  to  tickle  his  fancy 
with  beautifully  printed  lists  of  names  in  royal 
succession,  such  a  rage  would  be  legitimate 
and  correct;  but  if  we  are  to  breed  for  the 
beef-producing  interests  of  America,  where  no 
nobleman  has  a  park,  it  cannot  fail  to  be  ruin- 
ous. Not  approved  paper,  even  though  it 
reach  the  commendation  of  all  experts  (a  thing 
hardly  possible  to  realize),  but  the  butcher's 
block  is  the  true  test  of  a  pedigree;  and  that 
pedigree  is  necessarily  best  which  produces  the 
most  and  best  beef,  not  that  which  has  at- 
tached to  it  the  longest  list  of  'fancy'  names. 
Oh,  that  all  could  come  to  see  this. 

"Next,  the  dangers  from  foolish  fashion 
threatens  us.  The  rage  for  color  is  now  reach- 
ing a  point  which  would  be  laughable  were  it 
not  serious.  Beyond  all  question  roan  is  the 


Shorthorn's  peculium,  beyond  all  question  it  is 
its  covering  of  beauty.  Yet,  imperious  fashion 
demands  a  dark  red,  which  is  correlated  almost 
hopelessly  with  harsh  hair  and  harsh  handling. 
As  a  consequence  hundreds  of  the  best  bulls 
born  are  every  year  sacrificed  on  account  of 
color  alone.  The  moral  is  evident.  Gentle- 
men, if  you  breed  for  color  you  will  get — color; 
but  what  we  want  is  beef.  To  get  it  we  must 
breed  for  it  and  it  alone,  and  cast  off  all  silly 
burdens,  carrying  which,  will  delay  or  hinder 
the  attainment  of  our  one  great  end. 

"I  do  not  mean  the  rise  of  Hereford  or 
Aberdeenshire  interest  as  a  danger  to  the 
Shorthorns.  We  are  alike  laboring  for  the 
same  end,  and  I  welcome  aid  in  beef-producing 
from  all  other  breeds.  The  introduction  of 
these  new  breeds  will  help — not  clog — our 
progress,  and  their  interest  and  ours  need  never 
clash.  They  cannot  clash  unless  one  or  the 
other  of  us  lose  sight  of  our  great  common  end, 
and  seek  to  pander  to  fancy  or  fashion.  I  am 
for  beef,  and  I  am  for  that  breed  which  will 
produce  the  most  and  best  of  it.  That  breed 
I  believe  to  be  the  Shorthorns,  and  on,  I  think, 
thoroughly  tested  grounds;  but  I  welcome  all 
others  to  trial  on  our  broad  pastures.  Short- 
horn breeders  have  not*them  to  fear — they 


SCENE    ON    THE    FARWELL    RANCH,    TEXAS. 
Cows  of  the  T.  L.  Miller  herd  in  early  spring,  after  a  hard  winter. 


322 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


need  fear  only  themselves.  Let  each  ask  him- 
self the  question,  'For  what  am  I  breeding?' 
His  answer  to  that  will  declare  whether  he  be 
an  enemy  or  a  friend  to  the  interest. 

"WILLIAM  WARFIELD." 

IMPORTATION   OF   GUDGELL  &  SIMPSON. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  1882,  Gudgell  & 
Simpson,  of  Independence,  Mo.,  shipped  71 
head  of  thoroughbred  Hereford  cattle  from 


CHAMPION     OX    AT     SMITHFIELD,    1884. 

Cross-bred   Hereford  sire,   Shorthorn  dam.     Age  3  years 

6   months.      Weight    2617    Ibs.      Bred   by    Chas.    Doe, 

Shropshire.    Exhibited  by  R.  Wortley,  Norfolk. 

England  to  quarantine  them  at  Quebec.  They 
came  by  the  way  of  the  steamer  Texas.  Mr. 
Vaughn  was  in  charge  of  these  cattle. — Breed- 
ers' Journal. 

MR.  B.  HERSHEY'S  IMPORTATION. 

"Wallace's  Monthly"  has  the  following  to  say 
of  an  importation  of  Hereford  cattle:  "Our 
friend,  Mr.  B.  Hershey,  of  Muscatine,  la.,  has 
been  across  the  water  and  has  made  a  large  im- 
portation of  Hereford  cattle,  numbering  some 
sixty  odd  heifers,  and  eight  or  ten  young  bulls. 
They  were  selected  under  his  own  eye,  and  the 
best  of  judges  who  saw  them  on  their  arrival  at 
Quebec,  pronounced  them  a  very  choice  lot. 
The  special  object  in  going  so  largely  into  this 
breed  is  their  supposed  better  adaption  of  the 
vicissitudes  of  ranch  life  on  the  plains.  It  is 
claimed  that  the  comparison  between  this 
breed  and  the  Shorthorns,  on  the  plains,  has 
been  fully  made  and  satisfactorily  settled,  and 
that  the  Herefords  are  altogether  better.  This 
corresponds  with  our  own  judgment  of  the  two 
breeds.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  that  as  a  tribe', 
they  possess  more  vigorous  constitutions  and 
are  better  able  to  take  care  of  themselves  than 
the  Shorthorns,  but  an  intimation  of  this  kind 
to  a  Shorthorn  man  is  like  intimating  to  Char- 
ley Poster  that  some  of  the  Lexingtons  have 
gone  blind,  and  he  hurls  back  at  you.  such 


choice  epithets  as  'blockhead,'  'ignoramus/ 
'fool,'  and  every  other  pet  name  short  of 
'thief.'  Both  breeds  have  been  tried  on  the 
plains,  and  after  trial,  the  verdict  is  all  against 
Shorthorns,  and  all  in  favor  of  Herefords?' 

T.  L.  MILLER'S  IMPORTATION. 

The  second  importation  of  Hereford  cattle 
by  T.  L.  Miller  consisted  of  114  head.  We 
went  to  England  in  May,  1880,  and  after  visit- 
ing the  principal  Hereford  cattle  breeders,  pur- 
chased during  the  month  of  June.  We  re- 
turned to  the  United  States  on  July  1st,  and 
visited  Washington  and  had  an  interview  with 
Secretary  Sherman  and  the  President,  with  a 
view  to  have  the  rule  modified,  that  required 
ninety  days  quarantine  from  the  date  of  land- 
ing of  the  cattle  in  America,  but  failed  to  reach 
any  modification  of  existing  orders.  After- 
ward the  time  of  quarantine  was  changed  to 
ninety  days  from  date  of  shipment  of  cattle. 

We  then  returned  to  England,  shipped  the 
cattle  on  the  19th  of  September,  via  steamer 
Gallian,  Capt.  Moen,  Master,  to  Baltimore. 
They  were  taken  in  clean  box  cars  from  the 
dock  to  the  eight  hundred  acre  farm  belonging 
to  the  B.  &  0.  R.  R.,  seven  miles  out.  Here 
they  remained  three  months,  under  the  care  of 
Mr.  Thos.  Smith  (fi  209A),  who  went  from  our 
farm  to  England  to  take  charge  of  the  ship- 
ment. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  quarantine,  Mr. 
T.  E.  Miller  went  to  Baltimore  to  bring  the 
cattle  home.  The  cattle  were  loaded,  at  a 
private  side  track  on  the  farm — from  a  stock 
yard  built  for  the  occasion,  into  clean  new  box 
cars.  The  B.  &  0.  road  sent  the  train  through- 
to  Chicago  as  a  special,  on  fast  passenger  train 
time,  running  a  half  hour  behind  their  fast 
"Oyster  Express,"  and  ahead  of  their  through 
passenger  train.  The  train  started  at  2:30 
p.  M.  Saturday,  September  8th,  for  Illinois  and 
reached  the  farm  at  Beecher,  where  all  were 
comfortably  stabled  by  Monday  evening,  Janu- 
ary 10th. 

Thus  these  cattle  were  moved  by  a  special 
train  from  Leominster,  England,  to  a  steamer 
at  Bristol,  and  put  directly  from  the  cars  upon 
the  steamer,  and  upon  arrival  at  Baltimore 
kept  entirely  away  from  any  other  stock,  and 
the  same  plan  was  pursued  until  the  arrival  at 
Beecher.  On  the  whole  route  of  5,000  miles 
they  never  were  in  public  shipping  yard  or 
highway,  never  an  animal  sick,  and  arrived  at 
their  destination  in  as  good  condition  as 
though  they  had  been  quietly  on  the  farm. 

Captain  Moen  was  to  be  especially  com- 
mended for  his  care  in  commanding  his  steam- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


323 


er,  through  a  very  rough  voyage  that  came 
during  the  equinox.  In  the  heaviest  weather 
he  put  his  steamer  about,  and  ran  back  for 
twenty-four  hours  to  ease  the  cattle  from  the 
effect  of  the  very  heavy  sjea.  —  Breeders' 
Journal. 

EARL  &  STUART  IMPORTATION. 

The  Breeders'  Journal  said:  "A  large  im- 
portation of  Hereford  cattle  was  made  by  Thos. 
Clark  for  Earl  &  Stuart  of  Lafayette,  Indiana, 
and  himself.  They  were  shipped  from  Liver- 
pool to  Portland,  Maine,  on  March  9,  1882. 

In  the  lot  are  fourteen  animals  from  the 
herd  of  Messrs.  J.  B.  &  G.  H.  Green,  (ffff  210A- 
211A)  Marlow  Lodge,  Leintwardine,  England. 
Four  from  the  herd  of  John  Price,  (f  212A)  of 
Court  House,  Pembridge,  England.  Two 
from  the  herd  of  T.  Lewis,  (J[  213A)  the 
Woodhouse,  Hooden,  Herefordshire,  England. 
Four  females  bred  from  the  old  Wm.  Tudge 
(fl  216A)  herd  of  Adforton,  were  purchased 
from  Mr.  John  Williams  (fl  213B)  of  Llansan- 
nor  Court,  Cowbridge,  Glamorganshire.  Five 
cows  and  calves  from  the  herd  of  Mr.  Phillip 
Turner,  (ff  214 A)  The  Leen,  Pembridge,  Eng- 
land. Eight  heifers  from  the  herd  of  Mr.  J. 
Morris,  (ff  21 5  A)  Lulham,  Madley.  The 
largest  draft  from  one  herd  was  twenty-six 
animals  from  Mr.  T.  J.  Carwardine  (ff  217A), 
Stocktonbury,  Leominster,  Eng.  To  mention 
all  the  animals  would  not  be  possible  in  the 
space  allotted  to  this  subject.  Venus  (V  12, 


P152)    10033   by    Lord  Wilton   (1j  218A)   was 
considered  the  plum  of  the  whole  collection. 

MR.  ADAMS  EARL'S  IMPORTATION. 
The  "Breeders'  Journal"  said,  in  1881 :  Mr. 
Adams  Earl  of  Lafayette,  Ind.,  made  an  im- 
portation of  a  choice  herd  of  Herefords  this 
year,  and  had  at  the  head  of  his  herd  the  two- 
year-old  bull  Grateful  2d,  got  by  Mr.  Aaron 
Roger's  (fl  219)  old  bull  Grateful,-  which  has 
stood  at  the  head  of  all  breeds  in  England  for 
some  time  past.  Mr.  Earl's  herd  has  come  over 
in  good  condition,  and  are  very  choice  animals. 

MR.  ii.  c.  BURLEIGH'S  IMPORTATION. 

The  "Breeders'  Journal"  said  in  1880 :  Mr. 
H.  C.  Burleigh,  of  Fairfield,  Maine,  has  selected 
for  himself  and  Mr.  J.  R.  Bodwell,  of  Maine, 
fifty-three  head  of  Hereford  cattle,  from  the 
herds  of  Queen  Victoria,  T.  Duckham,  T.  J. 
Carwardine,  (fl  220A)  P.  Turner,  W.  S.  Powell, 
A.  Rogers,  W.  Price,  A.  P.  Turner,  (fl  221A) 
and  B.  Rogers  (fl  222A).  The  above-named 
parties  are  among  the  best  breeders  in  England. 
Mr.  Burleigh  has  been  a  breeder  of  Herefords 
for  many  years.  He  has  been  a  successful 
breeder  and  exhibitor.  This  purchase  will  place 
his  herd  among  the  first  on  this  side  of  the 
water.  Besides  the  Herefords,  Mr.  Burleigh 
has  brought  over  a  few  Shropshire  Down  sheep. 
Mr.  Burleigh  spent  several  weeks  in  the  West 
looking  for  Herefords  before  he  went  to  Eng- 
land. 


CHAMPION     STEER,    ROAN     BOY. 

Bred  by  C.   M.   Culbertson,   Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show,  1883. 
Sire  a  Hereford  bull,  dam  a  grade  Shorthorn  cow. 


324 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

HEREFORD  ITEMS  IN  THE  EARLY  EIGHTIES — CONCLUDED 


HEREFORD  COW  LEONORA. 

Taken  from  the  "Breeders'  Journal/'  1880: 
The  Hereford  cow  Leonora,  belonging  to  Mrs. 
S.  Edwards,  (fl  223A)  of  Hereford,  England, 
was  injured  on  her  return  from  the  Smithfield 
Show,  so  that  it  became  necessary  to  kill  her. 
We  are  not  aware  of  the  reasons  that  induced 
Mrs.  Edwards  to  fit  and  show  this  cow,  and 
several  others  that  she  has  fitted  and  shown  in 
the  last  five  years.  Of  one  thing  it  is  quite 
certain,  that  she  has  given  herself  a  large  repu- 
tation in  the  cattle  world,  but  three  or  four 
more  good  cows  have  been  lost  to  her  herd. 

This  has  been  the  practice  of  the  Shorthorn 
breeders  in  England  and  America,  of  fitting 
their  best  heifers  for  the  show  ring,  and  keep- 
ing them  there  as  long  as  they  could  walk.  A 
few  years  since,  one  such  was  kept  in  the  show 
ring  so  long  she  could  not  walk — having  a 
carriage  built  in  which  she  could  ride  from 
the  cars  to  the  show  ground — and  such  an 
animal  was  exhibited  as  a  breeding  cow,  and 
for  breeding  purposes,  and  awarded  first  hon- 
ors. Such  awards,  on  such  animals,  have  been 
published  as  an  evidence  of  merit  for  the  breed, 
and  it  is  not  two  years  since  a  prominent  advo- 
cate of  the  Shorthorn  interest  pointed  to  these 
awards  and  challenged  the  Hereford  breeders 
to  show  their  cows  in  competition  with  them. 

There  was  a  necessity,  apparently,  why  Mrs. 
Edwards  should  bring  the  pick  of  her  herd  to 
the  show  ring,  and  that  the  Hereford  cow 
Jennie  should  come  upon  the  show  ground  at 
Chicago  and  vindicate  and  sustain  the  charac- 
ter of  the  Herefords  for  superiority  as  well  in 
the  cow  as  in  the  steer  class.  This  has  been 
done  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  and  the 
two  winning  cows  pronounced  the  best  of  any 
breed  that  has  been  exhibited.  The  cow  Leon- 
ora in  England  and  the  cow  Jennie  in  America 
have  vindicated  the  character  of  the  Hereford 
breed. 

We  give  herewith  the  winnings  of  Leonora. 
In  Mr.  Miller's  recent  purchases  in  England  he 
bought  a  half  brother  and  a  half  sister  of  this 


cow.  Leonora,  bred  by  Mrs.  Sarah  Edwards, 
widow  of  the  late  T.  Edwards  (fl  224A),  of 
Leominster,  calved  August  llth,  1875,  was  the 
winner  of  the  following  prizes:  Second  prize 
at  Birmingham,  1876;  first  prize  at  Liverpool, 
1877;  first  prize  at  Bristol,  1878;  first  prize 
and  champion  prize  for  best  Hereford  female 
(fl  225A)  at  London,  1879;  meetings  of  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England :  first 
prize  as  one  of  a  pair  at  Hereford,  1876;  first 
prize  at  Bath,  1877;  first  prize  and  champion 
prize  for  the  best  female  in  the  yard  at  Oxford, 
1878;  first  prize  at  Exeter,  1879;  meetings  of 
the  Bath  and  West  of  England  Agricultural  So- 
ciety: first  prize  and  champion  prize  for  the 
best  female  in  the  yard  at  Hereford,  1877;  first 
prize  and  champion  prize  for  the  best  Hereford 
female,  also  champion  prize  for  the  best  female 
in  the  yard  at  Kingston,  1878;  first  prize  and 
champion  prize  for  best  female,  also  champion 
prize  for  the  best  animal  in  the  yard  at  Here- 
ford, 1879;  meetings  of  the  Herefordshire 
Agricultural  Society:  first  prize  as  one  of  a 
pair  at  Owestry,  1878;  first  prize  and  champion 
prize  as  one  of  a  pair,  also  champion  prize  for 
the  best  Hereford  female  in  the  yard  at  Lud- 
low,  1878;  first  prize  at  Shrewsbury,  1879; 
meetings  of  the  Shropshire  and  West  Midland 
Agricultural  Society:  first  prize  at  Kidder- 
minster, 1877;  first  prize  and  champion  prize 
for  the  best  cow  or  heifer  in  the  yard,  also 
champion  prize  for  the  best  animal  in  the  yard 
at  Malvern,  1879;  meetings  of  the  Worcester- 
shire Agricultural  Society:  first  prize  at  Durs- 
ley,  1877;  first  prize  at  Cheltenham,  1879; 
meetings  of  the  Gloucestershire  Agricultural 
Society:  first  prize  and  champion  prize  for  the 
best  female  in  the  yard  at  Newport,  (Lord 
Tredegar's  show)  1877,  1878;  first  prize  as 
one  of  four  at  Leominster  and  Ludlow,  1876; 
first  prize  as  one  of  a  pair,  and  champion  prize 
as  the  best  animal  in  the  yards  at  Leominster 
and  Ludlow,  1877;  first  prize  and  champion 
prize  for  the  best  animal  in  the  yard  at  Lud- 
low, 1879;  first  prize  and  champion  prize  for 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


325 


the  best  Hereford  at  Birmingham  (fat  show), 
1879;  first  prize  and  champion  prize  for  the 
best  Hereford  at  the  Smithfield  club  (fat 
show),  London,  1879.  Total  of  her  winnings, 
$3,250. 

FIVE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  BUTCHER'S  PRIZE.      (AN 
OPEN   LETTER.) 

No.  3  Board  of  Trade  Bldg., 

Chicago,  111.,  Sept.  25. 

"To  Whom  it  May  Concern:  Some  of  the 
breeders  of  Hereford  cattle  have  subscribed 
$500,  which  they  have  directed  me  to  deposit 
with  the  treasurer  of  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock 
Show,  to  be  called  'The  Butcher's  Prize/  The 
donors  have  also  instructed  me  to  issue  an 
open  invitation  to  the  parties  engaged  in  rais- 
ing the  fund  for  the  best  Shorthorn  steer  at 
the  Fat  Stock  Show,  and  to  any  and  all  per- 
sons interested  in  breeding  or  owning  Short- 
horn cattle,  to  deposit  an  equal  sum  of  $500 
with  said  treasurer  of  the  Fat  Stock  Show, 
the  whole  sum,  $1,000,  to  be  awarded  to  the 
best  butchers'  carcass  among  the  breeds  en- 
tered for  the  'Butcher's  Prize'  at  the  next  Fat 
Stock  Show  in  Chicago,  November  16  to  23, 
1882.  The  contest  for  said  Butcher's  Prize 
shall  be  governed  by  the  following  conditions: 
(ff  226A)  First,  all  animals  entered  must  be 
pure  bred,  or  grades  not  less  than  half  blood. 
Second,  all  animals  contesting  must  be  slaugh- 
tered at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  at  such  time  as  the 
managers  of  the  show  shall  set  apart.  Third, 
the  slaughtering  of  each  animal  entered  and  the 
award  of  the  Butcher's  Prize  shall  be  made  by  a 
practical  butcher  or  by  a  committee  of  practical 
butchers  to  be  selected  by  the  following  ref- 
erees: John  B.  Sherman,  Superintendent  of 
the  Union  Stock  Yards;  Wm.  H.  Monroe,  a 
regular  buyer  for  eastern  and  foreign  markets; 
and  John  Adams,  a  regular  commission  sales- 
man of  Chicago.  The  names  of  the  judges 
selected  shall  not  be  made  public  until  after 
the  2d  day  of  November,  1882.  Any  two 
of  the  three  referees  above  named  may  act  in 
the  absence  of  third,  and  shall  make  the  selec- 
tion of  the  judges  as  above,  and  in  case  two  of 
said  referees  are  absent  then  the  third  shall 
select  two  reputable  Stock  Yards  commission 
merchants  to  act  as  referees,  and  they  shall  then 
select  the  judge.  Fourth,  the  invitation  is 
also  extended  to  animals  of  the  polled  breed, 
Devons,  and  all  other  breeds  of  beef  cattle, 
pure  breeds  or  grade  not  less  than  half  bloods, 
upon  their  owners  or  representatives  depositing 
a  like  sum  of  $500  for  each  or  either  breed 
with  said  treasurer  of  the  Fat  Stock  Show,  the 


whole  to  be  governed  by  the  conditions  of  the 
invitation. 

"Fifth,  the  said  sum  or  sums  of  five  hundred 
dollars  must  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  said 
treasurer  of  the  Fat  Stock  Show  on  or  before 
the  first  day  of  November,  1882,  and  said  de- 
posit must  be  accompanied  by  a  written  notice 
of  the  acceptance  of  this  invitation,  which 
notice  must  designate  the  name  of  the  breed  in 
whose  behalf  the  invitation  is  accepted,  and  a 
copy  of  said  written  notice  must  be  at  the  same 
time  mailed  to  the  undersigned.  Sixth,  all 
matters  of  dispute,  whether  involving  the  con- 
struction of  this  invitation,  or  any  question 
growing  out  of  this  invitation,  shall  be  referred 
to  said  referees,  whose  decision  shall  be  final. 
Seventh,  when  the  judge  or  judges  appointed 
by  said  referees  shall  have  arrived  at  a  conclu- 
sion, they  shall  make  their  decision  known  to 
said  referees,  who  shall  announce  in  writing 
over  their  own  signatures  the  winner  or  win- 
ners of  said  Butcher's  Prize,  and,  upon  pre- 


BENTON'S     CHAMPION. 

Bred  by  Fowler  &  Van  Natta.    A  champion  at  the  Chicago 
Fat  Stock  Show,  1883. 

sentation  of  said  certificate,  the  treasurer  is 
authorized  to  pay  over  to  said  winner  or  win- 
ners said  sum  or  sums  of  money  so  deposited 
as  aforesaid,  after  deducting  any  necessary  ex- 
penses of  said  contest.  Eighth,  all  entries  for 
the  Butcher's  Prize  must  be  made  to  said  treas- 
urer of  said  show  in  writing  on  or  before  the 
1st  day  of  November,  1882,  together  with  the 
name  of  owner,  name  and  breed  of  entry,  with 
the  age  in  years,  months  and  days  as  nearly  as 
possible,  and  a  full  statement  of  the  breeding 
of  each  animal.  Should  this  invitation  not  be 
accepted  in  accordance  with  requirement,  then 
said  sum  of  $500  shall  be  held  by  said  treasurer 
to  be  awarded  to  the  best  Hereford  carcass, 
pure  bred  or  grade  not  less  than  half  blood. 
The  contest  and  award  shall  be  made  at  the 
time  and  under  the  conditions  above  set  out, 


w  oi 

E« 


05  • 

w  ^ 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


327 


except  that  the  entries  shall  be  made  in  writing 
to  the  said  treasurer  on  or  before  the  IGth  day 
of  November,  1882.  Should  there  be  no  entries 
for  said  Butcher's  Prize,  then  the  said  treasurer 
shall  hold  said  money  subject  to  the  order  of 
.tha  undersigned.  C.  M.  CULBERTSON, 

"President  American  Hereford  Association." 
"Mr.  C.  M.  Culbertson,  above  named,  has 
this  day  deposited  with  the  undersigned,  treas- 
urer of  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show,  the  sum 
of  $500,  to  be  called  the  'Butcher's  Prize,'  as 
stated  in  the  above  invitation,  a  copy  of  which 
invitation  has  also  been  placed  in  my  hands. 

"JOHN  W.  BUNN. 
"Dated  at  Peoria,  Sept.  25th,  1882." 

RISE   AND   PROGRESS   OF   THE    HEREFORDS. 

Taken  from  the  Chicago  "Daily  Tribune," 
December  30,  1882:  "There  is,  in  the  rapidity 
with  which  the  Herefords  have  spread  over  this 


they  carried  off  three  of  the  four  butchers' 
prizes  awarded  at  the  last  Fat  Stock  Show, 
fairly  indicates  the  general  superiority  of  the 
Herefords,  cannot  very  well  be  gainsaid,  until 
some  proof  to  the  contrary  shall  have  been  fur- 
nished. The  fact  that  many  Herefords  were 
slaughtered  at  that  show,  while  but  few  Short- 
horns were  killed,  will  not  be  accepted  by  those 
people  who  know  that  the  total  number  of 
Hereford  cattle  available  for  such  a  test  is  com- 
paratively small,  while  the  Shorthorns  number 
many  thousands.  Aberdeen- Angus,  Galloways, 
Norfolk  and  Suffolk  polls,  and  other  recog- 
nized breeds  are  not  expected  to  appear  in 
competition  as  yet,  since  there  are  few  cattle 
of  those  breeds  which  can  be  spared  for  slaugh- 
ter. 

"If  the  ensuing  year  does  not  bring  out 
Shorthorns  which  can  bear  off  the  honors  from 
the  Herefords,  in  this  the  final  test  of  the  value 


HEREFORD.  SHORTHORN. 

Competing   steers   and    comparative   types,    Smithfield    winners.   1879. 


country  in  the  last  five  or  six  years,  something 
which  is,  if  not  marvelous,  at  least  as  remark- 
able as  it  must  be  gratifying  to  the  champions 
of  that  magnificent  breed  of  cattle.  How  much 
of  this  has  been  due  to  the  persistent  and  pug- 
nacious use  of  the  press  cannot,  of  course,  be 
definitely  ascertained,  but  without  great  merit 
to  warrant  the  claims  put  forth  by  friends  of 
the  breed  it  is  quite  certain  it  could  never  have 
gained  the  place  it  now. occupies  as  the  favorite 
on  many  a  ranch  in  the  West,  and  as  a  highly 
prized  and  profitable  breed  on  the  farms  of  the 
fertile  Middle  and  Western  States. 

"In  their  determination  to  accept  no  second 
place  on  the  list  of  beef-making  breeds,  and 
the  fierceness  of  their  onslaughts  upon  all  rival 
breeds,  the  Hereford  breeders  give  abundant 
evidence  as  to  the  faith  that  is  in  them.  It 
cannot  be  denied  that  they  have  made  a  very 
creditable  show  of  a  right  to  the  first  place. 
Their  claim,  that  the  success  they  met  when 


of  a  beef  bullock,  many  who  are  now  undecided 
will  conclude  that,  how  smooth  and  beautiful 
soever  the  Shorthorn  may  be,  he  lacks  the 
ability  to  make,  when  highly  finished,  the  best 
and  most  profitable  beef.  That  the  Hereford 
can  scarcely  be  surpassed  in  ability  to  with- 
stand hardship  is  well  known;  that  he  will 
make  a  fair  return  for  any  amount  of  care, 
however  slight,  has  been  abundantly  shown  by 
experience.  That  the  breeders  of  Herefords 
are  content  to  rest  their  case  upon  the  single 
argument  of  the  superiority  of  their  favorites 
as  beef  producers,  as  do  the  friends  of  the 
Scotch  cattle,  and  do  not  think  it  necessary 
to  add  the  claim  that  they  are  good  milk  and 
butter  producers,  will  be  by  some,  especially, 
perhaps  by  the  cattlemen  of  the  plains,  con- 
sidered additional  proof  of  the  confidence  of 
the  Hereford  breeders  in  the  strength  of  their 
cause. 

"Whatever  the  outcome  of  the  contest  may 


328 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


be  between  the  two  breeds,  one  result  may  be 
counted  upon  as  certain;  the  scrub  will  be,  ere 
long,  driven  almost  completely  out  of  sight 
and  out  of  mind.  Although  the  Hereford  s 
and  the  Shorthorns  have  locked  horns  with  no 
such  purpose  definitely  in  view,  the  result  will 
be  the  same  as  though  they  had  combined  their 
forces  to  push  the  scrub  from  the  field." 

HEREFORDS  NET  TO  GROSS. 

Taken  from  the  "Breeders'  Journal,"  April, 
1882 :    The  five  steers  winning  the  sweepstakes 


JOHN     SCHARBAUER,    MIDLAND,    TEXAS. 

and    his   favorite    bull,    valued    at   $5,000,    Sir   James   65916, 

by  Corrector. 

prize  offered  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  last  fall 
by  Marshall  Field  for  best  five  steers  in  the 
show,  and  won  by  the  T.  L.  Miller  Company, 
of  Beecher,  111/,  were  sold  to  Wm.  Smith  &  Son, 
of  Detroit,  and  slaughtered  by  them  for  Christ- 
mas market.  They  made  the  following  record: 


Dressed  Meat     Beef  and 
to  Valuable 

Gross  Weight.      Offal. 

'Conqueror,"      dressed 69.13% 

•Will,"  dressed 68.13% 

'Kansas,"  dressed 68.09% 

'Bachelor,"         dressed 66.72% 


83.84% 
83.66% 
86.44% 
83.49% 
81.68% 


'Washington,"  dressed 66.05% 

SOME  GOOD  HEREFORD  GAINS. 

"The  monthly  gain  of  some  of  T.  L.  Miller's 
Herefords,  that  are  in  training  for  the  Chicago 
Fat  Stock  Christmas  Show  of  1880,  makes 
quite  a  favorable  showing.  Much  is  being  said 
about  one  of  John  B.  Sherman's  two-year-old 
Shorthorn  steers  gaining  120  Ibs.  last  month. 
Mr.  Watson  says  he  can  beat  that,  as  last  month 
Maid  of  Orleans,  two  years  old,  packed  on  140 
Ibs. ;  Conqueror,  22  months  old,  122  Ibs. ;  Bach- 
elor, same  age,  110  Ibs.,  and  Tom  Smith,  23 
months,  106  Ibs.  How's  that  for  an  average  of 
Herefords  ?" — Breeders'  Journal. 

MARSHALL    FIELD    PRIZE. 

Taken  from  the  Chicago  "Evening  Journal" : 
"There  was  more  than  usual  interest  manifest- 


ed in  the  Fat  Stock  Show,  although  the  storm 
had  the  effect  of  keeping  many  away  that 
would  have  wished  to  attend.  The  great  fea- 
ture was  the  competition  for  the  $250  prize 
offered  by  Marshall  Field  for  the  best  five  head 
of  cattle  of  any  age  or  breed.  Six  herds  were 
entered  by  the  following  gentlemen:  T.  W. 
Hunt,  Ashton,  111.;  John  B.  Sherman,  Chi- 
cago, 111.;  J.  D.  Gillette,  Elkhart,  111.;  T.  L. 
Miller,  Beecher,  111.;  Morrow  &  Muir,  and  II. 
C.  Nelson.  Mr.  Miller's  Herefords  carried  the 
day,  the  prize  being  awarded  to  him.  There 
was  no  little  jubilation  over  the  result  among 
the  believers  in  Hereford  stock,  which  they  say 
has  risen  in  value  100  per  cent  with  this  vic- 
tory. Outside  of  this  contest  there  was  no  par- 
ticular feature  of  interest  in  the  show  to-day, 
except  what  has  been  seen  during  the  week." 

IMPORTATION     OF     IIEREFORDS     IN     1883. 

"While  many  Herefords  were  imported  in 
1883  to  our  different  quarantine  stations  in  the 
United  States,  namely  Baltimore,  New  York, 
Boston  and  Portland,  there  were  still  more 
brought  to  Quebec,  Canada.  By  a  ruling  of 
the  United  States  Treasury  Department,  cattle 
for  importation  into  the  United  States  were 
allowed  to  be  held  the  ninety  days  required, 
on  Canadian  soil.  The  following  importations 
were  sent  to  Quebec: 

"Geo.  Leigh  (ff  227A)  imported  that  year  in 
steamer  Texas  fifty-six  head  of  Herefords,  sail- 
ing April  21st  from  Liverpool.  Gudgell  & 
Simpson  brought  over  twenty  Herefords  in  the 
same  steamer.  M.  H.  Cochrane  shipped  105 
head  on  the  steamer  Quebec,  sailing  May  19. 
C.  W.  Cook  (fl  228 A)  of  Odebolt,  Iowa,  (firm  o£ 
C.  W.  Cook  &  Sons)  (flfl  229 A  and  230A),  im- 
ported 300  head  of  Hereford  cattle  on  the 
steamer  Quebec,  sailing  from  Liverpool  June 
30th.  Mr.  Cook's  cattle  were  selected  from 
numerous  herds  by  Mr.  Conant,  of  Illinois, 
who  had  entire  charge  of  the  shipment,  both 
on  the  ocean  and  in  quarantine.  Thos.  Brit- 
tian  imported  thirty-seven  and  H.  C.  Burloigh 
imported  186  head  of  Herefords  on  the  steamer 
Texas,  leaving  Liverpool  on  August  1  for 
Quebec.  T.  L.  Miller  imported  108  head  of 
Herefords  on  the  steamship  Mississippi,  sailing 
from  Liverpool  August  18th.  Geo.  Leigh  im- 
ported 135  Herefords  on  the  steamer  Texas, 
sailing  from  Liverpool  September  12th.  C.  M. 
Culbertson  imported  115  Herefords  on  the 
steamer  Texas,  sailing  September  12th,  from 
Liverpool." — Breeders'  Journal. 

TESTIMONIAL     HERD. 

Looking  back  as  we  write,  the  author  cannot 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


329 


but  reflect  that  there  are  some  parts  of  the 
road  which  we  have  traveled,  in  trying  to  ad- 
vance the  beef  interest  of  America,  to  which 
we  can  look  back  with  undisguised  pleasure. 
A  man  is  to  be  commended  for  his  efforts  to 
make  "two  blades  of  grass  grow  where  one  grew 
before/'  but  many  times  he  does  not  have  his 
efforts  appreciated.  We  cannot  pass  the  in- 
cident of  the  presentation  of  a  testimonial  from 
the  English  Hereford  cattle  breeders,  without 
expressing  our  gratification  that  our  efforts  to 
give  the  Hereford  cattle  their  proper  position 
was  appreciated  by  our  English  friends.  The 
following  letter  from  the  Hon.  Thos.  Duckham 
to  the  "Hereford  Times"  was  no  doubt  the  be- 
ginning of  the  movement  that  culminated  in 
1883.  After  the  opening  of  the  letter,  in 
speaking  of  the  growing  popularity  of  the 
Herefords,  he  says: 

"I  must  say  that  the  meed  of  praise  is  due 
to  T.  L.  Miller,  of  Beecher,  Will  County,  Illi- 
nois, U.  S.  A.,  whose  untiring  perseverance  in 
the  cause  merits  every  feeling  of  gratitude 
which  the  breeders  of  Herefords  can  award 
him. 

"Not  only  has  Mr.  Miller  patronized  the 
Hereford  by  establishing  the  largest  and,  I 
think  I  may  add,  the  best  herd  of  Herefords 


in  the  United  States,  but  he  has  so  placed  them 
before  the  stock  owners  of  that  great  country, 
at  the  various  exhibitions  and  by  his  sound 
judgment,  untiring  perseverance,  great  talent 
as  a  writer  and  great  influence  as  a  gentleman 
of  position;  he  has  claimed  for  them  (and  to  a 
certain  extent  successfully)  a  front  rank  in  the 
great  state  exhibitions  of  the  United  States. 
It  was  Mr.  Miller  who  protested  against  send- 
ing his  Herefords  to  the  International  Exhi- 
bition at  Philadelphia  in  1876  unless  an  Eng- 
lish judge  was  selected  to  aid  in  awarding  the 
premiums,  which  protest  resulted  in  my  being 
sent  out  by  the  British  Commission.  It  was 
Mr.  Miller  who  first  introduced  the  Herefords 
into  the  far  West  to  improve  the  vast  herds  ID 
the  Western  states.  It  was  Mr.  Miller  who  re- 
solved to  obtain  the  necessary  information  and 
publish  a  Herd  Book  for  Hereford  cattle  in 
America.  It  was  Mr.  Miller  who,  knowing  the 
value  of  the  press  in  the  promotion  of  any 
great  object,  established  a  paper  in  the  interest 
of  Herefords. 

"Knowing  all  this,  from  many  years  of  cor- 
respondence with  that  gentleman,  I  feel  that  I 
should  be  wanting  in  a  proper  discharge  of 
duty  to  him  if  I  did  not  place  those  facts 
before  your  readers.  I  may  add  further,  that 


HFHEFORDS     IN    ARIZONA. 


330 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Mr.  Miller  was  here  in  June  last,  when  he  pur- 
chased about  100  of  our  far-famed,  red-with- 
white-faces,  and  although  far  past  the  meridian 
of  life,  he  hastened  back  to  use  his  best  en- 
deavors to  obtain  a  removal  of  the  restrictions 
of  a  ninety  days'  quarantine,  imposed  upon 
that  side,  upon  animals  imported  from  this 
country.  I  fear  his  usual  success  has  not  at- 
tended his  efforts  in  that  direction,  and  I  hear 
he  is  now  returning,  if  not  returned  to  Eng- 
land, to  arrange  for  shipping  his  purchases. 


EX-GOVERNOR    S.    B.    PACKARD,  • 
Marshalltown,    Iowa. 

"There  are  several  breeders  of  Herefords  in 
the  United  States  of  much  longer  standing 
than  Mr.  Miller,  but  it  was  left  to  him  to  bring 
them  to  the  front  in  the  manner  in  which  they 
are  now  brought.  Mr.  Miller  only  commenced 
as  a  Hereford  breeder  in  1871.  In  1872  his 
then  partner,  Mr.  Powell,  a  Herefordshire 
man,  came  to  England  and  purchased  a  few 
Herefords,  among  them  the  handsome  youifg 
cow  Dolly  Varden,  bred  by  Mr.  Morris,  Town 
House,  Madley,  and  her  two  offspring.  Mr. 
Powell  soon  entered  upon  another  business, 
and  Mr.  Miller  was  most  fortunate  in  securing 
the  assistance  of  one  so  thoroughly  conversant 
with  the  management  of  a  herd  as  Mr.  George 
F.  Morgan. 

"The  excellence  of  Mr.  Miller's  herd  which 
he  sent  to  the  International  Exhibition,  and 


the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Morgan  brought 
them  out  and  placed  them  before  the  judges, 
were  themes  of  admiration  to  all  who  beheld 
them.  After  I  discharged  my  duties  at  that 
exhibition,  I  visited  Mr.  Miller  and  numerous 
other  Hereford  breeders  in  order  that  I  might 
make  their  personal  acquaintance  and  see  how 
the  various  herds  acclimated,  but  at  no  place 
did  I  see  them  so  admirably  managed  as  those 
under  Mr.  Morgan's  care  on  Mr.  Miller's  farm. 

"I  would  here  respectfully  suggest  that  the 
Hereford  breeders  pay  some  compliment  to 
Mr.  Miller  when  he  returns  to  this  country,  in 
acknowledgment  of  the  very  valuable  assist- 
ance he  has  rendered  to  them  in  creating  a 
demand  for  their  pedigree  animals,  which,  al- 
though of  great  and  unprecedented  proportion, 
is  now  only  in  its  infancy. 

T.  DUCKHAM. 

Baysham  Court,  Ross,  England. 
Aug.  17,  1880. 

The  occasion  of  the  writer's  visit  to  England 
in  1883  was  taken  advantage  of  by  the  breed- 
ers of  Hereford  cattle  in  that  country  to  pre- 
sent him  with  a  valuable  testimonial  to  show 
their  appreciation  of  his  labors  in  securing  to 
the  Herefords  in  America  their  present  posi- 
tion as  the  best  breed  of  beef  cattle. 

The  "Hereford  Times,"  England,  August  4, 
1883,  has  an  editorial  in  reference  to  the  mat- 
ter, from  which  we  quote:  "Within  a  very 
short  period  three  very  important  gatherings 
of  breeders  of  Hereford  cattle  have  taken  place 
in  Hereford,  each  being  in  the  nature  of  a  cele- 
bration, and  each  of  such  a  character  as  to 
warrant  the  hope  that  a  new  era  of  prosperity 
for  the  renowned  white-faces  is  being  entered 
upon.  The  first  was  the  banquet  of  Mr.  Price, 
of  the  Court  House,  Pembridge,  upon  the  oc- 
casion of  his  splendid  victory  at  Birmingham, 
when  he  carried  off  the  Elkington  Challenge 
Cup.  (fl  231)  The  second  was  the  farewell 
dinner  given  a  week  or  two  ago  by  Mr.  Bur- 
leigh  to  the  breeders  from  whom  he  had  been 
making  his  extensive  purchases  for  America. 
The  third,  and  most  important  of  all,  has  taken 
place  in  the  present  week,  when  the  union 
between  the  English  and  American  breeders 
of  Hereford  cattle  has  been  cemented  by  the 
banquet  and  presentations  to  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller, 
of  Beecher,  111.,  and  his  righthand  man,  Mr. 
George  F.  Morgan,  who  have  done  more  than 
any  others  to  establish  the  Herefords  in  uni- 
•  versal  favor,  and  raise  them  to  that  position  of 
pre-eminence  which  their  excellent  and  varied 
qualities  entitle  them  to  hold. 

"Advantage  was  taken  of  Mr.  Miller's  pres- 
ence in  England — a  visit  made  purely  in  the 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


331 


interest  of  the  bfeed,  and  to  enable  Mr.  Miller 
the  better  to  enhance  their  popularity  in  Amer- 
ica— to  entertain  him  at  a  banquet,  and  the 
gathering  took  place  on  Wednesday  last,  Sir 
Joseph  Bailey,  M.  P.,  being  the  president,  Mr. 
Duckham,  M.  P.,  and  Mr.  S.  Robinson  (fl  232) 
the  vice-presidents,  and  the  numerous  com- 
pany also  including  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of 
the  County  (Lord  Bateman),  Earl  Coventry 
(whom  we  are  glad  to  see  is  lending  the  Here- 
ford breed  an  increasing  measure  of  his  valu- 
able influence),  and  the  member  for  Leomin- 
ster  (Major  Rankin)  (fl  233)  and  generally  the 
leading  breeders  and  farmers  of  the  district. 

"The  presentation  to  Mr.  Miller  consisted  of 
an  illuminated  address  and  a  purse  of  200 
sovereigns;  that  to  Mr.  Morgan,  of  a  very 
handsome  silver  cup.  (fl  234)  *  *  *  In 
the  limits  of  an  article  like  this,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  enter  into  a  detail  of  the  steps  to  bo 
taken  to  raise  the  Herefords  in  universal  esti- 
mation; and  indeed  it  would  be  uncompli- 
mentary to  assume  that  the  breeders  need  to 
be  especially  informed  on  this  point.  They 
know  what  Mr.  Miller  intends  to  do  with  the 
£200  which  they  have  presented  to  him,  and 
this  is  an  example  of  what  we  mean.  He  in- 
tends to  form  a  herd  to  be  known  as  the  'tes- 
timonial herd/  and  managed  in  a  thoroughly 
systematic  way,  with  the  aid  of  which  he  will 
demonstrate,  among  our  agricultural  cousins 
over  the  Atlantic,  'the  capabilities  of  the  Here- 
ford breed.'  They  know,  too,  what  Mr.  Miller 
has  done  in  the  past;  how,  in  the  face  of  strong 
prejudice  and  the  great  power  of  Shorthorn 
influence  in  America  he  has  made  the  merits 
of  the  Herefords  felt,  and  by  'fearlessly  pre- 
senting' those  merits  has  achieved  successes  for 
the  'white-faces'  which,  ten  years  ago,  would 
have  been  thought  impossible. 

"We  would  say  to  the  English  breeders  of 
Herefords,  'support,  by  all  means  in  your 
power,  the  hands  of  men  like  Mr.  Miller.' '; 

The  account  of  the  presentation  and  com- 
plimentary banquet  to  the  writer  was  given  in 
the  same  paper,  reporting  the  numerous  toasts 
and  responses.  Sir  Joseph  Bailey,  M.  P.,  the 
chairman,  proposed  the  toast  of  the  evening, 
"The  health  of  our  guest,  Mr.  Miller,"  in  which 
he  made  the  presentation  and  closed  by  say- 
ing: "Mr.  Miller  is  already  somewhat  ad- 
vanced in  years,  but  when  he  grows  to  be  an 
old  man,  it  will  be  a  proud  thing  for  him  to 
say  that  it  had  been  his  lot  to  reinvigorate  and 
improve  the  cattle  and  herds  of  America." 

Lord  Bateman  proposed  the  toast,  "The 
health  of  the  breeders  of  Herefords  in  England 
and  America."  In  the  course  of  his  remarks 


he  advised  farmers  to  follow  his  example  and 
dispose  of  their  half-bred  herds  in  favor  of 
stock  of  the  pure  Hereford  breed. 

HEREFORD   BEEF    IN    NEW    ENGLAND. 

Printed  by  the  "Breeders'  Journal"  from  a 
New  England  paper: — "Volumes  may  be 
printed  and  read  upon  this  subject,  but  the, 
most  convincing  argument  is  that  which  ap- 
peals to  the  pocket-book,  and  offers  8l/2  cents 
per  pound,  live  weight,  for  choice  Hereford, 
and  but  4  cents  for  the  scrub  that  has  eaten  his 
head  off  in  his  maintenance.  Hundreds  of 
practical  instances  may  be  seen  on  any  cattle 
day  in  our  great  markets. 

"There  is  a  good  profit  in  rearing  good 
beeves,  and  an  absolute  loss  in  keeping  coarse, 
inferior  animals.  As  an  illustration,  quite  a 
remarkable  steer  was  brought  into  Watertown 
market  two  weeks  ago  by  Wells  and  Richard- 
son, raised  from  the  calf  by  Joseph  Nye,  of 
Fairfield,  Me.  This  animal,  a  grade  Here- 
ford, though  two  months  less  than  three  years 
old,  weighed,  when  landed  in  the  stock  yards, 
2,030  pounds.  The  purchaser  was  R.  H. 
Sturtevant,  of  the  well-known  Quincy  market 
firm  of  H.  Bird  &  Co.,  dealers  in  beef.  There 
is  no  better  expert  in  beef  in  this  city  than 
Mr.  Sturtevant,  who  pronounced  this  steer  as 
near  perfection  in  shape  and  quality  as  was 
ever  landed  for  sale  in  this  market.  Mr.  Hath- 


S[250 


ROMEO     (6646)     6420, 
At  18  months.    Bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine. 

away,  -one  of  the  largest  dealers  in  cattle  in  this 
market,  was  of  the  same  opinion,  and  offered 
81/2  cents  per  pound,  live  weight,  for*  the  steer, 
or  upwards  of  $172,  to  ship  to  England;  but 
H.  Bird  &  Co.  wanted  him  at  still  a  higher 
price  to  cut  up  for  their  best  city  trade.  Mr. 
Sturtevant  informs  us  that  this  fine  steer 
dressed  1,604  pounds,  counting  meat,  hide  and 
tallow,  a  most  remarkable  result,  showing  a 
shrinkage  of  only  21  per  cent.  The  loins  cut 
from  this  steer  weighed  between  100  and  106 


332 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


pounds  each,  with  suet  in.  The  beef  was  of 
excellent  quality,  well  marbled,  and  showing 
that  as  good  cattle  can  be  produced  in  New 
England  as  anywhere  in  the  world.  The  loin 
which  weighed  106  pounds  carried  28  pounds 
of  suet.  Farmers  should  bear  in  mind,  how- 
ever, that  it  will  not  pay  to  rear  or  feed  coarse, 
rough,  leggy  cattle,  in  this  part  of  the  country 
at  least. 

"Few  cattle  are  received  in  this  market  that 
show  so  small  a  shrinkage  as  21  per  cent.  Some 
of  the  best  quality  of  Western  steers,  such  as 


IT  851 


MR.    JOHN    PRICE'S    ELKINGTON    CHALLENGE    CUP 
WINNER,   AT  3  YEARS. 


are  now  selling  at  7y2  to  8  cents  per  pound, 
live  weight,  will  shrink  only  25  per  cent.  These 
cattle  the  butchers  call  'rattling  good'  steers. 
A  shrinkage  of  26  to  27  per  cent,  shows  well- 
fed  and  profitable  steers.  Some  good  cattle 
shrink  30  to  35  per  cent.,  and  common  New 
England  cattle  about  a  third.  Coarse  cattle, 
old  cows  and  the  like  shrink  40  per  cent,  or 
more." 

NEW  ENGLAND'S  LIVE  STOCK  INTEREST. 

Mr.  E.  E.  Parkhurst  discussed  in  the  "Am- 
erican Cultivator"  the  question  whether  New 
England  can  compete  in  beef  raising  with  the 
Western  cattle  range,  and  says:  "Our  markets 
are  daily  supplied  with  beef  from  the  West, 
produced  under  great  difficulties  and  trans- 
ported to  our  markets  over  long  lines  of  rail- 
roads and  often  suffering  from  hunger,  thirst, 
and  cold,  while  New  England  beef,  when  it  is 
ripe,  can  be  put  into  the  market  as  fresh  as 
when  it  leaves  the  stables,  making  it  much 
more  desirable  as  food  for  the  consuming 
classes.  With  good  and  well-bred  stock  and 
intelligence  and  care  in  feeding,  we  need  not 
fear  competition  from  any  one  or  any  section 
of  our  country.  The  farmer  who  has  lost 
money  by  raising  steers  and  feeding  high  to 
get  them  ready  for  the  butcher  at  24  to  30 


months  has  yet  to  be  heard  from.  The  farmer 
who  cannot  make  his  farm  grow  better  by  such 
farming  had  better  go  West,  or  change  his 
occupation." 

HEREFORDS  IN  ENGLAND. 

The  Earl  of  Coventry,  who  has  taken  a  de- 
cided interest  in  breeding  cattle,  has  given  his 
views  on  Herefords  in  an  English  paper,  and 
says:  "That  for  early  maturity  and  aptitude 
to  fatten  the  Herefords  are  very  remarkable." 
This,  combined  with  "wonderful  constitution 
and  general  hardiness,"  ought  to  convince  every 
man  who  wants  to  realize  the  most  money  on 
his  grass  that  he  cannot  afford  to  be  without 
Hereford  cattle  to  convert  his  grass  and  grain 
to  money.  The  Earl  of  Coventry,  Croome 
Court,  Worcester,  England,  is  very  wealthy,  but 
breeds  Herefords  for  practical  purposes.  He 
has  some  of  the  best  cattle  in  England,  and  has 
been  very  successful  with  his  stock  in  the  show 
ring.  The  cut  of  Rare  Sovereign  (fl  236).  a 
Hereford  bull  bred  by  him,  was  published  in 
the  "Breeders'  Journal."  His  bull  Good  Boy 
(ft  235),  is  a  most  wonderful,  thick-fleshed  and 
massive  animal.  These  facts  make  the  Earl's 
opinion  .very  valuable.  He  says: 

"As  you  ask  me  for  my  opinion  of  Hereford 
cattle,  I  can  'only  say  that  after  an  experience 
of  twelve  years,  I  am  still  as  great  an  admirer  of 
them  as  I  have  ever  been.  It  is  true  that  in  con- 
sequence of  the  prohibitory  duty  in  America  the 
demand  for  this  breed  has  not  been  so  great  as 
in  former  years,  but  I  believe  the  check  is  only 
a  temporary  one,  and  that  we  shall  soon  witnesa 
a  return  to  fair  and  steady,  if  not  sensational, 
prices  again.  On  my  land  I  find  that  for  their 
early  maturity  and  aptitude  to  fatten,  Here- 
fords arc  very  remarkable,  whilst  their  wonder- 
ful constitution  and  general  hardiness  would 
point  to  them  as  being  specially  adapted  for 
crossing  with  other  breeds  in  our  colonial  de- 
pendencies." 

It  was  on  the  Earl  of  Coventry's  estate  that 
John  Price,  of  Ryall,  did  most  of  his  work. — 
Breeders'  Journal. 

JUDGES  AND  JUDGING. 

While  I  have  undertaken  to  show  the  char- 
acter of  the  judging,  and  the  manner  in  which 
our  American  agricultural  and  live  stock  fairs 
are  run,  I  have  had  very  little  to  say  about  the 
judging  in  England.  "The  Agriculturalist,"  a 
live  stock  journal  published  in  London,  has  the 
following  to  say  on  this  subject.  While  it  does 
not  touch  the  two  breeds,  Herefords  and  Short- 
horns, it  is  a  point  to  show  what  is  thought  of 
the  English  shows: 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     C  A  T  T  L E 


333 


"This  vexed  question,  of  long  standing,  was 
again  brought  prominently  to  the  front  during 
the  Bath  and  West  of  England  Show  at 
Brighton.  On  that  occasion  it  referred  more 
particularly  to  the  decisions  in  the  classes  of 
Guernsey  cattle.  In  fact,  every  one  who  pro- 
fesses to  know  what  a  Guernsey  bull  or  cow  is, 
was  simply  shocked  at  the  incompetent  judges 
who  were  appointed  to  adjudicate  in  regard  to 
this  breed. 

"English  breeders,  as  well  as  breeders  from 
the-  islands,  have  protested  in  strong  terms 
against  the  decisions  to  which  they  came.  There 
arc  certain  points  in  all  breeds  of  animals  which 
practical  men  look  upon  as  of  importance. 
These  points  ought  not  only  to  be  understood 
by  judges,  but  they  ought  to  be  recognized  by 
them,  and  thereby  acknowledged  in  the  form  of 
the  awards  they  make.  But  the  breeders  in  this 
case  say  the  judges  were  so  oblivious  of  the  re- 
quired points  of  Guernsey  cattle  that  they 
awarded  the  prizes  to  inferior  animals,  and  left 
unnoticed,  or  merely  commended,  those  which 
were  of  the  orthodox  form. 

"This  comes  of  the  way  the  judges  of  agri- 
cultural societies  are  appointed.  In  this  coun- 
try the  authorities  of  societies  have  apparently 
merged  into  bands  or  cliques,  each  member  of 
which  seems  to  say,  'If  you  will  give  me  a  help- 
ing hand  I  will  do  as  much  for  you  some  day/ 
There  seem  to  be  no  bold  critics  or  censor  of 
this  baneful  practice  or  organized  cliquism. 
In  America  a  year  or  two  ago  the  same  per- 
sonal favoritism  prevailed.  But  they  treat  these 
matters  better  in  America  than  we  do  in  the 
old  country.  The  system  was  vigorously  at- 
tacked in  the  American  agricultural  and  live 
stock  journals.  One  principle  laid  down  by  a 
leading  critic  was,  that  'any  one — no  matter 
who  he  was — who  made  an  application  to  a  so- 
ciety to  be  appointed  as  judge  should  not  be 
taken  anv  notice  of/ 


"Yet  the  judging  of  our  live  stock  is  mainly 
entrusted  to  men  who  push  themselves  forward, 
or  apply  to  the  chairman  or  members  of  the 
council  for  the  post.  As  we  have  intimated,  the 
whole  subject  has  emerged  into  a  system  of 
cliquism  or  something  worse.  Breeders  of  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  stock  have  their  crotchets,  and 
they  take  care  to  get  themselves  elected  as  mem- 
bers of  the  council  of  the  leading  agricultural 
societies.  They  then  exercise  their  influence  in 
electing  judges  who  will  favor  their  own 
crotchets.  Thus  some  of  the  worst  faults  that 
the  modern  herds  and  flocks  of  animals  have 
displayed  during  the  present  generation  have 
been  encouraged,  and  are  now  being  perpetu- 
ated. . 

"We  cannot  dwell  upon  these  great  faults  to- 
day, but  we  will  do  so  on  an  early  occasion.  One 
symptom,  however,  we  may  mention,  which  is, 
the  outrageous  prices  to  which  interested  noble 
lords,  rich  tradesmen  and  their  agents  have 
puffed  up  certain  tribes  of  animals,  the  main 
end  and  object  of  which  is,  or  rather  ought  to 
be,  to  produce  animal  food  at  the  market  price 
per  pound  over  the  scales.  This  is  why  we  are 
having  the  ground  cut  from  under  our  feet  by 
European,  American,  Antipodean  and  other 
breeders  and  feeders.  Both  animal  food — be  it 
beef,  mutton  or  pork — and  such  animal's 'prod- 
uce as  cheese  and  butter,  are  now  being  sent 
from  foreign  countries  of  superior  quality  in 
many  respects,  and  in  quantities  that  make 
home  efforts  by  tenant  farmers,  who  are  vic- 
tims of  the  false  system  in  question,  anything 
but  successful  to  either  themselves  or  home  con- 
sumers. If  our  great  agricultural  societies  were 
left  more  open  for  the  services  of  practical  men 
there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  appointing 
judges  who  would  give  encouragement  to  the 
breeders  of  more  paying  animals — those  that 
have  a  greater  tendency  to  produce  flesh  than 
fat/' 


TO* 


GOLDEN    TREASURE  (V.  15,  p.  12fi). 
Bred  by  Earl  of  Coventry. 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORDCATTLE 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

KOOTS  AS  CATTLE  FOOD 


(U  237)  The  value  of  roots  as  food  for  cattle 
is  too  well  known  to  need  any  argument  to  sup- 
port the  assertion.  We  have  in  our  own  expe- 
rience found  them  invaluable  as  an  aid  to  make 
ripe  bullocks  and  keep  our  herd  of  Hereford 
cattle  in  the  finest  condition.  We  will  state 
briefly  our  method  of  raising  sugar  beets,  as 
this  variety  of  roots  was  what  we  finally  adopted 
as  giving  the  best  results,  (fi  238) 

As  early  as  possible  in  the  spring  we  ploughed 
the  ground  deeply,  and  then  harrowed  thor- 
oughly, going  over  the  field  enough  times  to 
pulverize  the  soil  thoroughly.  Then  we  spread 
over  the  ground,  as  evenly  as  possible,  well- 
rotted  manure.  Next  the  ground  was  thrown 
into  ridges,  three  feet  from  center  to  center 
apart,  taking  great  care  to  have  them  straight. 
This  was  done  by  an  ordinary  plow,  and  by 
going  twice  in  the  furrow,  throwing  the  earth 
both  ways.  This  left  the  ridges  with  all  the 
manure  under  the  rows. 

We  found  it  advantageous  to  do  this  as  early 
as  possible,  so  that  the  field  could  stand  in  this 
condition  for  ten  days  or  two  weeks.  There 
were  two  reasons  for  this:  the" manure  had  a 
chance  to  assimilate  some  with  the  earth  and 
so  push  the  young  plants  more  rapidly  when 
planted,  and  also  the  weeds  had  a  chance  to 
start. 

Before  planting  we  started  a  single  horse 
through  the  rows,  dragging  a  plank  about  ten 
feet  long  edgewise  to  level  off  three  ridges  at  a 
time,  leaving  a  flat  top  on  which  to  sow  the 
seed,  and  it  also  destroyed  all  young  .weeds 
on  the  ridges.  Following  this  with  a  seed  drill 
the  ground  was  in  fine  condition  and  the  seed 
over  the  fertilizer. 

When  the  plants  were  half  an  inch  high,  cul- 
tivation commenced  with  a  single  five-toothed 
cultivator,  then  were  side  scraped  with  steel 
hoes. 

The  secret  of  success  being  preparing  the 
ground  thoroughly  first,  crop  kept  free  from 
weeds  and  soil  kept  loose. 

At  the  second  hoeing  the  plants  were  thinned 


to  one  in  a  place  and  the  vacant  places  filled 
with  the  plants  which  were  pulled  out. 

In  a  root  field  of  the  T.  L.  Miller  Company, 
the  field  cbntained  ten  and  three-quarter  acres, 
the  yield  was  275  tons  of  sugar  beets,  (ff  239) 

Labor:  Plowing,  dragging,  seeding,  cultivat- 
ing and  hoeing  was  $15  per  acre,  $161.25;  har- 
vesting, 54  days  pulling,  topping,  hauling  and 
putting  in  cellar,  35  days  man  and  cart,  $115.70. 
Total  cash  for  labor,  $276.95.  (fl  239)  It  will 
be  seen  by  the  above  that  they  cost  a  small  frac- 
tion over  $1  per  ton.  The  ground  was  well 
manured ;  of  this  we  have  not  the  data  for  cost, 
but  for  the  use  of  land  and  the  manure,  fifty 
cents  a  ton  would  be  ample  estimate. 

EXPENDITURE  ON   18  ACRES  OF   BEET  LAND. 

The  following  statement  shows  our  cost  of 
producing  310  tons  of  roots,  mainly  of  the  sugar 
beets.  The  average  is  $1.37  per  ton,  without 
charging  for  the  use  of  the  land ;  or  to  charge 
$3  per  acre  for  the  use  of  the  land,  it  would  be 
$1.50  per  ton,  giving  300  tons  of  good  feed  on 
eighteen  acres  of  land : 

Two  ploughings  at  $2  per  acre $72.00 

Harrowing  at  50  cents  per  acre 9.00 

Rolling  at  25  cents  per  acre 4.50 

Rising  drills,  13^  days  at  $3  per  day.  . .  40.50 
Drilling,  one  man  and  horse,  2  days  at 

$2  per  day 4.00 

Artificial  manure,  5  tons,  charge  half.  .     60.00 

Seed,  as  per  bill 50.00 

Ten  boys  hoeing  ten  days,  at  50  cents 

per  day 50.00 

One   man  and  horse  scuffling  4  days, 

at  $2  per  day 8.00 

TOPPING   BEETS. 

Six  boys  14f  days  at  50  cts.  per  day.  . . .  $44.25 
Three  women  5  days,  at  75  cts.  per  day.  11.25 

HAULING   BEETS. 

Two  men  15  days  at  $1  each  per  day.  .  .  $30.00 
Two  boys  15  days  at  50c  each  per  day.  .  15.00 
Four  horses  15  days,  at  $1  each  per  day  60.00 


Total  cost 

Total  yield  of  roots,  310  tons. 


,$458.50 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


335 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


CHALLENGE  TO  TEST  ALL  BEEF  BREEDS  ON  A  BROAD  SCALE 


It  was  our  aim  to  have  a  conclusive  test 
made  that  would  go  far  to  prove  authoritatively 
the  position  that  we  took,  viz.,  that  the  Here- 
ford was  superior  to  all  other  beef  breeds  in 
"economy  of  production  and  value  of  product." 
We  made  the  following  challenge  in  1881,  to 
test  the  merits  of  the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns 
by  selecting  200  cows  in  the  State  of  Illinois 
and  breed  one-half  to  Hereford  bulls  and  the 
other  half  to  Shorthorn  bulls,  and  bring  the 
produce  before  the  Illinois  State  Agricultural 
Society,  and  there  determine  the  merits  of  the 
two  breeds  for  beef  production. 

We  also  offered  to  select  2,000  cows  in  Colo- 
rado and  breed  one-half  to  Hereford  and  the 
other  half  to  Shorthorn  bulls,  and  bring  the 
produce  to  a  test  that  should  determine  their 
merits.  Neither  of  these  propositions  has  been 
accepted,  and  neither  will  be.  We  then  made 
another  proposition  to  exhibit  before  the  Chi- 
cago Fair  Association  in  1881 :  "25  dry  cows 
that  have  bred  and  suckled  their  calves  since 
Nov.,  1880;  25  calves  with  them;  25  yearling 
heifers."  Of  the  cows  we  expected  to  show  in 
the  contest  we  said: 

"None  have  been  grain  fed,  except  when 
milking  before  grass  grew  this  spring ;  and  none 
having  been  grain  fed  since  the  15th  of  May, 
and  while  dry  in  the  winter  were  on  hay  and 
stalks  only.  The  heifers  were  on  grain  in  the 
winter,  but  run  in  the  yards,  and  since  the  15th 
of  May  have  been  on  grass  only. 

"I  will  show  the  above  named  stock  against 
animals  of  like  age  and  condition,  selected  from 
any  Shorthorn  herd  in  Illinois,  Kentucky,  Mis- 
souri or  Iowa,  for  a  premium  of  $250  on  each 
class,  the  cattle  to  be  owned  by  the  exhibitor  on 
the  1st  day  of  August,  1881. 

"The  manner  in  which  the  cattle  shall  have 
been  kept  shall  be  certified  to  under  oath  by 
the  owner  and  one  of  the  men  who  has  had 
charge  of  the  same. 

"The  premium  money,  if  not  provided  by  the 
Society,  to  be  provided,  one-half  by  the  Short- 


horn interest  and  the  other  half  by  the  Here- 
ford interest. 

"I  will  in  addition  show  my  old  bull  Success 
and  twenty-five  cows  or  heifers  of  his  get  against 
any  Shorthorn  bull  and  twenty-five  cows  or 
heifers  of  his  get;  all  of  the  cows  and  heifers 
to  have  been  on  grass  since  May  15th,  and  with- 
out grain,  for  $250  or  $500. 

"I  will  show  Conqueror,  Bachelor,  Will,  Wash- 
ington and  Kansas,  bullocks  shown  at  the  Fat 
Stock  Show  last  fall,  against  a  like  number  of 
similar  ages  shown  at  that  show,  for  $250  for 
best  bullock,  and  $250  for  best  five  bullocks." 

The  following  from  the  "Breeders'  Journal," 
prepared  by  the  author,  shows  a  further  propo- 
sition on  the  subject :  "The  discussion  as  to  the 
merits  of  the  different  beef  breeds  has  been 
active.  At  the  commencement  it  would  have 
seemed  as  though  the  Shorthorns  were  firmly 
fixed,  as  the  leading  breed  for  the  production  of 
beef,  and  this  held  for  several  years  after  these 
discussions  commenced.  A  leading  writer,  T. 
C.  Jones,  in  their  interest  said,  as  to  the  merits 
of  breeds,  that  'it  had  already  been  decided  that 
the  Shorthorns  held  the  first  position,  and  it 
was  not  a  question  to  be  again  opened/ 

"This  same  writer  at  another  time  did  com- 
pare the  breeds,  and  when  we  took  this  up  and 
invited  a  full  and  frank  investigation  as  to 
merits,  his  reply  was  that  'life  was  too  short  to 
enter  upon  a  partisan  discussion/  and  declined 
the  invitation. 

"In  discussing  the  merits  of  the  different 
breeds  in  England,  with  three  prominent  Scot 
and  Shorthorn  men,  we  said  this,  that  the  Here- 
ford would  go  from  pasture  to  the  top  of  the 
London  market,  while  neither  the  Scot  nor  the 
Shorthorn  could  go  there  except  through  four  to 
six  months  in  the  stall.  This  our  opponents  ad- 
mitted. It  is  here  that  the  merits  of  the  Here- 
ford stand  pre-eminent ;  as  a  grazing  beast,  and 
from  grass,  carrying  his  product  to  the  top  of 
the  market. 

"While  in  England  we  visited  the  grazing  dis- 
tricts. There  are  such  districts  in  England 


336 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


where  no  breeding  is  done,  but  bullocks  are 
bought  at  from  one  to  two  years  old,  mainly  the 
latter  age,  and  put  in  a  straw  yard  and  on  cake 
during  the  winter,  and  on. grass  in  the  spring, 
and  from  these  pastures  to  the  London  market 
in  July,  August  and  September.  In  talking 
with  one  of  the  leading  graziers  in  Buckingham- 
shire, he  said  that  whenever  he  took  'a  rear  of 
Herefords  they  would  all  go  to  market  at  once' ; 
that  is,  they  were  even  in  quality  and  character, 
while  with  Shorthorns  there  had  to  be  from  two 
to  three  drafts  to  get  them  off.  There  is  then 
but  one  reason  for  the  character  the  Herefords 
have  taken,  and  this  one  is  merit. 


cattle  that  dare  make  the  test  of  merit  from 
birth  to  the  butcher's  block  with  the  Hereford. 
"This  test  having  been  refused  by  old  and 
experienced  breeders,  we  tendered  some  months 
since  the  proposition  to  Messrs.  J.  V.  Farwell 
(fl  240-241)  and  T.  W.  Harvey,  who  have  been 
for  the  last  two  or  three  years  establishing  re- 
spectively, herds  of  Polled- Angus  and  Shorthorn 
cattle.  We  could  have  taken  a  farm  on  lease  with- 
in forty  miles  of  Chicago,  well  adapted  to  experi- 
mental work  in  the  breeding  of  cattle.  We  pro- 
posed to  these  gentlemen  to  take  one  hundred 
cows  and  to  breed  one-third  of  them  to  Short- 
horn, one-third  to  Polled,  and  one-third  to 


COMPANY  GATHERED  AT  CHADNOR  COURT  SALE,  1883. 
(The  X  mark  indicates  Mr.  George  Pitt.) 


"America  is  pre-eminently  a  grazing  country, 
and  that  breed  which  can  make  meat  of  first- 
class  quality,  from  grass,  must  always  be  the 
top  animal,  and  if  the  same  beast  is  a  first-class 
feeder,  it  will  need  only  a  trial  to  make  him  the 
top  beast  of  the  world.  We  have  been  so  fully 
impressed  with  this  from  the  start,  that  we  have 
offered  to  place  him  in  competition  with  other 
breeds,  letting  them  choose  the  manner  in  which 
they  should  be  bred  and  kept,  and  we  would 
take  them,  in  any  way.  This  has  been  declined, 
and  we  say  that  there  is  not  another  breed  of 


Hereford  bulls,  for  a  term  of  ten  years.  We 
laid  before  them  the  estimated  cost  of  such  an 
experiment;  $15,000  would  have  been  the  in- 
vestment needed,  $5,000  for  each.  We  proposed 
to  take  one-third  for  the  Herefords  if  each  of 
these  gentlemen  would  take  a  third  each  for  the 
other  breeds.  We  laid  before  them  the  fact  that 
such  an  experiment  was  needed,  and  that  it 
would  be  a  great  benefit  to  the  world  if  such 
experiment  could  be  made,  that  would  test,  dur- 
ing a  term  of  years,  the  character  and  merits  of 
the  three  breeds  of  cattle.  They,  however,  de- 


HIST  OK  Y     OF    HE-BE  FOB  I)     CATTLE 


337 


clined  to  enter  upon  such  experiment.  We  think 
that  when  friends  of  these  breeds  come  before 
the  public  with  their  claims  for  superiority,  it 
would  be  their  choice  to  place  their  cattle  under 
such  tests  as  would  determine  their  merits,  and 
it  has  been  our  aim  from  the  start  to  bring 
about  such  an  experiment,  if  possible. 

"In  relation  to  the  discussion  of  the  merits 
of  the  several  breeds  of  cattle,  especially  the 
Shorthorns  and  Herefords,  it  has  been  said  that 
'there  is  room  for  all  breeds.'  The  'Live  Stock 
Journal'  says,  'this  is  probably  true,  there  is 
room  not  only  for  thoroughbred  cattle  and  the 
best  breeds,  but  there  is  room  for  scrubs/  But 


interest  of  the  world.    There  is  no  room  for  the 
poor  when  the  better  can  be  had." 

The  "Chicago  Tribune"  copied  and  made  the 
following  comments  on  the  foregoing.  "The 
above  is  sound  in  theory.  The  difficulty  is  to 
decide  the  question  of  which  is  the  best  breed, 
taking  into  consideration  the  circumstances  of 
the  intending  buyer.  Using  the  machinery  as 
an  illustration,  it  would  be  more  just  to  com- 
pare two  spinning  wheels,  rather  than  the  spin- 
ning wheel  and  the  jack;  two  plows  of  modern 
make,  rather  than  the  stick  of  prehistoric  ages 
with  the  finished  steel  implement  of  to-day ;  two 
engines  of  similar  form  and  power  rather  than 


SCENE    AT    CHADNOR    COURT    SALE, 
Dilwyn,  Herefordshire,   1883. 


this  does  not  meet  the  question  as  it  should  be 
met.  A  man  may  use  a  wooden  plow,  if  he  has 
no  other  means  of  cultivating  his  ground;  he 
may  stir  it  with  a  stick  rather  than  not  move  it 
at  all.  But  he  would  not  do  this  if  he  had  a 
good  pair  of  horses  and  a  good  improved  plow  to 
work  it  with.  It  is  well  to  use  the  old  spinning- 
wheel  if  there  is  no  other  means  to  make  your 
clothing  to  cover  your  nakedness.  But  the  old 
spinning-wheel  would  not  be  used  if  the  im- 
proved machinery  could  be  had,  and  steam  or 
water  to  propel  it,  and  what  is  true  of  these  and 
other  industries  is  also  true  of  the  live  stock 


unskilled  brute  force  tugging  to  pull  a  load, 
with  the  highest  product  of  the  engine  builder's 
skill  swiftly  hurrying  a  train  carrying  thousands 
of  tons  over  hills  and  vales.  But  much  of  the 
improvement  made  in  breeds  of  animals  is  due 
to  the  keen  competition  between  breeders  strug- 
gling to  gain  a  first  place  in  popular  favor.  The 
fight  has  made  partisans  of  friends.  The  parti- 
sans labored  with,  and  aroused  an  interest  in 
the  minds  of  those,  who,  but  for  this,  would 
have  remained  indifferent,  and  induced  them  to 
use  better  blood ;  to  the  great  benefit  of  them- 
selves and  the  world  in  general.  Whatever  the 


338 


HIST Oft Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


result  may  be  to  the  breeders  engaged  in  it,  the 
battle  has  done  immense  good  to  others,  and  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that  the  time  will  never  come 
when  all  will  agree  that  any  one  breed  or  family 
of  cattle  is  better  than  all  others." 

We  made  an  earnest  effort  to  arrange  a  test 
of  merit  with  Mr.  James  Gaines,  of  Ridge  Farm, 
Illinois,  on  a  sufficiently  large  scale  to  be  of 
value,  and  considerable  correspondence  was  pub- 
lished at  that  time  on  the  subject.  Referring  to 
the  correspondence  between  Messrs.  Gaines  and 
Miller :  Gaines  &  Sons  proposed  to  take  two  car 
loads  of  steers  from  their  herd  for  ten  years; 
they  afterwards  say  that  they  fed  1,400  steers. 
The  selection  of  thirty  steers  from  this  number 
would  not  give  any  authoritative  test  of  the 
breeds.  It  is  a  well  established  fact  that  the 
Shorthorns  are  very  irregular  and  uneven  as  to 
size  and  quality.  Thirty  bullocks  out  of  the 
large  number  grazed  and  fed  by  Messrs.  Gaines 
&  Sons  would  be  likely  to  be  very  good  steers, 
but  their  proposition  as  to  the  selection  would 
not  give  any  information  as  to  the  cost  of  mak- 
ing; neither  would  it  give  any  information  as 
to  the  general  character  of  the  breed ;  and 
again,  there  is  no  such  lot  of  Herefords  in  the 


country  to  select  from,  and  therefore  it  would 
be  an  unequal  test. 

The  T.  L.  Miller  Company's  proposition  was 
to  take  a  given  number  of  cows  of  uniform  char- 
acter, and  give  them  a  given  amount  of  land, 
keeping  a  correct  account  of  all  expenses;  this 
would,  if  continued  for  ten  years,  have  been  a 
very  correct  and  authoritative  test.  Such  a  test 
was  proposed  by  T.  L.  Miller  and  published  in 
the  "National  Live  Stock  Journal"  some  twelve 
years  previous  to  this  correspondence. 

That  proposition  had  been  renewed  from  time 
to  time,  but  found  no  one  to  accept  it,  and  it 
was  again  renewed  at  this  time.  We  proposed 
to  take  100  acres  of  land  on  their  farm  at 
Beecher,  and  select  40  breeding  cows  to  be  served 
by  a  Hereford  bull ;  these  cows  and  their  calves 
to  be  kept  upon  the  product  of  such  land,  and 
the  produce  to  be  marketed  in  December  of  each 
year,  after  they  were  two  years  old,  at  the  Union 
Stock  Yards  in  Chicago,  if  any  Shorthorn 
breeder  would  take  a  like  quantity  of  land,  and 
a  like  number  of  cows,  to  be  kept  and  marketed 
on  the  same  conditions.  We  also  invited  any 
breeder  of  Scotch  cattle  to  join  in  such  tests  on 
same  conditions,  each  party  to  come  under  their 


COMPANY    ATTENDING    "THE  LEEN"   SALE,  1883. 

The  celebrated  Grove  3d  (5051)  2490,  at  9  years,  sold  for  $4,250,    appearing    at    the    left. 

standing  at  his  side,  umbrella  in  hand. 


His    breeder,    B.    Rogers, 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


339 


individual  bond,  to  make  and  keep  a  correct 
statement  of  expenses  each  year,  and  from  the 
sales  of  each  lot,  $500  to  be  taken  and  invested 
in  some  good  securities,  until  the  expiration  of 
the  contract.  The  herd  that  showed  the  largest 
returns  at  the  end  of  the  ten  years  should  be 
entitled  to  this  fund.  We  suggested  that  the 
original  cows  should  be  replaced  by  heifers 
bred  from  this  lot,  the  draft  cows  to  be  fed 
and  marketed  with  the  produce.  Should  this 
proposition  be  accepted,  and  it  should  seem 
best  to  the  parties  interested,  to  select  land 
within  fifty  miles  of  Chicago,  on  the  line  of 
some  leading  railroad,  and  divide  this  land  into 
parcels  and  apportion  to  each  breed  an  equal 
quantity,  we  would  have  accepted  such  an  ar- 
rangement. 


It  was  not  the  intention  of  the  T.  L.  Miller 
Co.  to  limit  this  to  simply  three  herds,  but  the 
Shorthorn  and  Polled  cattle  men  were  allowed, 
if  they  chose,  to  make  five  herds  from  each 
breed,  and  breed  and  feed  against  five  or  ten 
herds  (or  any  number  not  exceeding  that). 

Our  object  being  to  get  the  most  authoritative 
test  that  it  was  possible  to  have.  We  contem- 
plated that  such  arrangements  should  be  adopted 
as  would  secure  an  honest  administration  for 
each  herd.  We  believed  that  it  was  due  to  the 
public,  that  such  a  test  should  be  made,  and 
were  anxious  to  submit  the  merits  of  the  claims 
that  were  made  for  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle, 
to  the  most  severe  and  searching  tests  that  could 
be  made. 


THE  GROVE  3D  (5051)  2490. 
Bred   by  B.   Rogers. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

CHAMPIONS  CONTRASTED— AMERICAN  vs.  ENGLISH;  ANCIENT  vs.  MODERN 


We  have  devoted  considerable  space  to  our 
American  Fat  Stock  Shows  because  the  brunt 
of  the  battle  between  the  beef  breeds  of  America 
was  waged  at  these  shows. 

The  account  of  an  English  Hereford  steer 
and  an  English  grade  Hereford  steer,  will  make 
interesting  reading,  demonstrating,  as  it  does, 
the  beef  quality  of  the  thoroughbred  Hereford 
and  the  great  merit  of  the  Hereford  cross. 

We  take  from  the  "Mark  Lane  Express"  of 
Dec.  15,  1884,  abstracts  in  reference  to  the 
Smithfield  Show  of  that  year,  referring  to  the 
champion  ox,  a  cross-bred  (Hereford  sire, 
Shorthorn  dam),  age  3  years,  six  months  and 
two  weeks,  weight  2,617  pounds.  Winner  of 
the  Norwich  and  Smithfield  Club  Champion 
Cups;  bred  by  Mr.  Chas.  Doe,  Burwarton, 
Bridgenorth,  Shropshire ;  fed  and  exhibited  by 
Mr.  R.  Wortley,  Suffield,  Aylsham,  Norfolk. 
(ff  242)  Our  readers  will  recognize  the  form 
and  character  of  this  animal  as  purely  Here- 
ford. In  other  words,  the  Hereford  bull  has 
given  his  character  and  quality  to  the  steer. 

The  value  of  any  pure  breed  consists  in  their 
ability  to  improve  other  breeds  and  to  improve 
the  common  cattle  of  this  and  all  other  coun- 
tries. Our  steer  Conqueror  at  Chicago  in  1881, 
C.  M.  Culbertson's  Roan  Boy  (ff  243),  in  1883, 
Mr.  Wortley's  cross-bred  at  Smithfield  in  1884, 
and  Fowler  and  Van  Natta's  Benton's  Cham- 
pion (ft  244)  at  Chicago,  in  1884,  are  notable 
examples  of  the  value  of  the  Hereford  cross. 
The  fact  that  the  Shorthorn  men  claim  the 
honor  for  Shorthorn  blood  is  not  worth  talking 
about. 

Let  us  make  bullocks,  by  crossing  the  Here- 
ford bull  upon  all  other  breeds,  until  our  live 
stock  shall  give  the  top  place  to  the  WHITE- 
FACED  BULLOCK,  whether  the  cross  is  on  the 
Shorthorn,  the  Devon,  the  Scot,  the  Texan 
(ff  245),  the  Spanish,  or  any  other  breed.  And 
let  us  in  this  establish  the  fact  that  the  Here- 
ford cross  will  improve  every  other  breed  for 
producing  bullocks,  the  test  being,  "economy  of 
production  and  value  of  product." 


The  "Mark  Lane  Express"  said :  "There  is  a 
very  pronounced  undercurrent  of  opinion— led 
and  fostered  by  the  example  which  has  been 
set  on  American  soil — to  the  effect  that  in  the 
immediate  future  the  prize  schedule  of  our  lead- 
ing Fat  Stock  Shows  should  be  so  framed  as  to 
encourage  the  production  of  the  earliest  matur- 
ity, at  the  least  possible  cost;  and  to  this  end' 
there  must  inevitably  be  classes  made,  and  ade- 
quate prize  money  offered  for  competitions  based 
on  early  maturity,  in  connection  with  a  mini- 
mum cost  of  production,  to  be  determined  by  a 
slaughter  test.  In  the  United  States  they  have, 
instituted  classes  for  'early  maturity/  for  'cost 
of  production/  and  for  the  'slaughter  test'; 
but  it  would  seem  that  a  competition  might  eas- 
ily be  established  in  connection  with  the  Smith- 
field  Club  Show,  and  particularly  so  whenever 
it  is  available  for  entries  from  the  other  prin- 
cipal shows — in  the  shape  of  one  collective  class 
for  early  maturity,  as  demonstrated  on  the 
block,  to  be  determined  by  a  set  of  judges  com- 
posed solely  of  butchers,  with  separate  honors 
dependent  on  'economy  of  production/  as  at- 
tested by  breeders  or  feeders.  The  butcher's 
function  should  be  to  determine  the  best  car- 
cass; the  committee  should  demonstrate  by  a 
simple  statement  on  paper  which  had  cost  the 
least,  relatively  to  age,  when  the  butcher's  ver- 
dict has  been  given.  Something  in  this  direc- 
tion, and  embracing  these  salient  points,  will 
certainly  have  to  be  done  if  the  great  London 
Fat  Stock  Show  is  to  keep  pace  with  or  within 
measurable  distance  of — similar  educational  in- 
stitutions on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

"But  there  have  recently  been  two  very 
striking  instances  in  connection  with  show-yard 
animals  which  tend  to  show  more  clearly  that 
maturity  does  not  necessarily  consist  of  mere 
'fitness  to  kill/  although  we  submit  that  in  both 
cases  the  question  of  cost  could  alone  detenu i DC 
where  the  feeding  process  should  have  ceased, 
in  order  to  afford  the  most  perfect  lesson  in  re- 
spect of  'economy  of  production.'  The  two  ani- 
mals referred  to 'are  Mr.  John  Price's  Hereford 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


341 


ox,  with  which  he  won  the  first  Elkington  chal- 
lenge cup  at  Birmingham,  and  Mr.  R.  Wortley's 
cross-bred  Hereford- Shorthorn  ox,  which  won 
the  Smith/field  Club  champion  plate  last  week. 
The  statement  showing  the  statistical  record  of 
Mr.  John  Price's  ox  was  given  in  our  report  of 
the  Birmingham  Show,  but  it  will  be  necessary 
to  repeat  it  in  substance  here  for  comparison 
with  a  similar  statement  in  respect  to  Mr.  Wort- 
ley's  ox,  the  records  of  the  {wo  years  referring 
to  the  two  successive  exhibitions  of  the  animals 
in  each  case : 


ME.  J.  PRICE'S  HEREFORD. 


Date.        Exhibited  at 

1881  Birmingham, 

1882  Birmingham. 


Age 

in 

days. 

970 
1,335 


Weight 

in 
pounds. 

1,918 
2,342 


MR.    R.  WORTLEY  S    CROSS-BRED. 


Age 


Date.        Exhibited  at 

days. 

1883  Birmingham..       924 

1884  London 1,289 


Weight 

in 
pounds. 

1,889 
2,617 


Average 
daily 
gain. 

1.97 
1.75 


Average 
daily 
gain. 

2.04 
2.03 


"Now,  these  two  animals  afford  very  remark- 
able evidence  in  support  of  the  growing  opinion, 
to  which  we  have  called  attention  above,  that 
mere  fitness  to  kill,  at  an  early  age,  does  not 
constitute  'maturity'  in  the  true,  or  possibly 


even  in  the  economical  sense  of  the  word.  These 
two  animals  show  a  daily  rate  of  increase  be- 
tween their  2|  and  3^  years  form,  which  is 
highly  suggestive  as  to  theory  as  well  as  very 
startling  in  point  of  fact.  The  cross-bred  has 
actually  maintained  his  2^-year-old  rate  of  in- 
crease for  one  whole  year  longer — for  the  differ- 
ence of  one  point  in  the  decimals  is  due  to  the 
value  of  the  remainder — which  we  take  to  afford 
a  wholly  unprecedented  experience  in  our  re- 
ported show-yard  animals.  Clearly  the  31-year- 
old  form  of  these  two  remarkable  prize  winners 
is  a  great  improvement  on  their  2^-year-old 
form — an  improvement,  however,  which  cannot 
be  equitably  demonstrated  by  the  figures.  For 
example,  the  Hereford  steer  as  a  steer  was  a 
more  perfect  animal  than  was  the  cross-bred,  so 
much  so  that  we  contended  at  the  time  that  he 
was  as  good  as  a  beast  need  be  made ;  whereas, 
the  cross-bred  was  merely  a  most  promising 
frame-work — imperfectly  covered — that  could 
not  possibly  have  stood  a  chance  with  the  Here- 
ford had  they  been  competing  side  by  side  at 
the  same  age.  Our  personal  recollections  of  the 
two  animals — refreshed  by  reference  to  memo- 
randa made  at  the  respective  dates — enables  us 
to  say  this  much.  Yet  the  best  Hereford  ox  yet 
shown  in  a  fat  stock  show  comes  in  rather  a  bad 
second  to  this  marvelous  cross-bred.  However, 


SALE    RING    AT    STOCKTONBURY,   LEOMINgTER,    HEREFORDSHIRE,    ENG.,    1884. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


343 


the  Hereford  men  have  no  cause  to  grumble; 
it  was  their  blood  'on  top/ 

"Our  friend,  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  of  Beecher, 
111.,  U.  S.  A.,  who  is  the  most  persistent  and 
consistent  advocate  of  Hereford  blood,  pure  or 
adulterated  in  every  possible  way,  provided  it 
is  'on  top/  will  have  a  most  unique  example  to 
quote  in  favor  of  his  long  time  argument  to  the 
effect  that  the  Hereford  bull  on  the  Shorthorn 
row  would,  could  and  should  work  wonders.  As 
a  matter  of  fact  it  has  produced  a  champion 
prize  winner  at  Chicago  in  1883,  and  a  cham- 
pion prize  winner  in  London  in  1884;  the  latter 
being  such  a  winner  as  no  show  has  ever  before 
produced.  This  is  saying  a  good  deal,  but  we 
think  it  can  be  sustained.  Look  at  2.03  pounds 
per  day  from  birth,  for  the  heaviest  beast  in  the 
show;  only  148  pounds  lighter  than  the  ele- 
phantine 'Welsh  Jumbo/  which,  at  Birmingham, 
stood,  tail,  if  not  head,  above  the  six  feet  high 
partition  boards!  Has  there  ever  been  weight 
for  age  to  equal  this  ?  Again,  the  most  remark- 
able feature  about  this  animal  is  the  gain  of  6 
cwt.,  2  qrs.  (728  pounds)  in  the  interval  of  one 
year  and  one  week  between  the  Birmingham 
Show  in  1883,  and  the  London  Show  in  1884. 
It  was  not  at  all  difficult  to  find  fault  with  this 
animal.  He  had  weak  points,  from  the  point  of 
the  shoulder  to  the  outside  flank  and  thigh,  to- 
gether with  a  comparatively  indifferent  cut  of 
rump  steak ;  but  all  this  was  simply  nothing 
when  considering  the  top,  together  with  his  im- 
mense substance  through  the  heart,  and  where- 
ever  substance  is  valuable — with  but  slight 
drawbacks.  Whatever  his  faults  may  have 
been,  his  weight  was  almost  all  in  the  best 
places,  and  such  a  weight  in  such  proportions 
we  may  not  see  again.  Such  results  two  years 
following  in  America  and  in  England  should  go 
far  towards  bringing  about  the  life-aim  of  T.  L. 
Miller,  which — so  far  as  we  understand  it — is 
to  put  the  Hereford  bull  'on  top'  of  all  the  cow 
stock  of  the  United  States,  from  pure-bred 
Shorthorns  to  the  native  scrubs  and  the  long- 
horned,  half  Spanish  cattle  of  far-away  Texas. 
Indeed,  his  enthusiasm  does  not  stop  here;  he 
would  put  the  white-face  trademark  on  all  the 
cattle  of  the  world." 

This  cross-bred  ox  took,  in  addition  to  the 
champion  plate  of  £100  ($500),  the  £50  ($250) 
cup  as  best  ox  or  steer,  the  £30  ($150)  breed 
cup  as  the  best  cross-bred,  and  the  first  prize 
of  £25  ($125)  in  his  class;  in  all,  £210,  or 
$1,050.  He  also  took  the  champion  prize  at 
Norwich. 

To  show  the  difference  in  gain  per  day,  and 
contrast  Mr.  Wortley's  Hereford  steer  with  the 
Shorthorn  steer  shown  in  Chicago,  we  quote 


the  following  from  the  English  "Live  Stock 
Journal,"  which  was  published  under  the  title 
of  "A  Tale  of  Two  Champions" :  "It  may  be  of 
interest  to  compare  the  returns  made  for  a 
year's  feeding  by  the  two  animals  which  may  be 
deemed  the  champions  of  the  season  here  and 
in  the  United  States. 

"The  American  champion,  'Clarence  Kirklev- 
ington/  an  almost  pure  Bates  Shorthorn,  had 
this  advantage  over  Mr.  Wortley's  half-bred  ox ; 
that  the  trial  continued  until  his '  carcass  was 
examined  in  the  butcher's  shop.  'Clarence 
Kirklevington/  at  his  death,  had  a  live  weight 
of  2,400  pounds,  at  an  age  of  1,372  days.  The 
Islington  champion  had  a  live  weight  of  2,589 
pounds  at  1,292  days — a  marked  superiority 
for  the  Britisher. 

"  'Clarence  Kirklevington'  had  for  his  last 
year's  feeding  increased  355  pounds;  Mr.  Wort- 
ley's  ox  in  the  same  period,  waxed  811  pounds, 
or  more  than  double,  and  most  wonderful  of 
all,  the  Islington  champion  weighed  at  Nor- 


COMPANY   ATTENDING    STOCKTONBURY    SALE, 

AUGUST,  1894. 
Lord  Wilton   (4740)  4057  and  two  of  his  sons. 

wich,  on  Nov.  20,  1884,  22  cwt.,  3  qrs.,  13  Ibs. 
(or  2,561  pounds),  and  had  on  Dec.  6,  in  spite 
of  traveling,  etc.,  put  on  31  pounds  more,  show- 
ing a  steady  increase  still  going  on." 

Referring  to  the  above  comment  on  "Kirklev- 
ington" carcass  and  the  credit  given  to  the  Bates 
breeding,  it  is  due  history  to  say  that  it  was  one 
of  the  worst  carcasses  in  the  show;  and  the 
award  was  the  great  and  "crowning  blunder  of  a 
series  of  blunders  committed  by  the  judges  of 
the  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1884. 

In  this  connection  we  would  contrast,  or 
rather  compare  the  champion  ox  at  the  Smith- 
field  Club's  first  show  in  1799.  At  seven  years 
old,  winner  of  the  first  prize  at  the  first  meeting 
of  the  Smithfield  Club  in  1799.  Bred  bv  Mr, 


344 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Tully,  Huntington,  Hereford;  fed  by  Mr.  West- 
car,  Aylesbury,  Bucks.     (See  illustration.) 

The  English  Journal,  "Agriculture,  the  Ten- 
ant Farmer's  Journal/'  says  of  the  ox  as  fol- 
lows: "In  1799,  the  Smithfield  Club  was 
founded.  From  the  Herefords  this  winner  came, 
and  a  noble  ox  he  was,  as  we  find  an  authentic 
record  that  in  height  he  stood  G  feet  7  inches, 
his  girth  having  been  10  feet  4  inches  while  his 
weight  was  247  stone,  or  nearly  31  cwt.  [3,450 
pounds,  American  weight — T.  L.  M.]  This  reads 
far  above  the  figures  that  serve  to  note  propor- 
tions at  the  present  time,  but  as  to  this  it  is  well 
to  mention  that  this  ox  had  attained  the  age  of 
seven  years,  consequently  his  full  growth  had 
been  obtained.  There  is  a  striking  difference 
between  the  Hereford  ox  of  1799  and  1884,  al- 
though both  belong  to  the  same  pure  breed,  but 
an  interval  of  eighty-five  years  separated  them. 
During  that  somewhat  long  period  much  waa 
done  to  improve  the  type  and  characteristics. 


DOWNTON     CASTLE,    HEREFORDSHIRE. 
(Photo  of  1902.) 

The  ox  of  1799  had  worked  three  or  four  years 
as  was  the  custom  in  those  days,  whereas  the 
present  show  specimens  for  the  greater  part  are 
spared  all  efforts  in  seeking  their  food,  and  they 
never  work.  It  is  not  our  desire  to  underrate 
the  oxen  of  olden  time.  As  working  animals 
they  might  have  been  immensely  superior  to 
such  as  we  now  possess,  and  no  doubt  they  were. 
But  for  show  purposes  work  is  decidedly  against 
the  ox,  inasmuch  as  it  bares  the  shoulders,  and 
thins  the  neck,  both  of  which  are  serious  defects 
in  the  opinion  of  the  best  judges  of  stock.  If 
we  make  this  allowance  for  our  champion,  and 
a  little  also  for  the  hollow-back  labor  frequently 
occasioned,  we  find  him  a  great,  fine  ox,  and  can 
picture  him  to  have  been  almost  a  team  of  him- 
self, although  according  to  our  modern  standard 
of  symmetry  he  might  be  somewhat  below  it. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  we  can,  however,  point  to  the 


fact  that  Herefords  have  been  vastly  improved 
upon  those  of  last  century,  and  that  their  repu- 
tation was  never  so  wide  and  pronounced  as  at 
the  present  time.  As  we  propose  giving  several 
illustrations  in  this  journal,  giving  the  early 
type  of  Herefords,  a  few  remarks  on  the  ac- 
cepted history  of  the  breed  may  be  of  interest 
to  our  readers. 

"The  origin  of  Herefords  is  obscure,  but  it 
dates  back  many  centuries,  and  in  all  proba- 
bility to  the  reign  of  King  John.  Speed  has 
recorded  the  existence  at  that  period  of  'white 
cattle'  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Brecknock, 
and  there  is  no  authentic  account  or  tradition, 
even,  that  the  black  cattle  of  the  Principality 
were  other  than  we  now  find  them ;  it  is  pretty 
safe  to  conclude  that  no  admixture  of  white 
breed  has  ever  taken  place.  From  time  imme- 
morial Welsh  cattle  have  been  black,  and  if 
occasionally  on  the  borders  a  Hereford  cow  pro- 
duced a  chance  calf  with  black  markings,  that 
calf  never  became  a  breeding  animal,  but  was 
drafted  at  the  first  opportunity. 

"But  should  these  white  cattle  have  been  in- 
troduced into  Herefordshire — and  their  ex- 
istence at  the  period  mentioned  seems  beyond 
reasonable  doubt — the  origin  of  the  present 
Herefords  is  comparatively  easy  to  account  for. 
Now,  of  what  was  a  Hereford  primarily  com- 
posed ?  The  answer  of  the  physiologist,  viewing 
the  type  of  to-day,  would  be  that  the  parents 
were  red  and  white.  Nothing  is  more  certain 
than  that  the  markings  of  the  Hereford  have 
been  in  a  way  created  by  most  careful  and  con- 
tinuous breeding. .  The  white  face  with  red 
body  were  not  nature's  colors,  they  were  not 
spontaneous,  but  came  as  the  result  of  mating 
the  white  breed  referred  to  with  the  red  cattle 
that  possibly  had  long  occupied  the  valley  of 
the  Wye,  Lugg,  Frome,  Arrow  and  Teme. 

"During  the  Saxon  era  the  county  of  Here- 
ford was  strongly  guarded  by  the  English 
against  the  inroads  of  the  Welsh  chieftains,  and 
this, no  doubt,  led  to  the  introduction  of  red  cat- 
tle from  other  parts  of  the  kingdom.  In  these 
early  times  herds  of  cattle  usually  followed  in 
the  wake  of  armies,  and  it  is  extremely  probable 
that  the  aboriginal  breed  of  Sussex  and  Devon, 
which  stocked  the  southern  counties,  was  dis- 
patched thither  in  considerable  numbers  where 
many  of  them  bred,  and  thus  stocked  the  Here- 
ford district.  But  whatever  might  have  been 
brought  about  after  this  manner  there  is  no 
uncertainty  as  to  the  dark  red  and  mottled- 
faced  cattle  of  Herefordshire  having  been  some- 
what plentiful  in  the  last  century.  For  several 
hundred  years  the  horned  stock  of  the  country 
was  comparatively  isolated  from  its  kindred 
breed  by  the  inferior  cattle  of  the  large  dairying 


HIS  TO  11 Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


345 


districts  in  the  counties  of  Gloucester,  Wilts 
and  Somerset.  Owing  to  this  circumstance,  and 
being  surrounded  by  sorts  in  no  respect  of  equal 
merit,  the  breeders  in  Herefordshire  were  fain 
to  be  content  with  what  they  possessed,  and 
thus,  by  degrees,  purity  of  blood  and  fixity  of 
type  were  established  in  their  cattle.  Much 
uncertainty  has  existed  as  to  the  type  of  Here- 
ford that  prevailed  in  the  past  century.  In 
respect  of  this  there  should  not  be  any.  For 
ages  there  has  been  no  record  or  tradition  of 
any  blending  of  blood,  and  in  the  absence  of 
such  evidence,  we  may  fairly  conclude  that  no 
fresh  blood  has  been  sought  since  the  amalga- 
mation of  the  white  cattle  of  Brecknock  with 
the  red  stock  of  Herefordshire  in  the  reign  of 
King  John,  which  produced  in  the  process  of 
time,  the  famous  race  now  known  everywhere 
as  'Hercfords.' 

"So  recent  as  a  hundred  years  ago  there  was 
no  recognized  color  for  the  breed;  they  were 
nearly  every  color;  hlac1efblack  tints  and  brindle 
alone  EXCEPTED.  Nobody  set  much  store  on 
color,  the  test  of  value  having  been  in  the  size 
and  working  powers  of  the  oxen.  It  was  then 
in  the  matter  of  color  precisely  what  it  is  now 
with  cart  horses ;  for  oxen  then  were  bred  quite 
as  much  for  draught  purposes  as  for  beef,  and 


but  few  thought  of  fattening  three-year-old 
steers.  To  have  done  so  would  have  been  looked 
upon  not  only  as  a  waste  of  working  power,  but 
also  as  a  great  loss  in  the  production  of  beef. 
The  yeomen  of  the  country  were  exceedingly 
proud  of  their  noble  teams  of  oxen,  and  one  vied 
with  another  in  breeding  and  working  the  best 
in  his  neighborhood.  Herds  of  repute  were 
then  many,  but  a  fine  choice  herd  was  then 
termed  a  'good  stock'  and  to  have  a  good  stock 
was  considered  a  sufficient  guarantee  of  purity 
of  breed.  The  grand  old  ox  mentioned  is  a  good 
representative  specimen  of  the  Tully's  variety 
of  Herefords." 

Then  again  we  find  in  the  "Hants  and  Berks 
Gazette"  (1884)  as  follows : 

"How  far  is  early  maturity  likely  in  future 
to  influence  decisions  at  fat  cattle  shows,  and  to 
what  extent  ought  it  to  influence  them,  are 
points  not  unlikely  to  become  of  pressing  im- 
portance. A  decision  in  the  agricultural  hall 
last  week  bears  on  this  point  and  is  particularly 
noteworthy,  as  it  brought  two  of  the  sets  of 
judges  into  direct  collision. 

"The  Shorthorn  judges  gave  the  breed  cup 
to  the  Queen's  remarkably  wealthy  heifer,  thus 
placing  her  above  all  the  first  prize  steers,  as 
well  as  Mr.  R.  Stratton's  first  prize  cow,  but 


HAMPTON    COURT,    LEOMINSTKR,    HEREFORDSHIRE. 
The  seat  of  J.  H.  Arkwright. 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


when  another  bench  had  to  decide  for  the  cham- 
pion plate  the  judges  did  not  take  the  usual 
course  of  deciding  between  the  best  steer  or  ox 
and  the  best  heifer  or  cow.,  but  had  up  the  whole 
of  the  first  prize  animals  for  further  inspection. 
This  resulted,  it  is  true,  in  the  champion  plate 
being  awarded  to  Mr.  Wortley's  beast,  already 
pronounced  to  be  the  best  male,  but  as  reserve 
to  the  champion  plate,  they  selected  Mr.  Hugh 
Gorringe's  Shorthorn  steer  under  two  years, 
which  had  won  the  first  prize,  consequently  the 
latter  was  pronounced  to  be  the  second  best 
beast  in  the  show,  although  he  had  been  pre- 
viously beaten  for  the  Shorthorn  breed  cup  by 
the  Queen's  heifer.  The  circumstance  is  pecu- 
liarly relevant  to  the  point  of  inquiry  I  have 
just  made,  inasmuch  as  prime  quality  united  to 
early  maturity  was  what  chiefly  distinguished 
Mr.  H.  Gorringe's  steer — characteristics  which 
another  set  of  judges  had  not  placed  completely 
in  ascendency  over  the  riper  early  maturity  or 
a  few  months  older  combined  to  such  greater 
wealth  possessed  by  the  Queen's  heifer. 

"In  speaking  recently  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Marshbrook  Agricultural  Society,  Mr.  J.  Hill, 
of  Felhampton,  spoke  of  the  rare  excellence  of 
the  first  cross  between  a  Hereford  bull  and  a 
Shorthorn  cow,  mentioning  that  the  champion 
ox  at  Chicago  last  year  was  of  this  variety  as 
well  as  the  crack  animals  in  England  this  year, 
which  has  filled  highest  positions  at  the  Nor- 
wich and  Smithfield  Shows.  No  doubt  Mr. 
Hill's  opinion  is  worthy  of  being  paid  high 
deference  to  in  assuming  that  such  a  cross  is 
the  very  best  for  grazing  purposes  that  can  pos- 
sibly be  made,  but  it  should  be  remembered 
that  there  are  very  few  crosses  in  the  past  in 
general  farming,  where  both  sire  and  dam  have 


been  absolute  pure-bred,  owing  to  the  dam  be- 
ing usually  considered  far  too  valuable  to  breed 
to  any  bull  but  one  of  her  own  breed.  The 
progeny  of  pure-bred  Devon  cows  mated  with 
Hereford  sires  would  probably  be  superior  for 
grazing  purposes  even  to  the  Hereford- Short- 
horn cross,  unless  the  Shorthorn  cow  was  very 
much  superior,  as  much  better  quality  would  be 
derived.  Further,  it  may  be  worthy  of  note  that 
Mr.  Miller,  when  in  England  about  a  year  since, 
remarked  what  valuable  grown  beasts  might  be 
bred  by  many  in  the  western  shires,  who  have 
Devon  herds,  if  they  were  only  to  cross  them  by 
Hereford  bulls. 

"Another  observation  of  Mr.  Hill's  in  the 
speech  alluded  to  is  worthy  of  note,  as  it  was  a 
reply  to  the  strictures  of  Mr.  Coleman,  in  his 
report  on  prize  farms  in  the  Royal  Agricultural 
Society's  Journal,  on  the  method  of  calf-rearing 
as  adopted  by  Hereford  breeders.  He  said  the 
Royal  judges  were  unable  to  perceive  how  it 
could  pay  to  keep  a  cow  all  the  year  just  to  rear 
one  calf,  but  he  thought  if  the  superior  early 
maturity  of  the  calf  was  considered,  full  com- 
pensation would  be  obtained  for  the  sacrifice  of 
milk  by  obtaining  a  much  better  beast.  This, 
however,  may  be  a  matter  of  opinion.  The 
point  of  a  better  animal  being  produced  by  con- 
tinuing the  system  than  by  hand  rearing,  was 
scarcely  disputed  by  Mr.  Coleman  and  the  Royal 
judges.  All  they  ventured  to  doubt  was  whether 
too  much  is  not  sacrificed  for  the  early  maturity 
and  better  beast,  especially  as  it  comprehends 
the  probable  impairment  of  the  cow's  milking 
properties  in  the  future.  The  question  is  prob- 
ably one  scarcelv  admitting  of  satisfactory  de- 
cision without  absolute  experiments." 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


347 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

HEREFORD  MOVEMENTS  BEGIN  TO  COMMAND  THE  OPPOSITION'S  RESPECT 


The  investigation  of  the  opposition  to  Here- 
fords,  and  the  means  used  by  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers from  the  time  of  Youatt  until  the  present, 
would  shadow  and  dim  the  operations  of  the 
Star  Route  conspirators.  These  operations,  it 
will  be  noticed,  have  been  directed  against  the 
Herefords  and  those  interested  in  them  with 
the  utmost  venom  and  vindictiveness.  When 
Mr.  Youatt,  at  the  dictation  of  the  Shorthorn 
breeders,  put  forth  all  the  facts  he  could  reach 
to  advance  that  interest,  and  suppressed  the 
facts  that  would  advance  and  maintain  the 
claims  of  the  Herefords,  from  that  time  until 
now,  these  tactics  have  been  practiced.  In  1834 
Youatt  wrote  in  the  interest  of  the  Shorthorns ; 
in  1839  the  Royal  was  established  and  run  in 
the  Shorthorn  interest;  in  1851,  control  of  the 
Smithfield  Club  was  obtained  and  run  in  this 
interest;  in  1841,  the  New  York  Society  was 
established  and  officered  and  run  for  the  benefit, 
and  in  the  interest  of  the  Shorthorns,  by  Short- 
horn breeders. 

All  these  schemes  have  been  continuously 
practiced.  Stating  these  facts  as  a  matter  of 
history,  we  will  take  up  and  discuss  the  oper- 
ations of  the  Illinois  State  Agricultural  Society 
and  its  management.  We  wish  to  be  fairly  un- 
derstood in  the  position  we  take.  When  we 
charge  the  Shorthorn  breeders  of  this  country 
and  England,  we  speak  of  them  as  writers  would 
speak  of  political  parties  when  they  are  charged 
with  corrupt  practices.  It  does  not  follow  that 
the  rank  and  file  are  included  in  the  charges 
of  corruption;  but  it  is  of  those  who  manipu- 
late these  corrupt  and  fraudulent  plans.  Their 
supporters  are  led  and  influenced  into  support- 
ing these  leaders  and  their  plans.  So  it  is  with 
the  large  bulk  of  Shorthorn  breeders.  They 
accept  Youatt  as  authority  for  the  early  stand- 
ing of  the  Shorthorns.  They  inquire  for  some 
work  that  will  give  them  information  that  may 
be  considered  a  reliable  guide,  and  they  will 
be  directed  to  Allen's  work  on  American  cattle, 
or  to  Ambrose  Stevens,  Youatt  and  Martin. 
Would  we  be  saying  too  much,  that  they  have 


done  as  much  as  they  could  to  bring  the  Short- 
horns to  the  notice  of  the  reader,  and  as  little 
as  they  could  to  bring  the  merits  of  the  Here- 
fords before  the  public?  There  is  much  that 
either  might  have  found  if  they  had  wished.  As 
early  as  1840,  H.  S.  Randall  quoted  Youatt 
against  the  Herefords  in  his  controversy  with 
Mr.  Sotham.  He  ought  then  to  have  known 
that  Youatt  was  the  editor  for  the  Shorthorn 
work. 

The  first  show  held  under  the  direction  of 
the  Illinois  State  Board,  we  think,  was  in  1853 ; 
and  we  think  no  one  will  question  the  fact  that 
it  was  largely  under  the  control  of  the  Short- 
horn breeders  and  that  the  claims  of  that  breed 
were  pushed;  but  of  the  earlier  years  of  this 
society  we  have  not  much  to  say.  The  premi- 
ums, so  far  as  we  know,  were  uniform  for 
Shorthorns,  Herefords  and  Devons. 

This  was  true  in  1872,  when  the  Herefords 
made  their  show  under  Miller  and  Powell,  and 
for  1873  and  1874;  but  in  1875  the  Shorthorn 
-premiums  were  raised  about  70  per  cent  and  the 
Herefords  reduced  about  33  per  cent ;  and  dur- 
ing four  years  a  majority  of  the  judges  for  herd 
and  sweepstakes  premiums  were  Shorthorn 
breeders,  and  they  ignored  the  Herefords  as 
completely  as  though  they  had  not  been  on  the 
ground.  While  the  Hereford  premiums  were 
reduced  in  1875,  the  Jerseys  were  permitted  to 
stand  as  before,  and  Shorthorn  advocates  would, 
under  these  circumstances,  proclaim  awards 
rendered  by  Shorthorn  judges  as  evidence  of 
merit.  And  this  is  not  peculiar  to  Shorthorn 
breeders  of  Illinois,  but  it  is  the  rule,  whether 
in  Illinois,  New  York,  Ohio,  Kentucky  or  Eng- 
land. 

In  1876  the  Illinois  State  Board  put  the 
Shorthorn  premiums  back  to  what  they  were 
previous  to  1875,  but  did  not  change  the  Here- 
fords. In  1877,  the  Board  still  further  reduced 
the  Shorthorn  premiums  and  advanced  the 
Herefords,  making  them  even,  and  placed  the 
milk  breeds  on  the  same  basis,  in  which  condi- 
tion they  have  remained  until  now. 


348 


But  this  equalization  was  opposed  by  the 
Shorthorn  breeders  outside,  and  by  their  friends 
in  the  Board;  and  while  all  breeds  were  per- 
mitted to  compete  for  herd  and  sweepstakes 
premiums,  they  were  obliged  to  do  so  under 
Shorthorn  judges;  and  Shorthorn  breeders  and 
advocates  said  to  the  Hereford  breeders,  "When 
you  can  win  before  our  agricultural  shows,  then 
we  want  them."  We  have  mentioned  in  detail, 
elsewhere,  the  show  for  1878. 

In  1879  the  judges  were  selected  previous  to 
the  fair,  and  no  protest  was  permitted.  This 
year,  and  the  year  1877,  the  judging  was  fairly 
conducted— both  1877  and  1879  followed  two 
specially  partisan  years,  the  first  under  W.  J. 
Neely  and  Col.  Judy,  and  the  second  under  Col. 
Judy,  both  Shorthorn  breeders.  We  are  not 
advised  fully,  or  are  not  authorized  to  speak 
for  the  Board,  when  we  say  that  the  partisan 
action  in  1876  and  1878  brought  the  Board  to 
the  determination  to  do  something  to  check  the 
manipulations  of  the  Shorthorn  men.  Still,  we 
believe  that  it  is  true. 

The  inauguration  of  the  Fat  Stock  Show  was 
an  innovation  upon  the  Shorthorn  plans.  They 


had  been  showing  fat  and  barren  cows;  they  had 
selected  the  top  animals  from  different  herds, 
and  often  these  show  herds  represented  a  fair 
fortune;  and  while  the  country  was  full  of 
these  show  herds  and  winning  as  breeding  stock, 
they  could  not  bring  a  respectable  showing  of 
cows  that  would  win  before  the  butcher. 

At  the  first  Fat  Stock  Show  in  1878,  the 
Hereford  cow  "Jennie"  took  the  sweepstakes 
premium  for  best  cow  in  the  show.  The  Here- 
ford cow  won  the  sweepstakes  fairly  in  1879, 
though  there  might  have  been  a  chance  for  a 
difference  of  judgment;  but  in  1880,  of  all  the 
partisan  work  that  had  been  done,  this  was  the 
most  glaring;  and  as  an  evidence  that  we  do 
not  express  simply  an  opinion  from  a  Plereford 
standpoint,  we  will  say  that  of  all  the  Shorthorn 
writers  that  undertook  to  get  comfort  out  of 
that  show,  not  one,  as  far  as  we  know,  made  a 
claim  for  winning  the  sweepstakes  for  the  best 
cow  in  the  show. 

The  judging  in  1880,  when  the  different 
breeds  came  into  competition,  was  first  on 
grades,  and  was  wholly  and  entirely  indefen- 
sible. The  judges  were  discharged  for  cause,  but 


COURT  HOUSE,   PEMBRIDGE,   HEREFORDSHIRE. 
Residence  of  J.   Price.     Mr.  Harry  Yeld  and  Mr.  John  Price  in  the  foreground. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


349 


still  the  verdict  was  permitted  to  stand.  A  pro- 
test was  made  against  the  awards  on  grounds  of 
gross  injustice.  This  was  admitted.  "But/' 
said  the  Board,  "we  have  no  way  to  set  aside 
an  award  except  on  account  of  fraud."  One  of 
the  Board  very  correctly  said,  "A  court,  when- 
ever a  jury  brings  in  a  verdict  contrary  to  evi- 
dence, sets  it  aside,  and  the  jury  is  discharged. 
We,"  said  the  member,  "have  discharged  the 
judges,  and  it  follows  that  the  awards  should 
be  set  aside." 

The  next  day  the  Herefords,  in  competition 
with  thoroughbreds  and  grades,  took  the  sweep- 


fords,  3  years  old ;  one  Shorthorn,  2  years  old ; 
one  Hereford,  2  years  old;  two  Shorthorns,  1 
year  old;  one  Hereford,  1  year  old.  Of  the 
yearling  Shorthorns,  Mr.  Gillette  entered  one 
and  Mr.  Moninger  the  other,  but  both  refused  to 
dress.  Mr.  Gillette  entered  and  dressed  both 
the  Shorthorns. 

The  Shorthorn  breeders,  it  will  be  noticed, 
did  not  propose  to  bring  their  breed  to  this  test, 
except  Mr.  Moninger,  and  he  refused  to  fulfill. 
The  test  by  dressing  is  the  one  that  conies  the 
nearest  to  a  perfect  measurement. 

•While  the  Shorthorn  breeders  claimed  greater 


LORD     WILTON     (4740)     4057     AND    TWO    OF     HIS     DAUGHTERS. 


stakes  for  each  age — on  two  and  three-year-old 
steers.  We  have  already  alluded  to  the  award 
on  the  cow.  For  the  best  beast  in  the  show 
the  Shorthorns  took  this  under  protest,  and 
the  Herefords  took  the  reserve  vote  for  this 
also. 

We  would  now  call  attention  to  the  dress- 
ing of  the  bullocks.  The  Shorthorn  breeders 
claimed  greater  size,  heavier  hind-quarters  as 
compared  with  the  fore-quarters,  with  smaller 
heads,  feet,  etc.  Those  who  tried  to  detract 
from  the  Hereford  victory  did  not  discuss  the 
details  of  this  test.  There  were  entered  for 
dressing,  one  Shorthorn,  3  years  old ;  two  Here- 


size,  the  three-year-old  bullocks  offered  by  them 
were  20  per  cent  lighter  than  the  Herefords; 
and  the  two-year-old  was  10  per  cent  lighter 
than  the  Hereford  two-year-old.  The  hind- 
quarters of  the  Hereford  premium  steer  were 
40  pounds  lighter  than  the  fore-quarters ;  while 
the  hind-quarters  of  the  Shorthorn  were  108£ 
pounds  lighter,  while  of  the  two-year-olds  the 
Herefords  showed  a  difference  of  40  pounds, 
and  the  Shorthorns  52|  pounds. 

Another  point  the  Shorthorn  advocates  made 
was  as  to  heavy  heads.  By  an  examination  of 
the  figures  it  will  be  found  that  even  here  the 
percentage  is  with  the  Herefords.  The  Here- 


350 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


ford  exhibitors  met  every  point  in  contest  and 
showed  greater  merit  for  their  breed. 

These  tests,  however,  do.  not  touch  the  real 
question  at  issue  between  the  two  breeds,  to-wit, 
the  cost  of  production  and  value  of  product. 
As  a  result  of  these  showings,  however,  the  ac- 
cessions to  the  number  of  Hereford  breeders  at 
that  time  were  large  and  consisting  of  men  of 
large  means  and  great  experience  in  cattle  rais- 
ing and  feeding. 

The  arguments  used  to  show  the  unparalleled 
excellence  of  the  Shorthorns  are  often  of  the 

flimsiest  nature. 
In  the  Seventh 
Annual  Meeting 
of  the  Iowa  Im- 
proved Stock 
Breeders'  Associa- 
tion, Mr.  Pliny 
Nichols  presented 
the  claims  of  the 
Shorthorns  and 
stated  his  posi- 
tion. First,  to 
show  the  merits  of 
the  Shorthorn  as  a 
combined  machine 
for  milk  and  beef ; 
second,  his  merits 
for  beef  alone,  and 
third,  his  value 
for  the  improve- 
ment of  natives  and  other  breeds.  On  the 
first  he  claimed  that  75  per  cent  of  cattle 
for  beef  and  the  dairy  in  England  are  of 
Shorthorn  blood,  quite  oblivious  of  the  fact, 
that  on  the  same  principle,  he  might  claim  that 
as  75  per  cent  of  the  cattle  for  beef  and  dairy 
were  scrub  stock,  therefore  it  was  best.  We 
quote  Mr.  C.  F.  Clarkson,  speaker  at  the  same 
convention,  who  preceded  Mr.  Nichols,  as  fol- 
lows: "Our  modern  breeders  claim  that  they 
have  improved  this  stock  (the  Shorthorn)  in 
grace  and  form,  while  they  sacrificed  the  milk- 
ing qualities,  until  it  requires  the  aid  of  some 
other  breed  to  raise  their  calves." 

With  this  quotation  we  will  pass  the  claims 
to  a  combined  machine  and  notice  Mr.  Nichols 
on  the  Shorthorn  for  beef  alone.  He  said,  "For 
early  maturity,  size,  hardiness,  prepotency,  cost 
of  production  and  value  of  product,  the  Short- 
horn excels  all  others."  If  Mr.  Nichols  had 
closed  this  schedule  of  merits  by  saying  he  does 
not  excel  all  others,  he  would  have  made  a 
statement  that  he  could  have  maintained. 

The  contest  that  year  (1879)  for  the  cham- 
pion prize  at  Smithfield  for  the  best  beast  in 
the  show,  was  between  a  Hereford  and  Short- 


SAMUEL    GOODE, 

of  Ivingtonbury,    Herefordshire, 
for  many  years  in  Australia. 


horn  under  two  years  and  six  months  old.  They 
were  of  the  same  weight  and  ages.  On  this 
point  there  was  no  difference,  but  the  award 
was  given  to  the  Shorthorn,  and  there  were 
those  who  questioned  the  correctness  of  the 
award.  Knowing  that  a  Hereford  always  sells 
for  more  money  per  pound  in  London,  we  ques- 
tioned the  justice  of  the  decision  and  had  cuts 
made  of  the  two  steers,  (fl  246)  The  "Mark 
Lane  Express"  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  the 
award  was  right,  "although,"  they  say,  "the 
Hereford  was  the  firmer  fleshed  animal,"  and 
a  little  further  questioning  elicited  the  fact  that 
the  two  bullocks  going  to  the  butcher,  the  Here- 
ford would  have  sold  for  the  most  money.  If 
then  the  champion  steer  of  this  show  was  a  two- 
year-old,  and  the  choice  was  between  two,  a 
Hereford  and  a  Shorthorn  of  the  same  age  and 
weight,  and  the  Hereford  was  of  a -quality  to 
command  the  larger  price  in  the  market,  he 
should  have  had  the  champion  place.  This 
must  have  been  known  to  Mr.  Nichols  when  he- 
came  before  the  Iowa  Society.  He  might,  with 
the  same  propriety,  point  to  the  awards  of  the 
Iowa  Agricultural  Society  as  an  evidence  of 
merit  for  his  breed. 

Mr.  Nichols  then  took  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock 
Show  and  averaged  it  for  three  years,  and  said, 
"Of  course  exceptional  cases  can  be  given  where 
the  Herefords  have  attained  good  weights  and 
creditable  gains  per  day  from  birth,  especially 
when  they  have  resorted  to  the  Shorthorn  blood 
to  make  the  cross  on." 

Now,  Mr.  Nichols  and  other  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers ought  to  have  known  that  the  claim  was  not 
valid.  The  truth  is  that  the  Shorthorn  on  the 
native  cattle  of  the  country,  has  not  produced 
a  uniform  bullock.  There  is  no  reliability  to 
be  placed  upon  the  character  of  the  bullock 
bred  from  native  or  scrub  cows  by  the  use  of 
the  Shorthorn  bull,  and  we  must  give  the  same 
uncertainty  to  the  heifers  as  to  the  bullocks, 
and  these  heifers  we  must  use — heifers  that  no 
Shorthorn  man  would  admit  bore  any  resem- 
blance to  the  Shorthorn  type — and  when  we  put 
the  Hereford  bull  upon  these  heifers  and  pro- 
duce winning  steers,  they  turn  around  and 
claim  the  merit  for  the  Shorthorn.  But  it  is 
not  true,  and  the  claim  that  was  made  by  An- 
derson and  endorsed  by  Nichols  as  to  the  bul- 
lock at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1880  was  fraud- 
ulent. 

Said  Mr.  Nichols,  "The  Hereford  breeders 
have  by  such  extraordinary  means  captured 
scarcely  one-third  the  premiums  as  against 
Shorthorns."  The  managers  of  the  Fat  Stock 
Show  offered  a  premium,  first  and  second,  for 
the  best  grade  three-year-old  steer;  for  the  best 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


351 


grade  two-year-old  steer;  for  the  best  grade 
one-year-old  steer;  and  sweepstakes  for  the 
best  of  any  breed  three  years  old ;  for  the  best 
of  any  breed  two  years  old,  and  for  the  best  of 
any  breed  one  year  old ;  for  the  best  cow  of  any 
breed  three  years  old,  or  over;  for  the  best 
beast  in  the  show.  Here  are  eleven  premiums 
in  the  grades,  six  first  and  second.  The  Here- 
fords  took  two  seconds.  The  judges,  in  this 
case,  the  president  discharged  for  cause;  and 
when  the  Herefords  came  into  competition 
again  with  these  and  the  thoroughbreds  the 
next  day  under  a  committee  selected  with 
greater  care,  the  Herefords  took  every  premium, 
and  when  we  take  the  fact  that  the  judges  in 
the  first  case  were  dismissed  for  cause,  it  was 
not  in  good  taste  for  such  Shorthorn  men  to 
claim  honor  for  the  awards.  On  the  sweep- 
•stakes  cow  a  special  committee  was  appointed, 
and  the  Shorthorn  cow  taking  the  award  was 
nothing  more  than  what  would  be  termed  a 
butcher's  beast  at  the  yards,  and  for  the  best 
beast  of  the  show,  the  Shorthorn  steer  taking 
the  award  had  been  fully  discussed  in  the  press ; 
and  the  admission  of  the  animal  was  not  gen- 
erally deemed  creditable  to  the  Board  or  the 
Shorthorn  men.  Out  of  eleven  premiums  the 
Herefords  took  five,  and  were  entitled  to  eleven. 
For  dressed  bullocks  they  took  two  out  of  three. 
Out  of  fourteen  premiums  they  took  seven  and 
were  entitled  to  thirteen.  The  Shorthorns  took 
on  grade  steers  four  premiums  on  three  steers 
under  a  committee  of  judges  that  were  dis- 
missed for  cause  and  under  another  committee 
the  Herefords  reversed  these  awards. 

Shorthorns  may  have  improved  the  common 
cattle  of  the  country,  perhaps,  as  Mr.  Nichols 
said,  $10  a  head,  or  an  addition  of  $400,000,000 
to  the  cattle  of  the  country.  This  was  pretty 
extensive  figuring,  and  we  promised  to  take  the 
Hereford  and  put  him  upon  this  Shorthorn 
produce,  and  add  $20  a  head  to  the  value,  and 
leave  Mr.  Nichols  to  estimate  the  result.  This 
is  the  point  we  made  and  continue  to  reiterate, 
that  beef  can  be  made  on  Hereford  cattle  at  25 
per  cent  less  cost  than  on  Shorthorn  cattle. 

Mr.  A.  S.  Matthews,  in  his  efforts  to  bolster 
up  the  Shorthorns  and  depreciate  the  Here- 
fords, gave  an  account  in  the  "National  Live 
Stock  Journal"  of  the  Shorthorns  at  Smith- 
field. 

Tn  1879  the  champion  prize  for  the  best  beast 
in  the  show  was  between  a  Hereford  and  a 
Shorthorn  under  two  years  and  six  months  old, 
to  which  we  have  referred.  The  Hereford  was 
the  equal  in  weight  and  gain  per  day,  and  was 
worth  more  on  the  market,  and  still  he  was  left 
without  the  honor,  For  what  reason  ?  Because 


of  Shorthorn  influence  in  the  management  and 
in  the  judges.  The  facts  given  as  to  the  judges 
in  the  show  of  the  Illinois  State  Board,  is  as 
applicable  to  the  Smithfield,  and  from  this  rea- 
son, we  presume,  the  Herefprd  men  have  kept 
from  the  show. 

Mr.  Matthews  then  devoted  considerable  space 
to  show  the  greater  weight  of  the  Shorthorns. 
If  he  had  taken  the  history  of  Mr.  Charles  Col- 
ling with  the  early  Shorthorns,  he  would  have 
found  that  a. good  portion  of  his  life  as  a 
breeder  was  devoted  to  experiments  to  reduce 
the  size  and  coarseness  by  crossing  with  the 
Scotch  breeds. 

Youatt  says:  "He  (Colling)  was  sensible 
also  of  the  difficulty  of  breeding,  with  anything 
like  certainty,  large  good  animals.  He  found 
the  Teeswater  like  all  other  extravagantly  large 
animals,  frequently  of  loose  make  and  disposi- 
tion." The  Scotch  cross  helped  him  out  of  his 
difficulty,  and  the  same  is  necessary  now.  Writ- 
ers in  those  days  gave  the  Scot  credit,  but  not  so 
the  writers  of  my  time. 

Quotations  were  made  by  Mr.  Matthews  from 
the  "Mark  Lane  Express"  to  support  his  Short- 
horn claims  of  important  victory  at  Smithfield, 
1879,  and  we  gave  him  the  benefit  of  that  jour- 
nal's remarks  on  the  Bath  and  West  of  England 
Show  in  1878,  where  they  said:  "We  consider 
the  Shorthorn  cow  class  to  be  a  disgrace  to  the 
breed,  and  therefore  to  the  breeder.  We  are 
quite  unable  to  discover  the  'grandeur'  and  the 
'superb  character'  of  these  old  crocks,  which 


DALE   TREDEGAR    (5856)    14682,   AT   10  MONTHS. 
Bred  by  H.  J.  Bailey,  exported  to  Australia. 

some  of  the  Shorthorn  fanciers  appear  to  have 
the  faculty  of  discerning,  and  do  not  hesitate 
to  record  them  as  being  just  a  rough  lot  of 
cows;  if  their  blood  is  of  the  bluest,  their  car- 
casses are  of  the  ugliest,  and  not  worth  anything 
beyond  contractor's  price  when  they  come  at 
last  to  the  shambles.  We  cannot  help  thinking 
that  to  an  unprejudiced  mind  there  must  be  evi- 
dence of  a  something  quite  outside  of  agricul- 
ture, and  quite  useless  to  the  rent-paying  farm- 
er, in  this  Shorthorn  'fancy.'  We  are  sensible  of 


352 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


the  improvement  that  has  been  effected  already 
in  the  rank  and  file  of  our  cattle  throughout 
the  country  by  the  use  of  this  Shorthorn  blood; 
we  do  not  wish  to  detract  one  iota  from  its 
legitimate  merits,  but  simply  to  point  out 
wherein  it  becomes  sometimes  a  matter  for  the 
ridicule  of  non-believers.  We  see  prizes  awarded 
systematically  to  animals  which  are  not  calcu- 
lated directly  to  improve  the  production  either 
of  meat  or  milk  in  their  descendants,  and  we 
are  told  that  there  is  some  marvelous  power  or 
virtue  stored  up  in  their  veins,  and  that  al- 
though their  bodies — the  casket — are  unsightly, 


ROYAL  HEAD   (4490)  15765  AT  2  YEARS  8  MONTHS. 
Bred    by    J.    Williams,    Herefordshire.      Exported    to    Aus- 
tralia. 

their  blood — the  jewel — is  pure,  potent,  and 
almost  priceless.  Well,  we  simply  do  not  be- 
lieve it,  as  they  put  it.  We  are  perfectly  well 
aware  that  any  'terribly  in-bred'  weed,  a  wretch 
to  look  at,  but  having  an  unexceptional  pedi- 
gree, will,  if  matched  with  mongrel-bred  stock, 
produce  a  result,  which  is  far,  very  far,  in  ad- 
vance of  the  mongrel-bred  dams;  but  so  would 
any  absolutely  pure-bred  animals.  Therefore, 
we  think  that  farmers,  those  who  have  the  pro- 
duction of  beef  or  milk  in  view,  have  a  right 
to  expect  something  which  is  calculated  to  effect 
their  object  in  a  direct  manner;  no  breeder  of 
bullocks  would  give  herd  room,  much  less  a 
high  price,  for  the  bluest  blood  bull  which  did 
not  carry  a  frame  the  character  of  which  it  was 
desirable  to  transmit.  When  a  lot  of  highly- 
bred  but  not  correctly  fashionable  young  bulls 
are  to  be  bought  for  about  30  pounds  sterling 
($150)  apiece,  and  here  and  there  one  which 
has  been  bred  correctly  to  fashion  fetches  3,000 
pounds  sterling  ($15,000)  and  would  not  be 
worth  one  shilling  more  to  the  food  producer, 
then  we  think  we  are  justified  in  saying  that 
rent-paying  farmers  have  already  drawn  the 
line  between  business  and  fancy  by  refusing  to 
give  more  than  a  business  price  for  a  fancy 
article.  We  should  be  glad  to  see  every  young 
Shorthorn  bull  now  in  the  breeders'  hands  sold 
to  tenant  farmers,  who  would  use  them  for  meat 
or  milk  as  their  requirements  might  decide,  and 


are  firm  believers  in  the  general  usefulness  and 
superior  adaptability  of  the  breed  to  any  other ; 
but  we  feel  it  a  duty  to  point  out  the  ridiculous 
position  the  Shorthorn  breeders  seem  content  to 
occupy  at  our  great  shows  by  the  mixed  quality 
and  low  status  of  many  of  the  animals  exhib- 
ited, and  which  gives  opportunity  for  pointing 
the  finger  of  scorn,  and  leads  to  such  questions 
as,  'When  is  the  bottom  of  this  Shorthorn  hum- 
bug likely  to  drop  out  ?'  We  hear  a  good  deal 
about  the  'alloy,'  and  if  correctly  informed,  it 
means  an  infusion  of  Scots  blood  of  some  kind, 
and  to  our  mind  the  very  thing  these  Short- 
horns are  now  needing  is  another  infusion — a 
strong  one  of  some  alloy  which  will  give  them 
the  thickness  of  flesh,  the  wealth  of  hair,  and 
the  butcher's  form  they  so  seldom  possess,  and 
then  we  should  be  prepared  to  expect  great 
things  of  the  renovated  blood." 

The  same  paper,  in  speaking  of  the  Herefords 
at  this  show,  says: 

"They  are  not  so  numerous  as  the  more 
fashionable  breed,  but  the  quality  throughout 
is  excellent.  In  the  aged  bull  class  there  are 
five  animals  of  which  the  Hereford  men  need 
•not  be  ashamed. 

"The  heifers  in  milk  or  in  calf  numbered 
only  three,  but  two  of  them  were  such  animals 
as  it  was  worth  while  coming  to  Oxford  on 
purpose  to  see.  Mrs.  Sarah  Edwards'  'Leonora' 
is  one  of  the  most  perfect  animals  that  has  been 
shown  for  years;  if  she  had  been  a  Duchess 
Shorthorn,  a  poem  would  have  been  composed 
in  her  honor,  and  translated  into  several  lan- 
guages by  this  time.  But  no  Shorthorn  that  we 
have  ever  seen  was  cast  in  such  a  mold  as  this 
Hereford  heifer." 

On  the  awarding  of  the  champion  prizes  at 
this  show  we  quoted  for  Mr.  Matthews'  benefit, 
from  the  same  authority,  the  following  account : 

"The  whole  conclave  of  judges  came  into  the 
ring  to  decide  which  was  the  best  male  horned 
animal  in  the  yard,  and  here  the  Shorthorn  men 
were  in  a  hopeless  minority — cornered  in  a 
manner  that  does  not  often  happ'en  to  them  in 
a  show  yard.  In  vain  they  contrasted  the  strong 
points  of  the  Shorthorn  with  the  weak  ones  of 
the  Hereford.  It  was  all  to  no  purpose,  the 
rest  could  not  get  away  from  the  Hereford, 
whose  wonderful  rib  and  forehand  were  too 
much  for  the  Shorthorn,  and  a  show  of  hands 
showed  an  overwhelming  majority  for  the  Here- 
ford. There  is  no  doubt  that  had  the  Shorthorn 
judges  been  of  sufficient  numerical  strength, 
they  would  not  only  have  prevented  this  Here- 
ford triumph,  but  also  that  which  followed, 
when  the  best  female  animal  was  to  be  decided 
upon,  for  it  went  sadly  against  the  grain  to 


y  3 

l-K       03 

I1 

111 

~   ~  -I. 

~  ~  r, 

B  CC  a 
c?  ^  M 
P-  :H 


1C  J 

01 

Is! 


353 


award  even  such  a  heifer  as  Mrs.  Edwards' 
'Leonora'  the  championship  over  the  Shorthorn 
'Diana';  but  it  had  to  be  done,  and  we  think 
there  were  few.  outsiders  who  were  not  thor- 
oughly satisfied.  These  championship  awards 
were  an  unquestionable  streak  of  lean  for  the 
'fancy,'  and  we  may  depend  upon  their  not  al- 
lowing such  a  thing  to  occur  again  if  they  can 
possibly  help  it.  This,  after  the  Hereford  vic- 
tories at  Paris,  is  about  as  much  as  they  will  be 
able  to  bear  with  patience.  We  should  be  glad 
to  see  sweepstakes  judging  of  this  kind  occur 
more  frequently." 

The  honors  will  be  shifted  from  the  Here- 
fords  to  the  Shorthorns,  and  from  the  Short- 
horns to  the  Herefords,  and  again  the  Polled- 
Angus  may  win  over  both,  so  long  as  the  judg- 
ing is  upon  the  animal  without  regard  to  cost; 
but  when  their  merits  are  measured  by  the  "cost 
of  producing  and  value  of  product,"  there  will 
be  but  one  result,  and  that  will  always  be  in 
favor  of  Herefords. 

Mr.  Matthews  understood  very  well  that  the 
Shorthorns,  as  a  breed,  had  been  bred  to 
"Duke"  bulls  until  in  thje  language  of  the  "Na- 
tional Live  Stock  Journal,"  they  were  a 
"coughing,  wheezing,  consumptive  lot";  and 
in  the  language  of  Thornton's  circular,  "weedy 
offspring,  delicate  in  constitution,  and  ill- 
adapted  for  crossing  purposes." 

Mr.  Matthews'  statement  as  to  conditions  in 
England  were,  however,  taken  up  by  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express"  itself,  which  denied  emphati- 
cally Mr.  M.'s  assertion  and  said  decidedly  that 
the  Shorthorn  breed  had  not  yet  driven  the 
Hereford  breed  off  one  acre  of  ground.  In  its 
issue  for  July  4,  1881,  it  said:  "There  is  a 
lively  controversy  respecting  the  comparative 
merits  of  Shorthorns  and  Herefords  going  on 
in  the  columns  of  the  'Xational  Live  Stock 
Journal'  (Chicago),  between  Mr.  A.  S.  Mat- 
thews, of  Wytheville,  Va.,  and  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller, 
of  Beecher,  111.,  and  they  both  quote  the  'Mark 
Lane  Express'  as  supporting  them  in  their  re- 
spective arguments.  In  this  controversy  we 
have  no  wish  to  enter;  we  shall  enjoy  seeing 
them  fight  it  out.  Neither  of  these  gentlemen 
requires  any  assistance  from  us,  but  they  each 
of  them  call  for  a  remark  or  two  from  us  in  re- 
spect to  some  of  their  statements. 

"To  begin  with  Mr.  Matthews,  as  his  letter 
comes  first  in  the  'Journal'  and  is  replied  to  in 
the  same  number  by  Mr.  Miller:  In  referring 
to  our  report  of  the  last  Islington  Fat  Stock 
Show,  Mr.  Matthews  quotes  what  was  there  said 
of  Mr.  fJrissel's  mixed-bred  steer,  'by  a  Short- 
horn bull  out  of  a  non-pedigree  cow/  namely, 
that  he  was  precisely  the  sort  of  animal  with 


which  the  British  farmer  must  hope  to  win  in 
that  struggle  with  foreign  competition,  an  ani- 
mal which  can  be  grown  by  a  system  of  mixed 
husbandry,  which  has  the  production  of  meat 
and  milk  on  arable  land  for  its  basis.'  Now, 
if  this  is  precisely  the  sort  of  animal  that  the 
breeders  and  graziers  on  all  arable  farms  of 
mixed  husbandry  in  the  United  States  must 
grow  if  they  expect  to  send  beef,  live  or  dead,  to 
England  at  a  profit,  and  these  arable  farms  of 
mixed  husbandry  on  which  cattle  can  be  bred, 
grazed  and  fattened  profitably,  include  all  the 
land  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  north 
of  what  may  probably  be  termed  the  'Cotton 
Belt,'  in  reply  to  this  we  have  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that  where  conditions  of  mixed  hus- 
bandry exist  in  the  United  States,  equivalent  to 
those  which  constitute  the  essential  features  of 
mixed  husbandry  in  England,  the  Shorthorn 
breed  of  cattle  should,  according  to  our  ideas 
of  the  subject,  be  equally  suitable  and  ser- 
viceable there  as  here.  But  we  were  under  the 


JNO.    G.    IMBODEN,    DECATUR,    ILL. 
Celebrated  expert  judge. 

impression  that  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  north  of  the  Cotton  Belt  there  existed  in 
the  United  States  vast  plains  of  grazing  lands 
on  which  large  herds  of  cattle  are  bred,  reared 
and  fattened,  and  it  has  been  in  reference  to 
these  supposed  localities  that  we  have  ventured 
to  express  the  opinion,  that  Herefords  would  do 
better  than  Shorthorns.  If  'all  the  land  east  of 


354 


HISTORY     OF-   HEREFORD    CATTLE 


the  Rocky  Mountains  and  north  of  the  Cotton 
Belt/  which  will  include  part  of  Wyoming,  part 
of  Colorado,  nearly  the  whole  of  Montana,  the 
whole  of  Dakota,  Nebraska,  and  part  of  Kan- 
sas, not  to  mention  such  states  as  Minnesota, 
Iowa,  part  of  Missouri,  is  devoted  to  mixed 
husbandry  of  the  English  type,  then  we  have 
hitherto  been  greatly  in  error,  for  it  was  the 
district  west  of  Chicago  and  east  of  the  Rocky 


PHILIP    D.    ARMOUR,    CHICAGO. 

The  great  packer  and  philanthropist  was  always  a  patron 
and  lover  of  the  Herefords. 

Mountains  in  which  we  imagined  the  Herefords 
could  profitably  be  bred  by  allowing  the  calves 
to  suck  their  dams,  and  reared  for  beef  alone. 
There  is  a  mistake  somewhere.  However,  Mr. 
Matthews  says  nothing  about  the  districts  with- 
in or  south  of  the  Cotton  Belt,  and  as  we  im- 
agine these  include  Arizona  (fl  248),  New 
Mexico,  Texas  and  Arkansas,  in  some  of  which 
localities,  notably  Texas  (fl  247),  cattle  are 
reared  for  beef  alone,  there  must  be  at  least  a 
fair  chance  for  the  Herefords  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic. 

"We  have  one  more  remark  to  make  respect- 
ing Mr.  Matthew's  statements.  He  says :  'After 
the  Shorthorns  have  pretty  much  driven  the 
Herefords  out  of  England — for  they  don't  seem 
to  have  increased  in  number?  at  all;  in  fact, 
several  other  breeds  seem  to  be  gaining  fast  on 
the  Herefords,  especially  the  Polled  Norfolk, 
Sussex  and  cross-breds — it  will  be  something 
strange  if  the  Herefords  are  to  supplant  the 


Shorthorns  in  America.  What  if  Mr.  Cochrane 
of  Canada  did  buy  about  forty  Herefords  in 
England  last  year ?  What  of  it?  I  hardly  sup- 
pose that  forty  Herefords  would  cost  as  much 
as  Colonel  Cannon  gave  for  one  of  Mr.  Coch- 
rane's  Duchess  heifers  at  Dexter  Park  last  June, 
namely,  $8,000.'  Now,  the  Shorthorn  breed 
has  not  yet  driven  the  Hereford  breed  off  one 
acre  of  ground.  The  Hereford  breed  of  cattle 
is  certainly  anything  but  under  a  cloud  just 
now.  The  breed  does  not  extend  its  area,  that 
we  are  aware  of,  except  possibly,  in  Cornwall, 
but  it  holds  its  own  in  its  native  districts.  For 
purity  of  blood,  uniformity  of  character  and 
excellence  of  beef  points  the  Hereford  excels 
the  Shorthorn  by  a  long  way,  and  every  score 
of  Hereford  bullocks  sold  into  the  Midland 
grazing  districts  displaces  so  many  Shorthorns; 
if  forties  could  be  had  where  only  scores  are 
obtainable,  the  displacement  would  be  in  the 
same  increased  ratio.  Mr.  Matthews  has  not 
an  iota  of  evidence  to  support  his  assumption 
that  the  Shorthorns  are  driving  the  Herefords 
out  of  England — except  across  the  Atlantic  to 
take  their  place.  So  far  as  displacement  is 
concerned,  the  Shorthorns  have  crowded  out 
mongrels  to  a  great  extent,  but  much  remains 
for  them  to  do  in  this  respect;  and  they  are 
pushing  the  Longhorns — a  fine  old  race  of  cat- 
tle— to  sure  and  certain  extinction  in  course  of 
time,  because  they  contend  on  equal  terms.  The 
Devons  and  the  Norfolk  Polled  cattle  are  also 
being  crowded  by  the  Shorthorns.  But  nowhere 
have  they  displaced  the  Herefords." 

To  add  a  little  more  Shorthorn  testimony  as 
to  the  condition  of  the  breed  in  these  years  of 
which  we  are  writing,  and  when  these  contro- 
versies were  being  waged,  we  give  a  report, 
made  by  Mr.  George  Y.  Johnson,  secretary  of 
the  Kansas  State  Fair,  to  a  Shorthorn  Conven- 
tion held  at  Topeka: 
"Gentlemen  of  the  Kansas  State  Shorthorn 

Association : 

"Your  last  year's  essayist,  Hon.  F.  D.  Coburn, 
came  before  you,  very  properly,  as  the  advocate 
or  partisan  of  no  particular  breed,  because  he 
is  not  a  breeder  of  cattle.  I  come  before  you 
under  different  circumstances — as  a  man,  who, 
having  measured  his  ability  by  his  pocket  book, 
his  ability  to  rear  by  his  acreage,  his  ability  to 
grow  by  what  his  land  will  produce;  measur- 
ing with  some  degree  of  accuracy,  based  upon 
average  intelligence,  the  relative  profit  of  a 
limited  means  devoted  to  breeding  and  raising 
cattle. 

"After  careful  study  and  investigation,  with 
the  aid  of  such  information  as  I  was  able  to 
procure,  I  made  my  first  venture  in  grade  Short- 


HISTOEY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


355 


horns  and  a  thoroughbred  bull,  and  have  car- 
ried the  breeding  up  from  minimum  grades 
until  I  find  the  last  product  to  be  an  animal 
possessing  127  parts  Shorthorn  and  one  part 
native.  I  here  became  convinced  that  a  remark 
made  by  our  friend,  Colonel  Robert  Holloway, 
of  Illinois,  to  me  years  ago,  is  forcibly  true,  viz., 
'A  fault  in  form  can  be  remedied  by  judicious 
breeding,  but  a  stain  on  a  pedigree  can  never  be 
wiped  out.'  Hence,  I  purchased  thoroughbred 
females  of  registered,  faultless  pedigrees,  and 
have  now  no  interest  financially  in  any  breeding 
cattle  except  Shorthorns  and  their  grades.  This 
much  to  show  you  that  I  come  before  you  as  a 
Shorthorn  partisan,  and  that  whatever  I  may 
say  upon  this  subject  is  said  from  the  standpoint 
of  a  Shorthorn  advocate,  yet  trusting  that  this 
partiality  may  not  blind  my  eye  like  those  of  a 
fond  parent,  so  that  no  imperfections  are  dis- 
covered or  recognized  in  my  pets. 

THE   BREEDS   AT  KANSAS   CITY   AND  CHICAGO   IN 

1883. 

"I  find,  by  a  careful  study  of  classes  at  the 
Kansas  City  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1883,  that,  ex- 
cluding car-load  lots,  there  were  121  animals 
entered  individually;  of  these  the  following 
classification  is  made:  fifty-five  grade  Short- 
horns, twenty-two  thoroughbred  Shorthorns, 
eleven  grade  Herefords,  ten  thoroughbred  Here- 
fords,  five  thoroughbred  Angus,  two  thorough- 
bred Galloways,  thirteen  grade  Galloways,  two 
grade  Holsteins,  and  one  thoroughbred  Hoi- 
stein. 

"Taking  thoroughbreds  and  grades  and  class- 
ing them  altogether,  we  find  the  following  aver- 
age results: 

KANSAS    CITY. 


BREEDS. 

Av.  age 
in  days. 

Av. 
weight. 

Av.  daily 
gain 
from 
birth. 

One  year  and  under  two. 
27  Shorthorns    

.  .  .    630 

1245  Ibs 

1  97 

11  Herefords    

.  .  .    598 

1276  Ibs 

2  13 

Two  years  and  under  three. 
12  Shorthorns    

.  .  .    892 

15^9  'bs 

3  Herefords    .   . 

992 

3  Angus  and  Galloways. 
Three  years  and  under  four. 
12  Shorthorns    

...1,004 
.  .  1  ?52 

1435  Ibs. 
1963  Ibs 

1.42 

2  Herefords    

1  386 

2165  Ibs 

2  Angus    

...1,313 

1871  Ibs. 

1.42 

CHICAGO. 


Av.  as:e 
in  days. 


Av    Av.  daily 

weight,  ?|"° 
iHo  ii  om 
lbs"  birth. 


One  year  and  under  two. 

48  Shorthorns   .......................    633  1244 

43  Herefords    .../  ....................    534  1179 

Two  years  and  under  three. 

30  Shorthorns  .......................    903  1723 

22  Herefords    ........................    942  1543 

1  Angus     ............................  999  1815 

Three  years  and  under  four. 

26  Shorthorns   .......................  1,370  2041 

7  Herefords  ........................  1,361  2052 

1  Angus  ......  ,  ..........  ,,,,,,,,,,.1,380  2355 


196 
2  01 


191 
j  64 


149 
L50 
1.70 


"From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  results  at 
Kansas  City  and  Chicago  are  practically  the 
same,  and  hence  in  treating  specifically  we  in- 
clude the  other  also.  In  the  sweepstakes  rings, 
the  committee,  composed  of  old,  experienced 
.butchers,  awarded  as  follows : 

"In  the  ring  for  two  years  old  and  under 
three  there  were  at  Kansas  City  fifteen  entries, 
viz. :  Ten  Shorthorns,  one  Holstein,  two  Here- 
fords, and  two  Galloways.  The  premium  was 
awarded  to  'Benton's  Champion/  a  grade 
Hereford,  or  more  properly  a  Hereford  and 
Shorthorn  cross.  There  were  nineteen  entries 
in  the  ring  three  years  and  under  four,  as  fol- 
lows: Fifteen  Shorthorns,  two  Herefords,  one 
Angus  and  one  Galloway.  The  premium  was 
awarded  to  Starlight,  a  grade  Shorthorn — 
seven-eighths  Shorthorn,  one-eighth  native. 
From  all  the  foregoing  we  find  the  scales  pretty 
evenly  balanced  between  the  Shorthorns  and 
Herefords,  the  black  cattle  coming  in  third. 


JAS.    A.    FUNKHOUSER, 
Plattsburg,   Mo. 

The  preponderance  really  is  in  favor  of  the 
Herefords. 

A  POOK  EXCUSE. 

"It  is  a  poor  excuse  or  explanation  to  say  that 
most  of  the  premium  animals  claiming  to  be 
Herefords  grades  are  really  crosses  with  the 
Shorthorns,  as  the  following  query  suggests  it- 
self to  every  unprejudiced  man :  If  the  Here- 
ford is  an  inferior  animal,  why  should  the  cross 


356 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


upon  the  Shorthorn  (a  superior  animal)  pro- 
duce an  animal  superior  to  the  superior?  It 
may  be  some  solace  that  at  the  Chicago  show 
Starlight,  a  grade  Shorthorn,  took  the  sweep- 
stakes prize  as  best  carcass  in  his  class  of  three 
and  under  four  years  old,  and  was  also  awarded 
the  grand  sweepstakes  prize  as  best  carcass  in 
the  show ;  but  even  this  is  somewhat  tamed  and 
dimmed  by  the  fact  that  the  vote  of  the  judges 
was  a  tie  on  first  ballot  between  Starlight  and  a 
black  steer,  Waterside  Jock,  and  another,  and 


PURE  BRED  STEER  FRED  (BY  FORTUNE  2080). 

Bred    by    J.    S.    Hawes,    Colony,    Kan.      Champion    dressed 

carcass,  Kansas  City   Fat  Stock  Show,  1885. 

that  the  umpire  called  in,  cast  his  vote  for  Star- 
light— leaving  two  votes  for  Starlight,  one  for 
the  black  steer  and  one  for  a  Hereford.  Hence, 
whatever  may  be  our  individual  opinions,  the 
fact  remains  that  it  was  a  plurality,  and  not  a 
majority  vote,  awarding  him  the  grand  sweep- 
stakes. 

WHAT'S  THE  MATTER  WITH  OUR  LORDLY  SHORT- 
HORNS ? 

"From  all  this,  are  we  not  brought  face  to 
face  with  the  question  for  causes?  Why  is  it 
that  the  lordly  Shorthorn,  having  held  undis- 
puted sway  and  acknowledged  superior,  peerless, 
is  having  to  bow  before  the  bald  faces  and  black, 
hornless  Polls  ?  We  must  admit  that  there  is  a 
fault  somewhere,  and  that  it  is  about  time  to 
cease  much  of  this  mutual  admiration  business, 
and  leave  off  this  tooting  of  Shorthorns  with 
immeasurable  pedigrees,  and  look  to  the  causes 
of  these  defeats.  I  feel  a  delicacy  in  saying  the 
following,  as  it  should  have  been  proclaimed  in 
every  Shorthorn  meeting  for  the  past  ten  years 
by  much  older  breeders  than  myself. 

"We  seem  to  be  crying  aloud  to  make  a  noise, 
to  attract  attention  from  something ;  a  kind  of 
'Great  is  Diana  of  the  Ephesians'  uproar ;  and 
while  we  are  at  this  foolishness,  the  Hereford, 
Angus,  and  Galloway  men  are  intelligently  and 


persistently  pushing  the  claims  of  their  pets, 
until  they  are  within  our  very  entrenchments 
and  calling  for  unconditional  surrender.  Have 
we  not  rested  under  the  shadow  of  a  great  fame, 
and  relied  upon  the  ancestry  of  our  breed  to 
carry  us  through  everything,  long  enough? 
Have  not  Shorthorn  breeders  carried  on  a  sense- 
less war  upon  strains  of  blood,  out-crosses,  line- 
breeding,  belittling  all  others  except  their  own, 
and  bred  many  herds  into  degeneracy?  Have 
they  not  sold  for  bulls  to  perpetuate  faults,  ani- 
mals that  would  not  make  good  steers?  Have 
they  not  bought  and  sold  with  too  much  regard 
for  line  pedigrees,  and  not  enough  care  for  the 
pedigree  upon  the  animal's  back? 

JEALOUSY  VS.   ENTERPRISE. 

"Is  it  not  time  we  were  breeding  with  less 
care  for  the  strain  and  more  for  the  merits  of 
the  animals?  Are  there  not  too  many  jeal- 
ousies which  cause  a  lack  of  unity  of  action? 
Look  at  the  energy  and  enterprise  of  our  com- 
petitors in  ransacking  the  United  Kingdom  for 
a  'world-beater,'  and  when  he  arrived  too  late 
to  ship  by  the  ordinary  way,  sent  him  from  the 
seaboard  to  the  interior — a  2,400-pound  steer  at 
a  cost  of  $250,  that  at  Kansas  City  the  Angus 
breed  might  have  a  representative  in  Black 
Prince.  See  the  action  of  the  Hereford  men  in 
putting  the  knife  to  an  agreed  number  of  their 
choicest  bull  calves,  and  that  they  might  pre- 
pare to  make  common  cause  of  the  contest,  con- 
tributing funds  liberally  to  bear  the  burden  in 
common.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  such  animals 
as  these  should  meet  and  vanquish  so  large  a 
number  of  Shorthorns,  castrated  because  their 
owners  could  not  sell  them  for  bulls,  bred  with- 
out intelligence,  and  by  accident  developed  into 
fair  animals?  How  does  such  a  line  of  policy 
compare  with  the  agreement  and  its  document 
which,  I  am  told,  was  made  with  a  prominent 
firm  of  Shorthorn  breeders  and  feeders,  viz. : 
To  furnish  them  a  specified  number  of  Short- 
horns to  be  reared  and  prepared  for  the  show 
ring  and  block,  and  then  attempting,  after  ad- 
mitting the  parties  to  be  superior  feeders,  to 
dictate  how  their  respective  animals  should  be 
treated,  until  said  feeders  refused,  in  disgust, 
to  take  the  animals  at  all? 

"WHAT  ARE  YOU  GOING  TO  DO  ABOUT  IT?" 
"I  am  informed  that  the  National  Associa- 
tion of  Holstein  Breeders  have  agreed  to  furnish 
and  prepare  a  specified  number  of  choice  ani- 
mals (thoroughbreds)  for  competition,  both  in 
the  rings  and  on  the  block,  at  the  fat  stock 
shows,  and  the  claim  of  the  breed  as  an  especial 
beef  animal  is  new.  Similar  action  was  also 
taken  by  the  Hereford  Association. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


357 


"Now,  in  the  language  of  Boss  Tweed,  'What 
are  you  going  to  do  about  it?'  Will  we  leave 
these  important  matters  to  chance  in  the  future 
as  we  have  in  the  few  years  just  passed,  or  will 
we  meet  brains  witli  brains,  intelligence  with 
intelligence,  money  with  money,  and  enterprise 
with  enterprise,  in  the  production  of  superior, 
well-bred,  carefully  selected,  and  thoroughly  fed 
representative  types  of  our  breed  ?  Or  shall  we 
retire  from  the  Show  Ring,  disgraced,  shamed, 
humiliated,  and  hooted  out,  as  the  old-fashioned 
fogy  advocates  of  a  by-gone  breed  of  antiquated 
cattle,  and  be  with  them  laid  away  to  mould, 
worn-out  relics,  outgrown  specimens,  to  make 
room  for  a  new  order  of  things  for  the  progres- 
sive American,  with  his  progressive  animals,  en- 
larged and  improved? 

.  "Returning  to  my  text,  I  am  a  Shorthorn 
breeder.  Despite  their  neglect  and  abuse  by 
their  owners  and  advocates,  I  believe  their  capa- 
bilities of  development  exceed  all  others,  and 
that  they  are  best  suited  by  nature  for  my  pur- 
pose and  locality.  I  never  expect  to  become  a 
Shorthorn  King,  and  to  any  of  my  Kansas 
friends  entertaining  such  an  opinion  of  their 
own  future,  I  will  say,  whatever  I  can  do  to  aid 
them  to  accomplish  that  end,  I  will  cheerfully, 


yea,  gladly,  do;  but  as  an  humble  breeder  of 
plain  Shorthorns  1  am  interested  in  this  issue, 
and  while  I  am  not  able,  financially,  to  bear  the 
brunt,  nor  have  I  the  feeding  experience  to 
qualify  me  to  enter  into  this  competition,  yet, 
some  one  must  enter  in  for  us  all.  The  burden 
should  be  proportionately  borne  in  these  things 
for  the  common  good.  The  gauntlet  has  been 
thrown  down  and  has  been  taken  up.  The  war- 
fare is  waged.  The  combatants  are  falling,  first 
on  one  side  and  then  on  the  other.  Victory 
wavers.  The  reinforcements  are  in  view,  com- 
ing up  to  the  assistance  of  our  opponents.  Shall 
we  let  our  representatives  go  down,  or  shall  we 
reinforce  them? 

"Such  a  policy  as  outlined,  pursued  by  the 
advocates  of  the  different  breeds,  has  caused 
the  present  state  of  things.  As  a  consequence, 
grade  Herefords  and  grade  Polled  bulls  are 
readily  sold  to-day  at  from  $100  to  $200  per 
head;  and  grade  Shorthorns  are  slow  of  sale 
at  $40  to  $60  per  head ;  and  thoroughbred  Here- 
fords  and  Polled  bulls  sell  at  auction  at  from 
$350  to  $1,400,  and  Shorthorns  at  $100  to  $500. 
Therefore  it  becomes  a  question  that  interests 
every  breeder  of  Shorthorns  away  down  deep 
in  the  vacancy  of  his  pockets." 


PRINCESS     B.     1777. 
Bred  by  G.  S.  Burleigh,  Vassalboro,  Me. 


358 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

HEREFORD  CATTLE  IN  ENGLAND  IN  1884,  AS  REPORTED  BY  OUR  CONSULS 


The  United  States  government  requests  in- 
formation from  time  to  time  from  its  consuls, 
stationed  all  over  the  world.  The  information 
gathered  by  these  men  is  of  value,  as  giving 
the  situation  at  the  time  of  which  they  report. 
We  have  taken  some  of  these  reports,  given  by 
consuls  in  England,  in  response  to  a  call  for 
information  on  this  subject,  because  of  their 
value  and  incidentally  to  show  that  facts  in 
regard  to  the  worth  of  Hereford  cattle  are  easily 
accessible  to  the  investigator.. 

CATTLE   BREEDS    OF    THE   UNITED   KINGDOM. 

"The  great  importance  of  the  information 
called  for  to  a  vast  number  of  people  arid  of 
interests  in  the  United  States  led  me  to  seek 
out  an  authority  of  undoubted  experience  and 
ability  in  England,  to  furnish  the  desired  data 
in  behalf  of  American  agriculturists  and  others. 
I  adopted  this  plan  for  the  reason  that,  in  order 
to  make  it  specially  useful,  the  report  should  be 
full  and  reliable  in  every  respect. 

"As  a  matter  of  course  I  could  not  be  able  to 
equal  an  adept  in  this  particular  line  of  investi- 
gation, for  the  reason  that  the  subject  is  one 
covering  such  a  wide  field,  and  one  beset  with  so 
many  difficulties,  that  only  one  having  an  ex- 
tensive acquaintance  with  English  breeders  and 
breeds  of  cattle  could  do  the  subject  justice. 

"I  was  most  fortunate  in  securing  the  services 
of  Mr.  James  Long  of  Hetchin,  England,  a 
well-known  authority  on  agricultural  subjects, 
both  in  England  and  on  the  continent,  who  has 
prepared  the  accompanying  clear,  strong,  and 
exhaustive  report. 

'"It  will  be  found  that  great  care  and  at- 
tention have  been  given  to  this  report,  and  that 
its  impartiality  and  fairness  are  beyond  ques- 
tion. Where  so  many  interested  dealers  in  and 
breeders  of  cattle  have  to  be  consulted,  it  is  im- 
portant that  the  facts  about  such  breeds  be 
stated  by  one  who  is  perfectly  free  from  bias 
in  any  respect.  This  has  been  done  in  this  re- 
port, and  I  submit  the  same  with  full  confidence 
that  Mr.  Long's  acquaintance  with  our  agricul- 


tural interests  through  this  valuable  mass  of  in- 
formation, will  lead  to  a  desire  on  the  part  of 
our  agriculturists  to  follow  up  the  results  of  his 
future  investigations,  as  they  may  hereafter  be 
given  to  the  public. 

"ALBERT  D.  SHAW,  Consul. 
"United  States  Consulate,  Manchester, 

"Feb.  19,  1884." 

The  annexed  particulars,  by  Mr.  Long,  re- 
ferring to  the  only  pure  races  of  cattle  known  in 
the  United  Kingdom  which  are  essentially  Brit- 
ish, will  be  found  in  almost  every  case  very 
complete  and  answer  every  question  put  in  the 
circular.  The  exceptions  are  the  Shetland,  the 
Galloway,  and  the  Sussex,  about  which  it  is 
most  difficult  to  obtain  technical  information. 
Some  twenty  Sussex  breeders  have  been  ad- 
dressed, but  their  answers  are  not  entirely  satis- 
factory, though  the  information  given  will  be 
found  reliable  in  every  way.  The  Shetland  is 
an  almost  entirely  unknown  race,  and  the  Gal- 
loway, to  which  I  desired  to  give  a  fuller  place, 
I  hope  to  supplement;  the  editor  of  the  Herd 
Book,  who  is  collecting  information,  promising 
to  send  it  to  me  shortly.  In  all,  the  fifteen 
British  breeds  are  treated  and  the  information 
given  is  based  upon  that  furnished  by  nearly 
a  hundred  of  the  leading  breeders  in  the 
country,  and  which  has  been  arranged  by  the 
writer,  who  has  added  much  which  an  extended 
experience  has  enabled  him  to  rely  upon.  It 
will  be  noticed  that  almost  every  breeder  speaks 
of  his  own  race  as  the  best ;  this  is  natural  en- 
thusiasm, and  I  have  in  some  cases  been  com- 
pelled to  slightly  tone  the  rather  exaggerated 
praise  bestowed  upon  one  breed  in  opposition  to 
another.  Particulars  are  added  with  reference 
to  breeding,  feeding,  soiling,  shipment,  and 
scientific  dairy  instruments,  and  centrifugal 
cream  separators,  which  will  be  found  very 
complete,  the  two  last  named  subjects  being 
especially  familiar  to  the  writer,  who  had  "in- 
vestigated them  in  each  European  dairy 
country."  Drawings  of  wood-cuts  were  an- 
nexed as  well  of  these  machines  and  instru- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


359 


ments  and  of  the  chief  races  of  cattle.  The  refer- 
ences to  the  Herefords  are  as  follows: 

HISTORY  OF   THE   HEREFORDS. 

"There  can  be  no  two  opinions  on  the  question 
of  what  Hereford  cattle  are;  they  are  undoubt- 
edly a  distinct  and  pure  breed  of  great 
antiquity.  Their  early  history  is  like  that  of 
many  others,  rather  shrouded  in  mystery,  but  it 
is  gei) orally  allowed  that  there  has  been  a  breed 
of  cattle,  red  and  mostly  with  white  face  and 
markings,  for  at  least  two  hundred  years  in  the 
County  of  Hereford,  and  the  neighboring 
counties.  When  crossed  with  other  breeds  the 
potency  of  the  Hereford  blood  (pure  for 
centuries)  is  distinctly  proved,  as  it  is  an  ex- 
ception for  any  calves  to  come  any  other  color 
than  the  red  with  white  faces.  This  has  come 
from  Hereford  bulls  on  Black  Welsh  cattle, 
Ayrshire  and  Shorthorns ;  again,  if  a  Shorthorn 
bull  is  put  to  a  Hereford  cow,  the  produce  fol- 
lows the  dam  in  color,  and  cases  have  been  seen, 
where  the  produce  of  the  Hereford  bull  with  the 
black  cattle  come  black,  but  still  they  have  had 
the  correct  Hereford  marking  as  regards  the 
white  face  and  legs. 

VALUABLE  QUALITIES  OF  THE  HEREFORDS. 

"Their  milking  properties  have  been  so  long 
neglected  in  the  interest  of  beef,  that  they 
are  usually  not  deep  milkers,  but  give  very 
rich  milk.  In  all  cases  a  cow  should  be 
milked  regularly  and  stripped  quite  clean. 
No  doubt  this  has  much  to  do  in  forming  good 
milking  tribes  of  cattle,  by  encouraging  the 
milk-giving  organs  as  far  as  possible.  Where 
calves  are  allowed  to  suck  in  the  open  field  this 
cannot  be  attained,  and  is  one  great  cause  of 
the  Herefords  not  giving  so  much  milk  as  they 
would  under  other  circumstances.  As  beef 
makers  they  are  quite  at  the  top  of  the  market, 
as  market  quotations  record  best  Scot  and  Here- 
fords  as  being  usually  quoted  together.  The 
calves  are  usually  allowed  to  run  with  their 
dams  during  the  summer,  and  this  gives  them 
a  good  start,  but  it  is  too  often  lost  sight  of  that 
they  should  be  kept  growing  on,  when  weaned, 
instead  of  stunted  during  the  winter  and  follow- 
ing months. 

"The  Hereford  fairs  have  long  been  noted 
for  bringing  together  the  best  collection  of  bul- 
locks in  England,  and  are  attended  by  dealers 
and  graziers  from  far  and  wide,  as  they  are 
highly  valued  in  our  great  grazing  districts. 
Breeders  of  Herefords  claim  for  their  favorites 
that  they  are  among  the  most  hardy  of  all 
breeds  of  cattle,  can  be  fed  on  less  feed,  and 
thrive  on  coarse,  rough  food,  and  thus  are 


particularly  adapted  for  countries  where  it  is 
impossible  to  take  special  care  of  the  cattle 
thrdugh  bad  seasons  and  winter  months. 

"Herefords,  except  in  a  few  instances,  have 
been  bred  entirely  for  beef.  One  great  object 
for  breeders  is  to  have  their  animals  as  wide  on 
their  chine  as  possible,  so^as  to  carry  good,  full 
crops  when  fat,  and  no  cow  will  milk  deeply  un- 
less it  is  made  like  a  wedge — the  lighter  the 
neck  and  forepart,  the  better.  If  attention  were 
paid  to  the  Hereford  as  it  has  been  to  the  Short- 
horn, they  could  be  trained  to  milk  well  and 
deeply,  and  the  richness  of  the  milk  is  not  gain- 
said; but  whether  they  would  excel  the  Short- 
horns or  become  equal  to  the  best  of  them  it  is 


KIRKLAND    B.    ARMOUR, 

Kansas    City,    Mo.    President    American    Hereford    Cattle 
Breeders'  Association,  1897-1898. 

difficult  to  say,  nor  do  I  think  it  worth  while 
for  breeders  to  try.  At  all  events  so  thinks  an- 
other Hereford  man.  They  stand  first  and  fore- 
most as  a  beef-producing  race,  and  perhaps  it 
is  as  well  they  should  for  the  present  take  their 
stand  on  that ;  but  if  any  breeders  fancy  taking 
up  the  milk  line,  they  will  probably  in  a  great 
measure  succeed. 

HEREFORDS    FOR    CROSSING. 

"A  celebrated  breeder  of  Herefords  in  Eng- 
land recently  addressed  the  following  queries  to 
a  gentleman  who  had  tried  the  cross  of  a  Here- 
ford bull  on  Shorthorn  dairy  cows  for  several 
years : 


360 


HISTOEY     OF    HEKEFORD     CATTLE 


"Question  1.  Of  calves  got  by  a  Shorthorn 
bull  or  by  a  Hereford  bull,  which  fatten  the 
quickest  and  which  are  the  most  valuable  if  sold 
fat  to  butcher? 

"Answer.  I  consider  those  got  by  a  Hereford 
bull. 

"Question  2.  Of  heifers  got  by  a  Shorthorn 
or  Hereford  biill,  which  do  you  consider  the  best 
for  milk,  having  regard  both  to  quantity  and 
quality  both  as  regards  cheese  and  butter  ? 


HERO    (5964)   4352. 
Bred  by   J.   Price,   Pembridge,   Eng. 

"Answer.  Heifers  got  by  a  Hereford  bull 
are,  I  consider,  equal  to  the  pure  bred  Short- 
horn for  the  production  of  milk,  both  as  regards 
quantity  and  quality. 

"Question  3.  As  to  produce  got  by  a  Short- 
horn or  Hereford  bull,  do  you  find  any  differ- 
ence as  to  their  gain  of  flesh  or  ability  to  thrive 
both  at  grass  and  in  yards?  And  if  so,  state 
fully  your  views  thereon. 

"Answer.  My  experience  tells  me  that  prod- 
uce got  by  a  Hereford  bull  out  of  a  Shorthorn 
cow  feeds  quicker  both  on  grass  and  when  put 
up  to  feed. 

t  "Question  4.  Do  you  find  any  difference  of 
size  in  the  produce;  and,  if  so,  which  are  the 
largest  animals — the  Shorthorns  or  those  the  re- 
sult of  the  cross  with  the  Hereford  bulls  ? 

"Answer.  Produce  obtained  by  the  cross,  as 
mentioned  in  No.  3  (viz.,  by  a  Hereford  bull) 
is  the  larger  of  the  two. 

"Question  5.  Do  you  think  there  is  any  dif- 
ference as  to  hardiness,  or  as  to  liability  to  dis- 
ease between  the  Shorthorns  and  the  animals 
resulting  from  the  cross  with  the  Hereford  bull ; 
and  if  so,  to  which  do  you  give  the  preference? 

"Answer.  Undoubtedly  the  produce  obtained 
by  using  the  Hereford  bull  is  the  hardier  and 
has  my  preference. 

"Question  6.  Does  the  offspring  of  the 
cross  with  a  Hereford  bull  generally  follow  the 


marking  of  the  sire  or.  of  the  Shorthorn  dam? 

"Answer.  I  find  that  the  offspring  obtained 
by  the  cross  with  the  Hereford  bull  follows  the 
sire  in  color  in  five  cases  out  of  seven. 

"Besides  which  answers  the  gentleman  added 
as  follows: 

"  'Having  some  three  years  ago  bought  some 
Hereford  cattle  from  you,  I  think  you  might 
like  to  know  that  they  have  done  remarkably 
well,  though  I  find  it  takes  a  long  time  to  make 
a  name  as  a  Hereford  breeder.  At  the  same 
time  I  bought  the  Herefords  from  you,  I  pur- 
chased ten  Yorkshire  dairy  cows — Shorthorns — 
from  Mr.  .Gothorp,  near  Bedale,  Yorkshire,  and 
after  these  cows  had  calved  I  determined  to  try 
a  cross  of  the  two  breeds,  which  I  did  by  using 
the  Hereford  bull  I  bought  of  you  on  the  Short- 
horn cows.  The  result  was  beyond  my  expecta- 
tion. I  reared  the  calves  on  skim-milk,  etc. ; 
they  had  a  little  cake  till  they  were  six  months 
old,  when  they  took  their  luck.  At  eighteen 
months  old  I  gave  them  four  pounds  each  per 
day  when  grazing  (this  would  be  in  Septem- 
ber). On  the  12th  October  I  put  them  up  to 
feed,  giving  them  eight  pounds  of  cotton  cake 
and  linseed  cake  mixed,  and  six  pounds  of  meal 
with  pulp  each  per  day.  The  week  before 
Christmas  I  sold  two  of  them,  averaging  £21 
10s  ($107)  each,  and  also  some  Shorthorn  bul- 
locks, which  I  had  also  bought  from  Mr. 
Gothorp.  These  latter  were  three  months  older, 
and  only  realized  £19  15s  (or  $99)  per  head, 
though  similarly  fed.  In  the  second  week  of 
January,  I  sold  some  more  of  the  cross-bred 
bullocks  (they  were  then  twenty-three  months 
old)  and  they  averaged  £24  5s  6d  (or  $121)  per 
head  and  the  remaining  Shorthorn  bullocks 
averaged  £22  17s  (or  $114)  per  head,  being, 
as  the  others,  three  months  older.  I  certainly 
am  of  opinion  that  the  bullock  obtained  by  this 
cross  is  better  than  the  pure-bred  Shorthorn  for 
the  quick  production  of  beef.  I  have  also  some 
heifers  of  this  cross  about  to  calve,  and  they 
carry  plenty  of  flesh,  and  promise  to  make 
equally  as  good  milkers  as  their  dams.  I  con- 
sider the  result  of  the  cross  satisfactory,  es- 
pecially on  this  poor,  cold  clay  soil,  the  grass  of 
which  (as  you  know)  will  not  feed  a  mouse/  ?; 

"As  to  their  milking  qualities,  says  a  tenant 
farmer,  'no  doubt  breeders  have  neglected  them 
almost  entirely,  as  it  is  the  usual  custom  to  rear 
the  calves  on  the  cows,  and  beef,  not  dairy  prod- 
uce, is,  as  a  rule,  the  end  aimed  at/  This  is, 
however,  true  in  a  great  degree  of  other  breeds 
when  the  best  tribes  are  kept  for  breeding  pur- 
poses, and  it  is  a  question  whether  a  Hereford 
does  not  give  as  much  milk,  and  perhaps  even 
of  a  richer  quality,  than  the  crack  tribes  of 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


361 


other  breeds,  except  those  bred  especially  for 
milking  purposes.  There  are  few  Hereford 
dairies  kept,  but  from  my  own  experience,  I 
believe,  by  selection,  that  a  grand  milking  herd 
could  soon  be  established.  No  one  will,  who  has 
tried  the  experiment,  agree  to  the  statements 
that  the  Herefords  do  not  cross  well  with  other 
breeds.  The  Americans  have  found  it  out,  and 
now  assert  that  they  can  sell  their  Hereford 
grade  steers  for  more  money  than  those  of  other 
crosses.  It  may  be  true  that  they  have  not  been 
very  extensively  tried,  but  the  experiments  that 
have  been  tried  will  soon  fget  wind';  in  fact, 
they  have  already,  and  the  demand  is  entirely 
increasing  in  consequence. 

"One  great  proof  of  the  Hereford  being  a 
pure  and  distinct  race,  is  that  although  crossed 
with  whatever  breed  may  be  desired,  the  true 
Hereford  marking  is  sure  to  show  itself,  and  if 
an  animal  has  only  a  quarter  strain  of  blood, 
the  Hereford  marking  is  still  there.  The  great 
object  in  America  now  is  to  improve  the  cattle 
as  beef  producers,  and  to  put  the  good  roasting 
pieces  on  the  narrow-chined,  bad-backed  cattle 
of  the  plains ;  this  they  believe,  and  rightly,  too, 
that  the  cross  with  the  Hereford  will  do.  An- 
other great  point  in  favor  of  the  cross  is  the 
power  of  the  Hereford  to  endure  knocking  about 
and  rough  usage  better  than  more  delicate  cat- 
tle, and  this  is  of  the  very  greatest  importance 
when  considering  the  vast  distance  the  cattle 
have  to  travel  through  America,  and  by  sea,  be- 
fore they  reach  this  country  as  beef.  A  recent 
purchaser  of  a  large  herd  of  Herefords  in  this 
country  writes  that  they  had  a  very  rough  pas- 
sage out,  and  the  hatches  had  to  be  all  battened 
down,  but  had  no  losses,  and  all  arrived  in  cap- 
ital condition,  none  the  worse  for  their  knock- 
ing about.  He  could  only  account  for  this  from 
the  fact  that  this  breed  of  cattle  could  stand 
such  usage  better  than  others,  or  he  should  have 
had  serious  loss.  As  to  their  not  feeding  so  well 
in  stalls  or  attaining  such  great  weights  there  is 
proof  from  many  trials,  and  from  Smithfield 
statistics,  that  they  are  little  behind,  if  not  equal 
to  any  other  known  breed  of  cattle. 

"Says  another  authority : 

:  'The  Shorthorn  has  no  quality  superior  to 
that  which  the  Hereford  possesses ;  if  it  has  let 
it  be  fairly  shown.  Take  each  point  in  order. 
Both  breeds  have  been  well  tried,  both  as 
grazers  and  feeders.  It  is  acknowledged  that 
the  Hereford  is  the  best  grazer,  and  it  is  as- 
serted in  this  country  and  America  that  four 
Herefords  can  be  fed  on  the  same  feed  as  three 
Shorthorns.  There  is  evidence  to  show  that  the 
milking  quality  of  the  Hereford  is  as  good  as  the 
high-class  Shorthorn,  and  their  milk  is  much 


richer.  The  London  market  bears  testimony  to 
the  superiority  of  the  Hereford  meat  by  always 
quoting  it  in  advance  of  the  Shorthorn.  Their 
early  maturity  and  weight  and  age  has  been 
tested  again  and  again,  and  there  is  little  dif- 
ference in  either  breed.  The  merit  of  the  Here- 
ford for  crossing  purposes  has  been  disputed, 
and  now  it  is  an  indisputable  fact  that  they  are 
fast  gaining  ground  in  the  good  opinion  of 
graziers.  A  great  many  bulls  are  now  sold  to 
dairy  farmers  to  cross  with  their  Shorthorn 
cows,  as  they  say  they  can  get  their  calves  ready 
so  much  more  quickly  for  the  butcher,  and  if 
kept  on  for  bullocks  they  beat  the  ordinary  run 
of  Shorthorns  in  aptitude  to  fatten  and  in 
quality.  To  mention  a  few  instances:  Eight 
Hereford  grade  steers  were  put  up  to  feed,  and 
sixty  Shorthorn  grades  were  picked  out  of  a  six 
hundred  lot,  and  then  the  best  of  the  eight  and 
the  best  of  the  sixty  were  killed  as  a  beef  test. 
A  large  cattle  breeder  used  nothing  but  Short- 
horn bulls  to  three  hundred  cows,  and  could 
only  make  some  £3  to  £4  ($15  or  $20)  of  his 
grade  yearling  bulls.  The  same  man  now  by 
using  Hereford  bulls  to  the  same  cows,  has  sold 
his  yearling  bulls  at  £15  ($75)  each.  Again, 
another  farmer  who  used  to  make  £6  ($30) 
each  of  his  grade  Shorthorn  heifers,  makes  £16 


ANXIETY  3D  (ALIAS  SIR  GARNET)  (6181)  4466. 
Bred   by  T.   J.    Carwardine. 

($80)  each  of  his  grade  Herefords  at  the  same 
age.  The  fact  that  these  men  are  no  breeding 
enthusiasts,  but  practical  American  beef-pro- 
ducing farmers,  goes  a  long  way  to  show  the 
turn  things  are  taking  in  that  country. 

WEIGHT  AND  VALUE  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE. 

"'At  the  last  Smithfield  show,  Hereford 
steers  in  the  class  under  two  years  weighed  :  first 
prize,  13f  cwt.  [or  in  American  weight  1,540 
Ibs.,  Eng.  cwt.  being  112  Ibs.— T.  L.  M.]  at 
twenty-two  months;  second  prize,  14  cwt. 


362 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


(1,568  Ibs.)  twenty-three  and  one-half  months; 
and  third  prize  nearly  as  high.  The  weights 
were  tolerably  even  in  all  classes.  In  steers  un- 
der three,  first  prize  was  17  cwt.  (1,904  Ibs.) 
at  two  years  seven  and  one-half  months  old; 
second  prize,  16|  cwt.  (1,820  Ibs.)  at  two  years 
and  eight  months.  In  the  class  under  four, 
first  prize  weighed  17f  cwt.  (1,988  Ibs.)  at 
three  years  eight  months;  second  prize,  18^ 
cwt.  (2,072  Ibs.)  at  three  years  four  months. 
In  heifers,  first  prize  weighed  14  J  cwt.  (1,652 
Ibs.)  at  three  and  one-half  years;  second  prize 


ROYAUI6!.*, 

EH.B.,    6S5S5. 


ROYAL    16TH     (6655)     6459. 
Bred  by   J.  B.  &  G.  H.  Green. 

weighed  17  cwt.  (1,904  Ibs.)  at  three  years  two 
months.  The  winning  cow  was  20|  cwt. 
(2,324  Ibs.)  at  eleven  and  one- third  years. 

"  'No  particulars  of  value  can  be  obtained  as 
to  the  performances  of  pure  Hereford  in  milk, 
butter  or  cheese.  It  is  not  used  for  draft  of  any 
kind,  and  it -is  chiefly  bred  in  the  west  of  Eng- 
land, Herefordshire,  and  Worcestershire,  al- 
though many  successful  breeders  are  scattered 
throughout  the  country  upon  all  soils.  Here- 
fords  are  driven  to  all  the  great  midland  fairs 
for  farmers,  who  purchase  them  largely  for  fat- 
tening. The  chief  grasses  grown  are  clovers, 
vetches  and  the  best  perennials.  That  the  Here- 
fords  will  do  well  on  heavy  as  well  as  light  land 
is  now  admitted.  We  can  point  to  cases  within 
our  own  knowledge,  where  at  the  Christmas 
markets  Herefords  brought  in  to  fatten,  have 
beaten  everything  else  in  realizing  top  prices, 
although  in  a  county  where  they  are  compara- 
tively little  known.' 

MILKING   QUALITIES  OF  THE   HEEEFOEDS. 

"The  milking  qualities  of  the  Herefords 
have  no  doubt  been  seriously  neglected  in 
the  past,  and  are  similarly  treated  by  breeders 
generally  at  present;  but  there  is  no  reason  for 
doubting  that  as  milkers  the  existing  herds 
show  a  very  considerable  improvement.  As  a 
rule  the  Hereford  cows,  when  contrasted  with 


extremely  large  bulls  and  oxen,  are  somewhat 
small,  but  of  course  in  no  way  small  as  we 
apply  this  term  to  Kerries,  Ayrshires,  or  Chan- 
nel Islands  cattle.  The  cause  of  the  undevelop- 
ment  of  good  milking  qualities  in  all  Hereford 
herds  is  not  far  to  seek.  The  soil  of  the  locality 
which  saw  the  breed  originate,  is  admittedly  not 
suited  to  dairy  cattle,  consequently  there  is  not 
that  attention  given  to  the  improvement  of  the 
herds  as  milkers  as  would  be  the  case  were  they 
in  a  district  better  suited  to  further  their  dairy 
properties.  In  its  original  habitat  the  custom 
which  prevails  is  to  regard  the  steers  as  the 
source  of  pecuniary  profit,  and  whereas  in  most 
other  parts  it  is  the  general  practice  to  give  the 
females  the  preference  in  rearing,  it  is  much 
more  usual  for  both  male  and  female  Hereford 
calves  to  be  similarly  treated,  the  preference  be- 
ing given  to  the  males.  This  practice  largely 
obtaining,  is  obviously  calculated  to  prove  detri- 
mental to  milking  properties.  The  outcome  of 
all  this  is  that,  as  a  rule,  the  Hereford  is  want- 
ing in  dairy  qualifications.  But,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  exception  does  not  strengthen  the 
rule,  even  if  it  proves  it,  for  where  pure-bred 
Hereford  stock  is  kept  purposely  for  dairy  re- 
quirements, where  the  good  milkers  are  kept, 
and  the  bad  and  indifferent  are  weeded  out,  it 
is  soon  very  obvious  to  the  most  prejudiced  that 
high  milking  qualities  are  resident  in  the  Here- 
ford." 

HEREFORDSHIRE  AND  HEREFORD 
CATTLE. 


EEPOET     PEEPAEED     FOE    CONSUL     DOCKERY,     OF 

LEEDS,    BY     MR.    JOHN     KEESLEY     FOWLER, 

PREBENDAL   FARM,   AYLESBURY,   JUDGE 

AT   PARIS   EXPOSITION,    1878. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    HEEEFOEDSHIRE. 

"In  writing  an  account  of  this  very  valuable 
and  beautiful  tribe  of  cattle  it  is  necessary  to 
give  a  description  of  the  county  which  gives  its 
name  to  the  breed  and  also  of  the  soil  and 
climate,  as  well  as  the  general  characteristics  of 
the  district,  as  this  particular  breed  of  cattle  is 
especially  adapted  to  certain  localities  in  Eng- 
land, and  although  I  will  not  venture  to  affirm 
that  they  will  not  thrive  under  other  climatic 
and  geological  circumstances  than  their  own 
county,  from  my  own  personal  experience,  I 
find  that  they  are  more  adapted  for  those  dis- 
tricts which  partake  more  or  less  of  the  char- 
acter of  Herefordshire. 


HISTOEY     OF     HEBEFOED     CATTLE 


363 


"This  county  is  situated  in  the  west  midland 
district  of  England,  adjoining  the  Welsh 
counties,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Shrop- 
shire, on  the  east  by  Worcestershire  and 
Gloucestershire,  on  the  south  by  Monmouth- 
shire, and  on  the  west  by  Eadnorshire  and  Bre- 
conshire.  It  will,  therefore,  be  seen  that  it  has  no 
sea  coast,  but  the  river  Wye  running  through 
the  county  gives  it  communication  with  the  sea, 
through  the  Bristol  Channel.  It  is  well  sup- 
plied with  railway  communication,  the  Midland 
giving  it  a  direct  route'  to  the  north,  and  the 
Great  Western  to  the  south  and  west,  and  also 
to  the  metropolis.  The  city  of  Hereford  itself 
is,  also,  connected  with  the  Northwestern  line, 
via  Malvern  and  Worcester,  thus  giving  the 
county  every  means  of  supplying  the  various 
grazing  districts  of  England  with  numbers  of 
excellent  store  cattle,  as  also  for  the  dispatch  of 
fat  animals  to  the  markets  of  the  great  me- 
tropolis and  the  teeming  populations  of  the 
many  thriving  towns  in  the  North. 

"The  soil  of  the  county  is  varied,  the  larger 
portion  is  a  red  clay,  as  also  strong  loam. 
Around  the  town  of  Eoss,  where  some  of  the 
choicest  specimens  of  the  breed  are  found,  the 
soil  is  a  loamy  gravel  or  light  loam.  The  old 
red  sandstone  forms  also  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  county,  and  some  of  the  hills  are  lime- 
stone. The  valleys  are  particularly  adapted  for 
the  feeding  of  cattle,  as  they  are  moist  and  rich, 
and  the  soil  is  of  a  mixed  character,  from  the 
continuous  washing  away  of  the  hills,  and  the 
debris  finding  its  way  to  the  lower  grounds  and 
forming  a  rich  alluvial  deposit  well  suited  for 
the  production  of  the  finest  grasses.  The  hill- 
sides and  higher  portions  of  the  county  are 
eminently  suited  for  the  breeding  and  rearing  of 
cattle,  and  the  comparative  mildness  of  the 
climate  is  favorable  for  the  health  and  early 
development  of  the  calves. 

"The  acreage  of  the  county  is  532,890  acres, 
divided  into  or  about  the  following  proportions : 
"Orchards,  27,000;  woodlands,  37,000;  and 
the  remainder  for  agricultural  operations.  Ac- 
cording to  the  last  Government  returns  there 
were  under — 

Acres. 

Corn  crops 95,299 

Green  crops   32,813 

Clover  and  rotations  grasses.     34,108 

Permanent  pasture 265,661 

Bare  fallow  . .  . 11,247 

Hops 6,416 

"It  will  therefore  be  seen  that  the  permanent 
pasture  far  exceeds  all  the  other  portions  of  the 
land  put  together.  The  population  in  1881  was 


118,147.  Very  few  of  the  people  are  employed 
in  manufacture,  but  many  find  employment  in 
the  autumn  in  hop  and  fruit  gathering. 

THE  GREAT  CATTLE  FAIR  IN  HEREFORD. 

"The  city  of  Hereford  is  situated  somewhere 
near  the  center  of  the  county,  and  is  in  latitude 
52°  4'  north  and  longitude  2°  54'  west.  The 
climate  is  on  the  whole  temperate.  The  city  is 
small  and  has  been  the  seat  of  a  bishopric  from 
the  earliest  times,  for  more  than  twelve  hundred 
years.  The  cathedral  is  very  beautiful,  but  does 
not  rank  among  the  largest  of  the  English 
fanes.  It  has  portions  of  Norman  work  in  it, 
and  since  its  restoration  has  been  made  one  of 
the  handsomest  interiors  in  the  Kingdom.  The 
city  proper  is  rather  poor,  but  some  of  the 
streets  and  the  market  place  are  large  and  spa- 
cious, and  at  fair  time  their  appearance  is  very 
wonderful.  Every  portion  of  the  streets,  even 
up  to  the  cathedral  yard  itself,  is  crowded  with 
the  'white-faced  beauties'  of  the  county;  while 
Shropshire,  Monmouthshire,  Breconshire,  and 
even  Gloucestershire  send  their  contingents.  It 
is  indeed  a  remarkable  sight,  being  different 
to  anything  of  its  class  in  England,  as  the  thou- 
sands of  -cattle  brought  together  are  all  of  one 
type,  deep  brownish  reds  with  white  faces,  and 
some  other  portions  of  the  body  and  tips  of  tail 
white.  There  is  no  interspersing  of  Shorthorns 
or  other  breeds ;  an  occasional  Devon  is  seen,  but 
that  seems  to  be  an  accident,  and  the  shouting  of 


PRINCE    EDWARD    (6616)    7001. 
Bred   by   T.   J.   Carwardine. 

drovers,  the  bellowing  of  the  cattle,  and  the  gen- 
eral hum  of  conversation  whilst  the  deals  are 
made,  form  a  singular  and  very  amusing  sight. 
The  great  fair  takes  place  in  the  third  week  in 
October,  and  as  many  as  from  8,000  to  9,000 
head  of  cattle  have  been  brought  for  sale  during 
that  time.  Some  years  ago,  dealers  like  Car- 
wardine, Pardington,  Jones,  Knight,  and  Price 


364 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


were  accustomed  to  bring  some  hundreds,  and 
generally  sold  them  to  the  graziers  of  the  mid- 
lands or  to  other  dealers  who  brought  them  up 
to  the  great  markets  at  Banbury,  Aylesbury, 
and  Northampton,  where  there  was  always  a 
ready  sale.  The  trade  now  seems  quite  changed, 
and  but  few  good  animals  ever  reach  the  mid- 
land markets,  as  the  graziers  themselves  go 
down  by  rail  in  a  few  hours  and  buy  largely  of 
the  breeders  or  dealers,  who  get  together  on 
their  own  premises  lots  of  from  30  to  100  for 
their  selection,  and  it  is  only  rarely  that  men 
can  be  suited  at  the  old  markets. 

HISTORY    OF   THE    HEREFOED   BREED. 

"I  am  greatly  indebted  to  the  writings  of  the 
late  Mr.  Dixon,  a  well-known  agricultural 
writer,  for  much  of  the  information  contained 


DOWNTON  ROSE  (V.  10,  p.  172)  4486. 
Bred  by   T.    Fenn,    Downton   Castle,    Eng. 

in  this  paper,  as  well  as  to  my  good  friend  Mr. 
Duckham,  member  of  Parliament  for  Hereford- 
shire, who  was  the  editor  of  the  Hereford  Herd 
Book,  and  who  has  done  as  much,  or  perhaps 
more  than  any  other  man,  to  bring  this  noble 
race  of  cattle  prominently  before  the  public  at 
the  present  time,  who  has  given  me  so  much 
valuable  information,  and  I  cannot  do  wrong  in 
quoting  from  these  most  reliable  authorities  for 
many  statements  which  I  shall  make  in  this 
paper.  I  will  also  give  you  my  own  personal 
experience  as  a  grazier,  and  judge  at  the  Royal 
and  other  agricultural  shows,  where  I  had 
many  opportunities  of  getting  well  acquainted 
with  this  breed. 

"Old  Fuller,  who  was  a  quaint  writer  of  more 
than  two  hundred  years  ago,  says  of  Hereford- 
shire, 'that  it  doth  share  as  deep  as  any  county 
in  the  alphabet  of  our  English  commodities, 
though  exceeding  in  'W'  for  wood,  wheat, 
wool,  and  water/  and,  that  'its  wheat  was 
worthv  to  jostle  in  pureness  with  that  of  Heston, 
in  Middlesex,  which  furnished  manchets  for  the 
kings  of  England,  and  its  Wye  salmon  were  in 
season  all  the  year  long.'  And  before  his  day 
'painful  Master  Camden'  described  the  county 
as  'not  willingly  content  to  be  accounted  second- 


shire  for  matters  of  fruitfulness.'  Yet  both 
writers  are  silent  as  to  cattle,  and  Dray  ton  sang 
of  'Fair  Suffolk's  maids  and  milk/  of  the  hogs 
of  Hampshire,  and  the  calves  of  Essex,  and  how 

Rich   Buckingham   doth   bear 

The  name  of  'bread  and  beef;'  i 

yet  he  says  nothing  of  these  attributes  of  Here- 
fordshire. 

"Many  writers  were  of  opinion  that  the  Here- 
fords  were  descended  from  cattle  from  Devon 
and  Normandy,  which  were  of  a  deep  reddish 
brown  color,  and  that  the  white  faces  were  an 
accident  from  a  singular  sport  of  the  breeding 
of  a  white-faced  bull  by  a  noted  breeder  of  the 
last  century,  Mr.  Tully,  of  Huntington,  near 
Hereford.  The  story  I  have  heard  related  as 
follows :  That  the  cow-man  came  to  him,  on  his 
coming  out  of  church  one  Sunday,  and  told  him 
that  his  favorite  cow,  who  was  daily  expecting 
to  calve,  had  produced  a  bull  calf  with  a  white 
face,  and  this  had  never  been  known  before. 
Report  says  the  master  ordered  it  at  once  to  be 
killed,  as  he  dared  not  let  it  be  known  that  he 
had  such  a  stain  of  blood  in  his  well-known 
herd ;  but  the  man  begged  him  to  go  and  see  it, 
as  it  was  the  finest  calf  he  had  ever  seen.  Mr. 
Tully  when  he  had  seen  it,  agreed  with  his  man 
that  it  was  a  wonder,  and  that  he  would,  out  of 
curiosity,  rear  it.  He  did  so,  and  he  proved  to 
be  a  very  remarkably  fine  animal,  and  he  used 
him  on  all  his  best  cows,  and  his  progeny  be- 
came celebrated  for  their  white  faces. 

"Many  old  chroniclers  say  that  the  county  was 
noted  for  its  breed  of  white  cattle  on  the  banks 
of  the  Wye  as  far  back  as  the  tenth  century,  but 
they  had  red  ears,  and  it  is  recorded  that  Lord 
Scudamore  in,  or  about  the  year  1660,  intro- 
duced some  red  cows,  with  white  faces,  from 
Flanders,  and  this  may  have  been  the  reason 
that  the  noted  Tully  bull,  after  a  lapse  of  more 
than  a  hundred  years,  might  have  cropped  up, 
as  a  sport,  from  the  well-known  deep  red  cattle 
of  the  country. 

"It  must  not  be  considered  that  the  white 
face  is  the  only  type  of  the  purity  of  this  breed, 
as  the  mottled  face  is  considered  by  many  breed- 
ers as  of  greater  value  than  the  pure  white,  and 
I  can  myself  testify  that  some  of  the  finest  cat- 
tle I  ever  grazed,  and  some  of  the  best  I  ever 
saw,  have  been  mottled  faced,  in  fact  those  of 
the  last  named  type  have  shown  the  greatest 
aptitude  to  fatten,  on  the  grass,  of  any,  and 
manv  graziers  have  told  me  the  same. 

"Mr.  Eyton,  of  Eyton  Hall.  Salop,  was  the 
founder  of  the  Hereford  Herd  Book  in  1845, 
and  when  he  commenced  it,  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  divide  the  Herefords  into  four  distinct 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


365 


classes,  viz.,  the  mottle  faced,  the  dark  grey,  the 
light  grey  or  white,  and  the  red  with  white  face, 
yet,  after  the  lapse  of  only  thirty-eight  years, 
people  question  the  purity  of  the  breed,  if  they 
have  not  the  characteristics  of  the  well-known 
white  face  and  markings. 

"Mr.  Duckham  says,  'the  present  uniformity 
of  the  color  is  due  to  the  influence  of  the  bull/ 
and  this  is  a  remarkable  corroboration  of  my 
views,  expressed  in  a  paper  on  'Breeding,  facts 
and  principles/  which  I  read  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Central  Farmers'  Club,  some  few  years  since, 
when  I  propounded  the  dictum  (which,  by-the- 
bye,  was  not  new),  'that  the  male  exercised  the 
external  characteristics,  and  the  internal  organ- 
ization followed  the  female/  in  nearly  every 
class  of  animal. 

"Long  before  the  commencement  of  the  Herd 
Book,  the  Herefords  had  made  'a  reputation 
and  a  name/  by  being  continually  successful  at 
the  Smithfield  Club  annual  fat  stock  show, 
from  its  establishment  in  1799,  by  Mr.  West- 
car,  of  Creslow,  near  Aylesbury,  Bucks,  and 
who  for  twenty  years  in  succession  won  the 
premium  prize  with-  Hereford  oxen,  against 
all  kinds  of  cattle.  I  had  not  an  opportunity 
of  knowing  Mr.  Westcar,  as  he  died  before  my 
day,  but  I  had  been  for  many  years  on  intimate 
terms  with  his  relative  and  successor,  Mr.  R. 
Rowland,  who  gave  me  many  interesting  stories 
of  Mr.  Westcar,  who  was,  undoubtedly,  the  first 
man  to  bring  the  Herefords  to  the  front  against 
all  the  world.  I  remember  Mr.  Rowland  telling 
me,  whilst  standing  in  the  midst  of  the  far- 
famed  Creslow  Great  Ground,  and  on  a  spot 
marked  by  a  clump  of  trees,  where  Mr.  West- 
car's  lifeless  body  was  found,  he  having  fallen 
dead  from  his  horse,  how  the  Duke  of  Bedford, 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  was  down 
with  Mr.  Westcar  to  Hereford  in  his  carriage 
and  four  post-horses,  taking  two  days  for  the 
journey,  and  stopping  one  night  on  the  road  at 
the  well-known  country  inn,  the  Staple  Hall,  at 
Wltney,  and  accompanied  by  Lord  Berners,  in 
another  carriage  and  four,  with  some  ladies  and 
other  members  of  their  families,  to  attend  the 
great  fair  at  Hereford,  and  where  the  Duke  de- 
sired Mr.  Westcar  to  order  dinner  for  a  hun- 
dred persons  at  the  principal  hotel,  and  to  in- 
vite all  the  more  celebrated  breeders  and  dealers 
to  meet  him.  He  described  the  annoyance  of 
some  of  the  dealers  at  the  nohlemen  being 
brought  down  to  see  these  grand  bullocks,  which 
they  had  only  seen  in  the  Creslow  pastures,  as  it 
had  the  effect  of  raising  the  price  of  the  cattle 
in  the  fair  at  least  £1  ($6)  per  head.  After 
dinner  his  grace  and  Lord  Berners  announced 
their  desire,  to  have  from  ten  to  twenty  of  the 


best  cows  that  could  be  found,  and  two  bulls,  to 
bring  into  Bedfordshire,  there  to  establish  a 
herd  on  their  estates.  Lord  Berners,  who  was 
a  breeder  of  Longhorns,  gave  up  the  breed  and 
took  to  Herefords.  This  visit  of  the  Duke  of 
Bedford,  with  the  continued  success  of  the 
breed  in  the  show  yard  at  Smithfield,  by  Mr. 
Westcar,  brought  them  prominently  into  notice, 
and  fairly  established  their  merits. 

"Sir  Brandreth  Gibbs,  the  honorary  secretary 
of-  the  Smithfield  Club,  in  his  history  of  the 
club,  states  that  at  their  first  show  Mr.  West- 
car's  prize  ox  measured  8  feet  11  inches  long, 
6  feet  7  inches  high,  10  feet  4  inches  girth,  and 
that  he  was  sold  for  100  guineas.  This  animal 
was  bred  by  Mr.  Tully,  of  Huntington,  and 
weighed  247  stone  (1,976  Ibs.)  dead  weight,  8 
pounds  to  the  stone  [making,  according  to  the 
English  rule,  the  live  weight  3,458  Ibs.— T.  L. 
M.]  Enormous  as  the  dimensions  of  this  ox 
were,  they  were  far  exceeded  by  another  Herer 
ford,  fed  by  Mr.  Grace,  of  Putlowes,  near  Ayles- 
bury, which  was  7  feet  high,  12  feet  4  inches 
girth  and  weighed  260  stone  (2,080  Ibs.),  dead 
weight  (or  3,640  Ibs.  live  weight).  Mr.  Duck- 
ham  mentions  that  about  the  years  1812  or 
1813,  Mr.  Potter  sold  for  Mr.  Westcar  at  the 
Metropolitan  Christmas  market,  fifty  Hereford 
oxen  that  averaged  50  guineas  ($250)  each, 
making  2,500  guineas  ($12,500)  ;  and  he  men- 
tions that  Mr.  Smythies,  of  Marlow,  Salop,  ob- 


PEERESS  (V.  12,  p.  152)  10902. 
Bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine. 


tained  the  following  extract  from  Mr;  Westcar's 
book  for  the  sale  of  twenty  Hereford  oxen  at 
different  periods  from  1799  to  1811,  and  which 
I  can  corroborate,  as  the  same  was  shown  me  by 
Mr.  Rowland,  when  visiting  him  at  Creslow. 
The  list  was  confined  to  those  which  sold  for 
£100  ($500)  and  upwards: 


366 


HISTOKY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Date.  Oxen  Sold.  Value. 

Dec.  16,   1799,  2  oxen  to   Mr.   Chapman £200=$1000 

Dec.  4,  1800,  1  ox  to  Mr.  Chapman 147=    735 

Dec.  13,  1800,  1  ox  to  Mr.  Harrington 100=    500 

Nov.  26,  1801,  6  oxen  to  Messrs.  Giblett  &  Co...,  630=  3150 

Nov.   26,  1802,   1  ox  to  Messrs.   Giblett  &  Co 100=    500 

Nov.  31,  1802,  1  ox  to  Mr.  Chapman 126=    630 

Dec.  4,  1802,  2  oxen  to  Mr.   Horwood 200=  1000 

Dec.  4,  1802,  1  ox  to  Mr.   Chapman 100=    500 

Dec.  19,  1803,  1  ox  to  Mr.  Reynolds 105=    525 

Dec.  19,  1803,   1  ox  to  Mr.   Giblett 105=    525 

Dec.  5,  1804,  1  ox  to  Mr.  Giblett 105=    525 

Dec.   4,  1805,   1  ox  to   Mr.   Giblett 100=    500 

Nov.  26,  1811,  1  ox  to  Mr.   Chandler 105=    525 

"The  whole  20  sold  .for  £3,123  ($10,615)  or 
an  average  of  £100  6s  ($501.50)  each.  I  have 
also  seen  at  Mr.  Ledbrook's,  who  succeeded  Mr. 
C4race  at  Putlowe's  a  few  years  since,  when  the 


VENUS    (V.    12,   p.   152)    10133. 
Bred  by  T.  J.   Carwardine. 

price  of  meat  was  lower  than  in  the  beginning 
of  the  century,  50  oxen  tied  up  for  Christmas 
at  the  end  of  November,  for  which  he  had  bid 
£2,500  ($12,500)  ;  the  price  was  rather  under 
5s  ($1.25)  per  stone  (or  about  9  cents  per 
pound  live  weight),  but  this  would  have  made 
them  average  over  200  stone  (2,800  pounds 
each,  alive)  per  head.  The  class  of  animal  I 
have  been  describing  is  now  no  more.  They 
were  five-year-old  worked  beasts,  and  even  older 
which  had  been  for  two  or  three  years  harnessed 
in  the  yoke,  and  had  therefore  attained  great 
size.  Working  in  the  plow  is  now  comparatively 
rare,  and  early  maturity  is  the  aim  of  all  the 
best  farmers  in  England,  and  the  Hereford 
breeders  are  not  likely  to  be  left  behind.  It  is 
a  rare  thing  now-a-days  to  purchase  a  Hereford 
steer  at  a  fair  over  three  years  old.  When  I 
began  farming,  thirty  years  ago,  I  bought  a  lot 
of  beautiful  three-year-old  Hereford  steers  in 
October  at  £13  10s  ($67)  each,  in  poor  con- 
dition. I  gave  them  the  run  of  the  straw  yard, 
and  three  pounds  of  oil  cake  per  day,  and 
turned  them  out  to  grass  in  May,  and  sold  them 
in  August  and  September  at  from  £23  to  £24 
($115  to  $120)  each,  giving  me  some  excellent 
manure  and  a  good  profit  on  the  animals.  The 
price  of  this  class  of  beast  rapidly  rose,  and  now 


they  can  scarcely  be  bought  under  £21  to  £22 
($105  to  $110)  each,  and  as  they  only  make 
about  £26  to  £27  ($130  to  $135)  each  when  off 
the  grass  they  do  not  pay  enough.  1  once  went 
to  a  Hereford  fair  at  Easter  and  bought  10  of 
the  finest  old  worked  beasts  1  ever  saw  at  £29 
10s  ($147)  each.  They  were  large  fine  framed 
animals,  and  when  they  arrived  at  Aylesbury, 
Baron  Mayer  de  Rothschild  saw  them  and  beg- 
ged I  would  let  him  have  them,  and  I  consented 
on  condition  that  he  gave  me  a  round  of  one  of 
them  for  my  Christmas  dinner  the  same  year. 
He  took  them  to  Montmore,  and  some  made  £46 
to  £47  ($230  to  $235)  each  at  Christmas  and 
others  went  off  the  grass  in  October  at  £38  to 
£40  ($190  to  $200)  each,  but  such  aged  beasts 
are  not  found  now.  Amongst  the  most  noted 
graziers  of  these  cattle  was  the  late  Mr.  Senior, 
of  Broughton  pastures,  near  Aylesbury.  This 
gentleman  was  a  very  successful  exhibitor  of 
Herefords  after  Mr.  Westcar's  death,  but  of  late 
years  he  grazed  Sussex  beasts,  as  ,he  could  not 
get  the  worked  animals  from  Herefordshire. 
Mr.  Duckham  and  other  writers  on  Hereford- 
shire cattle  say  that  the  county  is  not  by  any 
means  a  good  grazing  district,  but  eminently 
adapted  for  breeding  and  rearing  cattle,  and 
that  no  class  of  animal  thrives  so  well,  when 
changed  onto  the  fine  pastures  of  Buckingham- 
shire, Leicestershire,  and  Northamptonshire. 

"As  Mr.  Westcar's  name  and  his  residence  at 
Creslow  has  been  so  often  quoted  by  all  writers 
upon  the  Herefords,  I  must  be  pardoned  for 
giving  a  slight  sketch  of  this  famous  grazing 
district.  'The  great  ground,'  as  it  is  called  at 
Creslow,  is,  as  before  stated,  about  330  acres 
and  is  very  undulating,  and  bounded  on  two 
sides  by  a  brook,  a  tributary  of  the  Thames,  and 
on  the  other  two  sides  by  a  large  double  ox 
fence,  with  large  elm  trees  affording  shade  to 
the  numerous  head  of  cattle  grazing  there.  I 
have  seen  nearly  250  head  of  horned  stock  and 
500  sheep  and  lambs,  with  20  mares  and  foals, 
grazing  in  this  one  field,  and  all  getting  fat. 
It  is  jocosely  said  that  the  cattle  are  turned  into 
the  field  in  May  and  by  the  time  they  have 
walked  around  the  inclosure  they  come  out  fit 
for  the  butcher.  The  old  mansion  has  formerly 
been  a  monastery,  and  the  estate  belongs  to  the 
Lord  de  Clifford,  in  whose  family  it  has  been 
for  some  centuries,  and  it  is  stated  that  Rosa- 
mond de  Clifford,  'Fair  Rosamond,'  was  born 
there.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  rich  pastoral 
beauty  of  this  district.  From  the  upper  ground 
the  eye  wanders  over  the  far-famed  vale  of 
Aylesbury,  the  old -town,  the  'Aegelsbireg*  ^  of 
the  Saxons,  standing  in  the  midst  of  the  rich 
pastures  of  Whitechurch;  Quarrenden  with  its 


HIST GEY  OF  BEBEFOBD  CATTLE 


ruined  chapel  of  the  fifteenth  century;  and 
Fleet  Marston,  in  which  parish  is  Putlowes, 
formerly  mentioned  as  the  rival  of  Creslow  as  a 
feeding  pasture,  and  a  rare  tract  of  grass  land 
stretching  away  for  more  than  15  miles  along 
the  valley  of  the  Thames. 

"Sir  Brandreth  Gibbs,  in  his  History  of  the 
Smithfield  Club,  mentions  an  incident  of  some 
interest  in  1825.  There  was  a  sweepstakes  be- 
tween three  Herefords  belonging  to  the  Duke 
of  Bedford  and  three  Durhams  belonging  to 
the  right  honorable  Charles  Arbuthnot,  which 
was  won  by  the  Herefords. 

"Mr.  Duckham  says  that  from  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Smithfield  Club  in  1799  to  1851  all 
the  different  breeds  and  cross  breeds  were  shown 
together,  but  since  that  time  they  have  been 
exhibited  in  distinct  classes,  and,  as  far  as  can 
be  learned,  during  the  time  they  were  shown  to- 
gether, the  Hereford  oxen  and  steers  won  185 
prizes ;  the  Shorthorns  82 ;  the  Devons  44 ;  the 
Scotch  43,  the  Sussex  9 ;  the  Longhorns  4,  and 
the  cross  breeds  8 ;  thus  showing  that  the  whole 
of  the  prizes  won  by  all  the  other  breeds  and 
crosses  in  the  Kingdom  were  190,  or  only  5  in 
excess  of  the  number  registered  by  the  Here- 
fords alone. 

"Mr.  Discau  says  that  during  fifty-three 
years  to  1851  the  Shorthorns  by  their  females 
made  up  considerably  to  the  total  of  the  Here- 
fords, as  they  numbered  174  prizes  to  the  Here- 
fords 207. 

"It  is  interesting  to  know  how  the  Herefords 
have  retained  their  former  renown,  by  their 
comparatively  youthful  prowess  at  the  present 
day.  We  find  that  Mr.  Heath  showed  his  grey 
beast  at  Birmingham,  winning  first  honors,  with 
a  girth  of  9  feet  7  inches;  and  his  Hereford 
cow  at  three  years  and  ten  months  measured  9 
feet  in  girth.  Mr.  Shirley's  gold  medal  steer 
at  two  years  and  seven  months  girthed  8  feet 
7  inches.  And  he  averred  that  up  to  seventeen 
months  old  he  had  had  only  an  ordinary  calf 
and  stock  treatment.  It  will  therefore  be  seen 
that  the  breed  is  not  only  not  deteriorating  but 
is  likely  to  maintain  its  position  against  all 
competitors. 

THE  HEREFORDS  AS  DAIRY  CATTLE. 

"Having  said  so  much  of  the  feeding  qualities 
of  these  animals,  I  must  now  allude  to  their 
milking  qualities.  Generally  they  are  not  con- 
sidered such  good  'fill-pails'  as  their  rivals  the 
Shorthorns  or  Ayrshires,  nor  such  butter  pro- 
diTcers  as  the  Channel  Islands  breeds,  yet  their 
butter  making  qualities  are  of  a  high  order.  I 
quote  from  Mr.  Duckham,  who  says  Mr.  Read 
of  Elkstone  finds  the  Herefords  retain  their 


general  aptitude  to  fatten,  and  that  in  the  team 
they  are  excellent,  and  that  they  have  been  used 
for  dairy  purposes  for  nearly  fifty  years  on  the 
farm,  and  that  lie  raises  his  calves  by  hand  after 
a  few  days  old. 

"Mr.  James,  of  Mappowder,  Court  Bland- 
ford,  Dorset,  says  that  Hereford  dairies  are  be- 
coming very  common  in  that  county ;  that  they 
let  nearly  100  cows  to  dairy  people,  and  that  if 
he  buys  one  of  any  other  breed  to  fill  up  the 
number  they  always  grumble.  His  system  is  to 
let  the  cows  at  so  much  per  year,  finding  them 
in  land  and  making  the  hay;  the  calves  being 
reared  by  hand  with  skim  milk  and  linseed 
until  three  months  old,  and  they  are  then 
turned  out  to  pasture. 

"Mr.  Oliver,  of  Penhallow,  Cornwall,  says: 
'I  rear  my  calves  on  skim  milk.  It  is  generally 
said  Hereford  cows  are  bad  milkers.  That  is 
contrary  to  my  experience.  My  cow  Patience, 
bred  by  Mr.  Cooke,  of  Moreton  House,  had 
given  14  pounds  of  butter  in  a  week,  and  Blos- 
som, bred  by  Mr.  Longmere,  Buckton,  Salop, 
gave  22  quarts  of  milk  yielding  2J  pounds  of 
butter  per  day/ 

"From  Ireland  and  Scotland,  reports  show 
that  excellent  results  have  been  attained.  It  is 
fair  to  say  that  my  own  experience  is  contrary 
to  the  opinion  that  they  are  better  for  the  dairy 
than  Shorthorns,  as  when  I  was  judge  of  cattle 
at  Hereford  some  few  years  since,  there  was  a 
milking  competition,  and  we  had  all  the  com- 
petitors in  the  class  very  carefully  milked,  and 


VICTORIA  1053  AT  9  YEARS. 
Bred  by   T.    L.    Miller. 

both  the  first  prizes  were  obtained  by  Short- 
horns of  high-class  pedigree,  beating  all  com- 
petitors, even  including  Ayrshires  and  Jerseys. 

THE   HEREFORD    IN   FOREIGN    COUNTRIES- 

"The  Herefords  have  proved  themselves  well 
adapted  for  foreign  and  colonial  countries.  Mr. 
F.  W.  Stone,  of  Guelph,  Ontario,  says : 

"'I  am  an  extensive  breeder  of  Shorthorns, 


368 


HISTOEY     OF     HEEEEOED     CATTLE 


which  breed  I  think  very  highly  of;  but  I  have 
also  purchased  some  Herefords  from  Lord 
Bateman's  and  Lord  Berwick's  herds  and  am 
highly  pleased  with  them.  The  climate  is  very 
variable,  varying  in  twenty-four  hours  from  30 
to  40  degrees,  but  the  Herefords  stand  the 
changes  equal  to  any  breed/ 

"Mr.  Edwards,  Knockalva,  Jamaica,  says 
that  for  many  years  they  had  no  change  of 
blood  till  1853,  when  Sir  Oliver  (1732)  and 
Malcolm  (1646)  were  imported,  and  that  they 
did  the  greatest  service  in  the  island;  that  this 
breed  are  good  workers,  hardy  and  of  great 
aptitude  to  fatten.  Mr.  Merryman  of  Maryland, 
and  Mr.  John  Johnston,  of  New  York,  testified 


SIR  GARNET   (6180)    2489. 
Bred   by   B.    Rogers. 

to  the  breed  standing  the  variations  of  the 
climate  remarkably  well.  Mr.  W.  Dangau,  from 
Hunter's  Eiver,  Australia,  in  addition  to  their 
feeding  powers  and  hardiness  of  constitution, 
found  they  were  excellent  in  traveling  long  dis- 
tances and  that  they  would  do  from  250  to  300 
miles  better  than  any  others.  I  have  therefore 
shown  that  the  .Herefords  are  admirable  for 
foreign  countries.  Amongst  the  most  noted 
strains  of  blood  I  find  Leopold  (1)  and  Wel- 
lington (4),  which  bull  was  sold  in  1816  for 
£283  ($1,415),  from  whom  the  mottled  faces 
are  mostly  descended,  and  Victory  (33),  which 
was  a  dark  grey,  and  Cotmore  (376),  which  was 
a  white- faced  bull,  and  Brockswood  (485), 
which  was  a  light  grey,  were  all  specially  noted 
in  the  first  number  of  Mr.  Eyton's  Herd  Book. 
"Mr.  Dixon  remarks  that"  there  were  not 
many  points  of  difference  between  the  dark 
greys  and  the  mottled  faces,  the  latter  of  which 
were  known  as  Ben  Tomkins'  sort;  and  that 
Eev.  Mr.  Smythies,of  The  Lynch,  was  one  of  the 
best  and  most  spirited  breeders  of  his  day,  and 
offered  to  show  a  hundred  Herefords  against 
the  same  number  of  Shorthorns  from  any  herd 
in  England.  All  these  remarks  show  that  much 


pains  and  infinite  care  has  been  taken  in  per- 
fecting this  noble  breed,  and  for  the  best  lines 
of  blood  the  Herd  Book  must  be  consulted. 

"The  breeders  put  their  heifers  to  the  bull  at 
from  eighteen  months  old  to  two  years,  and  the 
calves  generally  run  by  the  side  of  their  dams 
for  several  months.  The  cows  are  put  to  the 
bull  at  a  certain  time,  so  that  they  may  gener- 
ally come  due  to  calve  in  the  early  spring,  and  to 
meet  the  grass;  although  some  others  like  the 
cows  to  calve  about  October  or  November,  hous- 
ing the  calves  and  keeping  them  on  with  a  little 
milk  and  cake,  so  as  to  be  strong  by  the  summer. 
Some  breeders  think  that  by  letting  the  calves 
suck  the  mothers  it  prevents  the  cows  coming 
into  season  for  the  bull  as  early  as  if  they  were 
weaned  at  once,  but  from  inquiries  I  have  made 
I  find  but  little  difference  in  it.  This  is  con- 
trary to  my  own  and  other  breeders'  practice, 
as  I  have  found  the  cow  lies  barren,  especially 
Shorthorns,  for  some  months  after  calving,  if 
the  calf  lies  night  and  day  with  the  dam. 
Several  Herefordshire  breeders  are  in  the  habit 
of  giving  their  calves,  at  a  very  early  age,  good, 
old  beans,  which  should  be  given  whole,  and  in 
a  few  days  they  begin  to  crack  them  after  roll- 
ing them  about  in  their  mouths,  and  secreting 
that  frothy  saliva  which  seems  to  be  so  con- 
ducive to  a  calf's  well  doing.  I  have  tried  the 
plan  and  can  speak  highly  of  the  practice.  No 
food  can  be  better,  as  beans  are  peculiarly  fitted 
for  forming  bone  and  muscle. 

"On  the  whole,  I  believe  the  Hereford  breed 
as  a  flesh  forming  animal  is  second  to  no  breed 
in  the  world.  The  meat  itself  is  equal,  when 
well  fed,  to  the  best  Scotch,  and  every  authority 
proves  they  do  well  when  imported  into  other 
climes.  In  England  it  is  found  that  the  best 
grass  lands  are  most  calculated  for  their  flesh 
development,  and  when  tied  up,  liberally  fed, 
and  well  cared  for,  they  can  hold  their  own  in 
the  show  yard  against  any  breed  in  the  country. 
As  dairy  cattle  the  Shorthorns  beat  them,  but, 
taking  all  things  into  consideration,  England 
may  well  be  proud  of  her  white-faced  Horefords. 

"JOHN  HERSLEY  FOWLER. 
"Prebendal  Farm,  near  Aylesbury, 
"Jan.  7   1884." 


Consul  S.  B.  Packard,  of  Liverpool 
reported  : 

"HEEEFOED  CATTLE.  This  breed  takes 
its  name  from  the  county  where  they  were  first 
bred,  but  they  are  to  be  found  also  in  the  adjoin- 
ing counties.  They  are  also  grazed  on  most  of 
the  great  grazing  farms,  of  the  midland  coun- 
ties, and  there  are  also  breeding  herds  in  Scot- 
land and  Ireland.  The  Queen's  celebrated  herd 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


369 


is  kept  near  Windsor,  Berkshire.  This  breed 
adapts  itself  easily  to  the  severe  climate  of  the 
North,  as  well  as  the  milder  climate  of  the 
South.  In  America,  some  are  to  be  found  in 
ranches  6,000  feet  above  the  sea  level,  and  no 
better  proof  can  be  given  of  the  hardiness  of 
the  Herefords.  Of  this  breed  the  Earl  of 
Coventry  says :  'I  have  observed  Hereford  cattle 
for  twenty  years,  but  I  only  commenced  form- 
ing a  herd  nine  years  ago.  During  that  period 
I  have  tried  them  alongside  pedigree  Shorthorns 
and  other  breeds  of  cattle,  and  I  am  so  satisfied 
of  the  superiority  of  the  Hereford  breed  for 
feeding  purposes,  that  I  have  disposed  of  other 
sorts.  They  are  a  hardy  breed,  doing  well  out 
of  doors  all  the  year  around.  Their  quality  of 
meat  is  very  superior ;  they  have  less  rough  meat 
about  them  than  the  Shorthorns,  hence,  first- 
class  butchers  prefer  them  to  other  sorts.'  (Oct. 
21,  1883.)  They  are  a  perfectly  pure  race  of 
cattle  and  have  been  brought  to  their  present 
excellence  by  the  judicious  selection  of  both 
male  and  female  animals,  and  not  by  the  intro- 
duction of  crosses  of  other  breeds.  This  strictly 
pure  blood  gives  them  the  great  value  they  have 
for  improving  other  breeds. 

"COLOR.  The  distinguishing  color  is  red 
with  a  white  face,  chest  and  belly,  white  flank, 
and  white  tip  to  the  tail;  white  on  the  legs, 
white  mane  and  often  white  line  along  the  back. 
The  red  with  white  face  is  invariable,  and  the 
white  predominates,  more  or  less,  on  different 
animals.  There  are  also  grey  Herefords,  but 
these  are  now  confined  to  one  or  two  herds. 

"HERD  BOOK.  The  date  of  the  first  Herd 
Book  is  1845. 

"INCREASE.  The  demand  for  exportation 
principally  for  the  United  States  and  Canada 
has  increased  the  stock  of  the  district,  owing  to 
more  farmers  breeding."  Consul  Packard  had 
a  tabulated  form  that  he  copied  in  his  reports, 
with  each  British  breed,  showing  the  products, 
average  weights  and  other  important  statistics 
very  useful,  in  this  form,  for  comparing  the 
breeds,  from  which  we  take  the  following  sta- 
tistics for  Herefords: 

AVERAGE    WEIGHT    AT    MATURITY. 

Cow  12  to  14  Eng.  ewt.r=Am.  wt.  1344  to  1568  Ibs 

Bull  16  to  20  Eng.  cwt.= Am.  wt.  1824  to  2240  Ibs. 

Ox  20  to  22  Eng.  cwt.=Am.  wt.  2240  to  2464  Ibs. 

Age  at  maturity:  3  years. 

How  long  bred  pure:  From  a  very  remote 
period. 

Annual  average  pounds  of  milk:  Nine  thou- 
sand five  hundred  pounds. 

Milk  to  pounds  of  butter:  30  Ibs.  to  1  Ib. 
butter. 


A  good  cow  has  been  shown  to  yield  14 
pounds  of  butter  per  week  at  grass. 

One  gave  55  pounds  of  milk,  yielding  2| 
pounds  of  butter  per  day. 

Meat  Product:  1,770  Ibs. 

Labor:  Little  or  none. 

Method  of  housing:  Open  yards  during 
winter,  with  a  run  out  by  day;  summer,  out  in 
rough  pasture. 

Feeding:  Hay,  straw,  and  roots  in  winter; 
rough  pasture  in  summer. 

Breeding:  Heifers  have  calves  at  two-and- 
a  half  years,  and  continue  to  breed  until  they 
are  old. 

Grasses:  Clover,  rye  grass,  meadow,  fox-tail, 
and  English  natural  grasses. 

Live  weights  of  fatted  cattle  of  this  breed  : 


* 

CO      . 

1.9 


Herefords. 


35 


No.   1* (pounds)  2,394  1,724  1,621 

No.    2 (pounds)  2,135  1,862  1,764 

No.    3 (pounds)  3,024  1,884  1,855 

No.    4 (pounds)  2,500 1,778 1,832 

*No.  1  ox  of  the  above  table  is  the  property  of  Mr.  J. 
Price,  and  was  the  winner  of  the  Elkington  challenge  cup, 
which  has  never  been  done  except  by  this  Hereford. 

"PRICE.  At  the  recent  total  dispersion  by 
auction  of  two  old  established  herds  the  average 
price  was  just  $375,  including  cows,  bulls  and 
suckling  calves.  At  one  sale,  the  leading  bull 


TREGREHAN     (6232)    6203. 
Bred   by   Maj.    Carlyon. 

sold  for  $4,139;  at  the  other  sale  12  two-year- 
old  heifers  averaged  $652  each;  the  highest 
priced  cow  was  $1,329 ;  there  were  117  animals 
in  one  sale  and  91  in  the  other. 

"The  soil  of  Herefordshire  is  various,  from 
clay  to  light  sandy  soil,  much  of  which  is  of  in- 
ferior quality.  The  substratum  is  principally 
limestone,  clay  and  gravel.  The  temperature 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


at  the  altitude  of  100  to  300  feet  above  sea-level 
is  in  summer  (50°  ;  in  winter  39°  ;  the  mean  dur- 
ing the  year,  49°." 

REPORT  OF   CONSUL   LATHROP,   OF  BRISTOL,  ENG- 
LAND. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  a  report  on 
Hereford  cattle  in  answer  to  Department  cir- 
cular of  the  18th  of  July,  1883.  This  con- 
sulate has  in  its  immediate  vicinity  three  breeds 
of  cattle,  viz.,  Devons,  a  fine  tribe  of  Short- 
horns, and  Herefords. 

"I  have  selected  the  latter  breed  as  the  sub- 


CHERRY    24TH,     2410. 
Bred  by  J.  B.   &  G.  H.  Green.  Herefordshire. 

ject  of  my  report,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  other 
two,  for  the  following  reasons :  ( 1 )  On  account 
of  the  wide  celebrity  already  enjoyed  by  these 
two  breeds,  making  a  report  unnecessary;  and 
(2)  on  account  of  the  fact  that  the  Hereford 
seems  to  be,  of  all  breeds  in  the  United  King- 
dom, the  one  most  suited  to  the  needs  of  the 
stock  of  the  United  States.  While  much  of 
what  I  have  written  is  undoubtedly  familiar  to 
our  breeders,  yet  I  trust  that  this  report  may 
contribute  somewhat  towards  diffusing  widely  a 
knowledge  of  the  great  merits  of  this  sterling 
breed. 

"Hereford  cattle  in  tlte  herd  are  a  peculiarly 
impressive  sight.  Their  grand  development, 
their  firm  agility  and  light  activit}',  their  intel- 
ligent faces  and  placid  expression,  and  possibly 
more  than  anything  else,  their  wonderful 
similarity  to  each  other,  all  combine  to  make  a 
spectacle  pleasing  to  even  the  most  indifferent 
observer.  He  cannot  fail  to  note  how  closely 
they  conform  to  a  common  type,  and  that  type 
a  striking  one.  Its  main  feature  is  suggested 
when  I  say  that  they  are  oftener  spoken  of  as 
'white-faces,'  or  'red-with-white-faces/  than  as 
Herefords.  But  Hereford  cattle  have  not 
always  thus  assimilated  so  closely  to  a  common 


type.  Up  to  well  within  the  present  century 
there  were  four  distinct  varieties  of  the  breed, 
differing  widely  from  one  another  in  appear- 
ance, but  they  have  succumbed  so  completely  to 
the  'red-with-white-face'  that  a  Hereford  not 
thus  marked  is  as  rare  as  a  white  crow. 

"The  origin  of  the  breed  is  doubtful.  The 
best  authorities  consider  it  aboriginal;  others 
claim  its  importation  from  Norjnandy  or  Flan- 
ders; others,  again,  think  the  climate  and  con- 
ditions of  Hereford  County  have  made  what 
they  have,  out  of  an  animal  that  originally  in- 
habited the  shire  of  Devon.  Be  its  origin  what 
it  may,  its  environment  in  Hereford  County 
and  surrounding  counties  has  resulted  in  one  of 
the  finest  beef  producing  breeds  of  cattle  in  the 
world,  nor  is  the  breed  to  be  despised  for  the 
dairy  under  conditions  more  favorable  than  are 
to  be  obtained  in  its  home  county. 

"The  authentic  history  of  the  breed  begins 
about  the  year  1800.  In  the  year  before  this, 
occurred  the  first  cattle  show  of  the  celebrated 
Smith  field  Club,  and  a  Hereford  ox  was  the 
winner  of  the  first  prize;  a  more  general  ac- 
knowledgment of  merit,  then,  than  now,  be- 
cause at  that  time,  and  indeed  up  to  the  year 
1851,  all  breeds  were  shown  in  competition  with 
each  other.  This  ox  was  6  feet  7  inches  high, 
10  feet  4  inches  girth,  and  dressed  1,976 
pounds  meat ;  his  success  was  maintained  by  the 
breed  so  well  that  up  to  1851  the  Herefords  are 
credited  in  Smithfield  Club  records  with  one 
hundred  and  eighty-five  prizes  for  their  oxen 
and  steers  against  one  hundred  and  ninety  for 
all  other  breeds  together,  including  Shorthorns, 
Devons,  and  Scotch.  The  records  for  prizes 
won  by  Hereford  cows  and  heifers  is,  however, 
by  no  means  so  good,  being  twenty-two  for  them 
against  one  hundred  and  eleven  for  all  other 
breeds.  Mr.  Duckham  in  his  interesting  and 
valuable  little  work  on  the  breed,  comments 
thus  upon  this  disparity  between  the  success  of 
the  males  and  females.  He  says : 

"  'This  is  certainly  great  falling  off  compared 
with  the  oxen  and  steers  and  goes  far  to  prove 
the  correctness  of  my  remark  respecting  the 
study  of  nature's  laws  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil,  and  of  the  adaptation  of  stock  to  it.  The 
soil  of  the  county  of  Hereford  being  neither 
applicable  for  dairy  or  feeding  purposes,  those 
who  have  cultivated  it  for  ages,  made  it  their 
duty  to  breed  steers  and  oxen  which  should  by 
their  superior  quality  and  aptitude  to  fatten, 
command  the  attention  of  the  distant  grazier/ 

"Herefordshire  has  550,000  acres.  About 
100,000  acres  are  utilized  neither  for  pasture 
nor  agriculture ;  the  balance  is  divided  equally, 
almost,  between  these  two  pursuits.  The  sub- 


371 


stratum  is  a  light  red  sandstone,  and  the  soil 
generally  is  a  deep  red  heavy  loam,  some- 
times with  some  clay  in  it.  The  surface  of 
the  county  is  hilly,  and  averages  about  250  feet 
above  sea  level.  There  are  some  small  but 
beautiful  and  fertile  valleys.  The  culture  of 
tree  fruits,  notably  apples,  and  of  hops  is  largely 
pursued.  Damp  fogs  prevail  at  some  seasons 
and  help  to  keep  the  grass  beautifully  green  all 
the  year  round. 

"Mr.  Southall  has  kindly  furnished  me  with 
the  following  particulars  of  temperature,  rain- 
fall, etc.,  the  results  of  his  own  observations  at 
his  house  in  Eoss,  the  southern  part  of  Hereford 
county : 


1883. 
77°0' 
18°  8' 
56°9' 
41°6' 
49°25' 


Temperature.  1882. 

Absolute   maximum 84°!' 

Absolute   minimum 19°6' 

Average    maximum 57°!' 

Average    minimum 42°3' 

Mean   49°7' 

*       *      * 

"The  temperature  reached  the  extreme  height 
only  on  three  or  four  days  in  the  year  of  1884, 
and  in  1883,  on  one  day  only.  The  rainfall 
amounted  in  1883  to  31.52  inches,  being  1.34 
inches  more  than  the  average.  There  were  in 
this  year  197  days  on  which  rain  fell. 

"The  ideal  Hereford  is  thus  described  by  Mr. 
Duckham :  'The  face,  throat,  chest,  or  lower 
part  of  the  body  and  legs,  together  with  the 
crest,  or  mane,  and  the  tip  of  the  tail,  a  beauti- 
fully clear  white;  a  small  red  spot  on  the  eye 
and  a  round  red  spot  on  the  throat,  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  white,  are  distinctive  marks  which 
have  many  admirers.  The  horns  are  of  a  yel- 
low or  white  waxy  appearance,  frequently 
darker  at  the  ends;  those  of  the  bull  should 
spring  out  straightly  from  a  broad,  flat  fore- 
head, whilst  those  of  the  cows  have  a  wave  and 
a  slight  upward  tendency.  The  countenance  is 
at  once  pleasant,  cheerful  and  open,  presenting 
a  placid  appearance,  denoting  a  good  temper 
and  that  quietude  of  disposition  which  is  so  es- 
sential to  the  successful  grazing  of  all  ruminat- 
ing animals;  yet,  the  eye  is  full  and  lively,  the 
head  small  in  comparison  to  the  substance  of 
the  body.  The  muzzle  white,  and  moderately 
fine  thin  cheek.  The  chest  deep  and  full,  well 
covered  on  the  outside  with  mellow  flesh;  ker- 
nel full  up  from  shoulder  point  to  throat ;  and 
so  beautifully  do  the  shoulder  blades  blend  into 
the  body  that  it  is  difficult  to  tell  in  a  well-fed 
animal  where  they  are  set  on.  The  chine  and 
loins  broad ;  hips  long,  and  moderately  broad ; 
legs  straight  and  small.  The  rump  forming  a 
straight  line  with  the  back,  and  at  a  right  angle 
with  the  thigh,  which  should  be  full  of  flesh 
down  to  the  hocks,  without  exuberance;  twist 


good,  well  filled  up  with  flesh  even  with  the 
thigh.  The  ribs  should  spring  well  and  deep, 
level  with  shoulder  point;  the  flank  full,  and 
the  whole  carcass  well  and  evenly  covered  with 
a  rich  mellow  flesh,  distinguishable  by  yielding 
with  a  pleasing  elasticity  to  the  touch.  The 
hide  thick,  yet  mellow,  and  well  covered  with 
soft,  glossy  hair  having  a  tendency  to  curl/ 

"A  glance  at  the  cuts  presented  here  will  show 
us  immediately  how  closely  the  animals  whose 
portraits  have  been  selected  to  accompany  this 
article  answer  to  this  description.  The  bull 
Borneo  (j[  250)  is  perfect.  He  was  bred  by  Mr. 
Carwardine,  of  Leominster,  in  Herefordshire, 
and  was  sold  in  1882  to  Messrs.  Earl  &  Stuart, 
of  Lafayette,  Ind.,  where  he  now  is. 

"The  ox  pictured  here  (ff251)  was  bred  by 
Mr.  J.  Price  of  Pembridge  in  Herefordshire. 
He  won  the  Elkington  Challenge  Cup  at  Bir- 
mingham in  1881,  and  again  in  1882.  This 
challenge  has  never  before  been  won  twice  by 
the  same  animal,  and,  in  recognition  of  his 
great  feat,  the  portrait  of  this  ox  is  to  have 


EDWARD   PRICE, 
Father  of  John  Price,  Court  House,  Pembridge. 

the  place  of  honor,  the  title  page,  of  volume 
14  of  the  Hereford  Herd  Book,  just  about  to  be 
issued.  The  general  rule  is  to  admit  to  the 
Herd  Book  only  cuts  of  such  animals  as  take 
first  prize  at  a  Eoyal  Agricultural  show.  The 


372 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


thirteenth  volume,  I  mention  here,  contains  the 
names  of  199  breeders,  of  whom  11  are  either 
in  the  United  States  or  Canada.  The  four- 
teenth volume,  which  is  to  be  issued  in  Feb- 
ruary next,  contains,  I  am  informed,  a  much 
larger  number  of  breeders'  names.  I  hardly 
think  it  necessary,  but  still  I  venture  to  suggest 
that  no  American  owner  or  breeder  of  Here- 
fords  eligible  for  entry  should  omit  to  register 
them.  The  Herd  Book  is  under  the  control  of 
S.  W.  Urwick,  Esq.,  of  Leominster,  and  all 
breeders  of  these  cattle  are  under  obligation  to 
him  for  the  accuracy  and  completeness  of  the 
work.  I  take  pleasure  in  acknowledging  here 


ANXIETY    (5188)    2238. 

Bred    by    T.    J.    Carwardine,    Herefordshire.      Founder    of 
the  Anxiety  family.     (From  a  drawing  by  Dewey.) 

the  obligation  I  also  am  under  to  Mr.  Urwick 
for  assistance  rendered  and  information  ex- 
tended in  connection  with  this  report. 

"The  two  cows  portrayed  here  are  both  royal 
prize  winners  at  late  shows.  Golden  Treasure 
(fl252)  has  a  little  too  much  white  for  a  per- 
fect Hereford,  but  in  other  respects  she  is  all 
that  a  pure-bred  Hereford  should  be. 

"Herefords  were  formerly  used  considerably 
in  the  yoke,  where  'they  combined  the  activity 
of  the  Devon  with  the  strength  of  the  Short- 
horn/ There,  as  well  as  in  grazing,  their  placid, 
quiet  temper  -rendered  them  doubly  valuable. 
In  those  old  days  when  they  were  put  to  the 
yoke,  when  the  demand  for  meat  was  not  so 
pressing  as  now,  nor  money  requiring  so  rapid  a 
turn-over,  they  were  often  kept  until  six  or 
seven  years  old ;  and  their  flesh  developed  'that 
beautiful  marbled  appearance  caused  by  the  ad- 
mixture of  fat  and  lean  which  is  so  much  prized 
by  epicures/  But  the  Hereford  is  now  consid- 
ered ready  for  the  market  at  from  twenty  to 
thirty  months  old.  Grass  with  a  little  oil  cake 
is  all  they  need,  and  their  ability  in  grazing  and 
facility  for  fattening  make  the  steers  much 
sought  after  to  graze  in  the  midland  counties 


for  the  London  market.  They  are  in  their 
prime  at  three,  but  will  grow  up  to  four,  and 
their  live  weight  at  maturity  is  from  1,800  to 
2,500  pounds.  The  calves  are  dropped  generally 
from  April  to  July.  Yearling  heifers  are  sel- 
dom put  to  the  bull.  The  calves  run  on  their 
dams  for  6  or  7  months  and  are  rarely  weaned 
on  oil-cake.  The  young  steers  are  fed  upon 
grass,  and  get  turnips  and  cut  straw  and  some- 
times a  little  oil  cake  in  winter. 

"I  subjoin  to  this  report  a  table  showing  the 
live  weights  of  all  the  cattle  of  all  breeds  exhib- 
ited at  the  eighty-sixth  annual  show  of  the 
Smithfield  Club  in  December,  1883,  prepared 
by  me  from  the  official  catalogue.  It  is  pre- 
sented more  as  a  matter  of  interest  than  for 
any  deductions  that  might  be  drawn  from  it. 
'The  youngest  and  oldest  Hereford  classes  as  a 
general  thing  at  these  shows/  Mr.  Duckham 
writes  me,  'are  the  heaviest  of  any  exhibited/ 
The  superiority  in  weight  of  the  younger  classes 
proves,  of  course,  their  earlier  development ;  the 
superiority  of  the  oldest  indicates  that  eventu- 
ally they  attain  a  greater  size  than  other  breeds. 
But  I  have  already  said  that  Herefords  are  not 
commonly  allowed,  for  various  reasons,  to  ob- 
tain the  age  which  in  the  past  made  them  so 
remarkable  for  their  size  and  weight. 

"Another  reason  for  the  lack  of  'tall  figures' 
in  these  days  for  cattle  weights  is  the  partial 
abandonment  of  the  time-honored  practice  of 
feeding  up  stock  until  it  becomes  so  fat  as  to 
be  literally  useless  for  any  other  purpose  than 
to  take  a  prize.  Mr.  McDonald,  in  his  report  to 
the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  upon  the  stock 
exhibited  at  the  society's  meeting  at  York  in 
July,  1883,  says  on  this  point:  'Overfeeding 
has  been  disappearing  somewhat  in  recent  years. 
There  is  still  too  much  of  it,  however/  He  says 
elsewhere:  'Preparation  for  modern  show  yards 
is  a  severe  ordeal  and  only  good  constituted  ani- 
mals can  endure  it.  It  leads  to  many  breeding 
mishaps  and  failures — but  when  one  finds  the 
sires  and  dams  of  so  many  of  the  prize  winners 
themselves  in  prize  lists,  as  was  the  case  at 
York,  one  is  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  suc- 
cessful showing  and  breeding  go  hand  in  hand 
to  a  considerable  extent  and  to  a  larger  degree 
than  is  commonly  imagined ;  and  one  is  led  to 
believe  that  high  feeding  is  not  so  detrimental 
in  skillful  hands  to  successful  breeding  as  is 
generally  imagined/  9 

"  TTerefords,  and  only  Herefords,  are  found 
in  Herefordshire,  Shropshire,  Monmouthshire, 
Radnorshire.  Breconshire,  and  also  in  Worces- 
tershire, and  Montgomeryshire.  Large  num- 
bers are  also  found  in  Cornwall  and  Ireland, 
and  there  are  herds  of  them  in  many  other 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


373 


counties.  They  are  seldom  crossed  with  the 
Shorthorn,  though  they  are  said  to  blend  well 
when  it  is  done ;  the  same  statement  holds  good 
with  the  Ayrshires.  Hereford  on  Devon  has 
been  tried,  resulting  in  a  progeny  inferior  in 
some  respects.  Hereford  on  Alderney  is  said 
to  produce  satisfactory  results,  improving  the 
cow  of  the  first  cross  as  a  feeder  and  not  injur- 
ing her  milk  in  quantity  or  quality.  A  cross 
with  the  West  Highland  Kyloe  was  a  failure, 
but  with  Galloway  Polls  was  a  great  success/ 
These  statements  of  the  results  of  Hereford 
crosses  are  taken  from  a  prize  essay  from  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  made  by  the  late  H. 
H.  Dixon,  a  notable  authority  on  such  matters 
when  alive. 

"Evidence  establishes  beyond  question  that 
the  Hereford,  when  removed  to  almost  any 
climate,  does  not  degenerate  as  a  beef  producer. 
The  females,  too,  of  the  breed  are  found  most 
satisfactory  for  the  dairy,  under  different  con- 
ditions than  can  be  found  in  their  home  coun- 
tries. Both  of  these  conclusions  are  contrary 
to  an  opinion  I  have  heard  many  express  to  the 
effect  tbat  Herefords  deteriorate  away  from 
home.  But  T  have  observed  that  while  such  an 
opinion  seems  very  general,  it  is  maintained  by 
those  without  special  knowledge  of  the  breed, 
pnd  I  think  it  an  inherited  prejudice,  which  a 
littb  investigation  would  disprove  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  holder.  'Old  prejudices  die  hard' 
is  true  and  trite.  In  Bedfordshire  and  Dorset 
li' T:!S  have  been  maintained  for  many  years, 
fifty  in  some  cases,  and  these  herds  are  fully  up 
to  the  standard  of  the  homebred  ones ;  in  every 
case,  that  is,  in  which  due  care  has  been  taken 
to  get  an  occasional  infusion  of  fresh  blood. 
In  the  wet  and  changeable  climate  of  Cornwall 
the  breed  is  established  largely  and  maintains 
its  reputation,  though  Devons  and  Shorthorns 
are  said  to  deteriorate  there.  In  the  counties 
near  London,  Surrey,  Cambridge,  and  Kent, 
Herefords  have  done  well;  also,  in  Wales  and 
Scotland.  They  withstand  the  severe  climate 
of  the  latter  country  without  any  seeming  diffi- 
culty, and  will  live  where  many  Shorthorns  can- 
not. In  Ireland  they  are  much  esteemed  and 
their  number  is  constantly  increasing.  They 
maintain  in  all  these  places  their  characteristics 
of  early  development  and  rapid  and  even  fat- 
tening. 

"The  breed  seems  to  stand  the  heat  with  the 
same  indifference  it  does  the  cold.  In  Jamaica 
the  progeny  of  some  imported  Hereford  bulls 
have  proved  the  most  valuable  and  useful  stock 
in  the  island  ;  and  the  heat  of  Australia  has  not 
affected  in  the  slightest  degree  the  characteris- 
tics of  the  large  number  of  Herefords  there. 


Of  their  success  in  the  United  States  I  shall 
speak  further  on. 

"I  have  thus  far  considered  the  Herefords 
mainly  as  a  butcher's  breed.  I  will  now  speak 
of  their  qualifications  for  the  dairy.  In  the 
shire  of  Dorset,  one  of  the  crack  dairy  districts 
of  England,  producing  a  butter  much  sought 
after,  there  are  many  Hereford  dairy  herds. 
The  owner  of  the  largest  of  these  herds  wrote 
twenty  years  since  as  follows:  'Our  herd  of 
Herefords  has  been  established  nearly  thirty 
years,  and  so  far  from  their  being  degenerated 
with  us  they  are  much  improved  and  Hereford 
dairies  are  becoming  very  common  in  this 
county.  In  proof  that  they  are  good  for  milk 
with  us,  we  let  nearly  100  cows  to  dairy  people, 
and  if  I  buy  one  of  any  other  breed  to  fill  up 
the  dairy,  they  always  grumble,  and  would 
rather  have  one  of  our  own  bred  heifers.  Our 
system  is,  we  let  our  cows  at  so  much  per  year, 
finding  them  in  land  and  making  the  hay ;  the 
calves  being  reared  by  hand  with  skim  milk  and 
linseed  until  three  months  old,  when  we  take 
them  and  allow  a  quarter's  rent  of  the  cow  for 
the  calf  at  that  age ;  they  are  then  turned  into 
the  pasture.' 

"The  proprietor  of  this  herd  and  writer  of 


•••EABUESIUOEUUILZ2B 


EARL    OF    SHADELAND     22D,     27147. 

Bred  by  Adams  Earl.     Called  "the  Record  Breaker,"  never 

being   defeated. 

this  letter  was  Mr.  James,  of  Blandford,  Dor- 
set. His  son  writes  me  under  date  January 
19th,  188-1,  that  the  same  system  is  still  pursued 
and  that  the  Herefords  are  as  great  a  success 
as  ever.  He  says :  'My  late  father  and  myself 
have  kept  and  bred  Herefords  for  dairy  cows 
for  forty-eight  years  and  have  always  used  the 
best  blood  we  could  get.  I  have  won  a  number 
of  prizes  for  "dairy  cows"  and  "dairy  cows  and 
offspring"  against  Devons  and  Shorthorns.'  Mr. 
James  further  says :  'In  a  cold,  wet,  sour  place 
there  is  nothing  like  the  Herefords ;  their  good 


374 


coats  are  a  protection  in  the  winter.  The  but- 
ter that  is  made  is  a  splendid  color  and  taste. 
There  are  lots  of  Hereford  dairies  in  this 
county.  In  the  year  1881  I  sold  two  bulls  to 
cross  Shorthorns,  and  I  know  parties  who  have 
crossed  Herefords  with  Shorthorns  and  have 
come  back  again  to  the  Herefords.' 

"Mr.  White  writes  me  from  Wiltshire  as  fol- 
lows :  'I  keep  a  dairy  of  ninety  pure-bred  Here- 
ford cows,  which  breed  has  been  kept  on  this 


RUDOLPH     (6660)    13478. 
Bred  by  P.  Turner,  Herefordshire. 

farm  for  the  last  sixty  years,  and  I  have  at  all 
times  endeavored  to  obtain  the  milkiest  strain  I 
could,  and  I  think  I  have  now  a  herd  of  cows 
more  adapted  to  dairy  purposes  than  any  other 
Hereford  herd  in  this  country.  I  have  made 
fair  trials  between  the  Hereford  and  Shorthorn 
as  to  profit,  and  I  give  my  decided  preference  to 
the  former.' 

"The  testimony  from  these  two  herds  is  the 
most  valuable  that  could  possibly  be  obtained 
as  to  the  dairy  capabilities  of  the  breed,  as  they 
are  the  largest,  and  have  been  longest  estab- 
lished of  any  in  existence.  I  have  received  let- 
ters similar  in  tenor  to  the  above  from  various 
smaller  breeders  in  different  counties,  and  I 
have  not  been  able  to  discover  an  instance  where 
breeders  or  dairymen  have  changed  back  to 
other  breeds  after  starting  in  with  Herefords. 
I  had  hoped  to  send  with  this  report  some  fig- 
ures giving  actual  milk  and  butter  products, 
etc.,  but  I  must  leave  them  for  a  supplementary 
report,  as  I  have  already  detained  this  one  over 
a  month,  waiting  for  the  promised  statistics. 
But  it  is  not  so  much  as  milkers  that  the  United 
States  are  interested  in  the  breed,  but  as  beef 
producers;  and  that  in  this  capacity  they  are 
indeed  largely  interested  will  be  proved  when 
I  say  that  the  extraordinary  demand  for  pedi- 
gree Herefords  from  the  United  States  in  the 
last  few  years  has  so  increased  the  price  of  these 


cattle  that  the  Hereford  breeders  are  looked 
upon  with  envy  by  other  breeders  throughout 
the  kingdom  as  having  'struck  a  bonanza.' 
That  Herefords  will  repay  a  large  expenditure 
is  undeniable.  Their  tremendous  development  of 
flesh,  their  activity  as  feeders,  their  insensibility 
to  changes  of  climate,  their  hardiness,  their 
quiet  and  placid  tempers,  are  just  precisely  the 
qualities  needed  for.  the  improvement  of  our 
western,  Texas,  and  Spanish  cattle.  Their 
bulls,  too,  have  a  marvelous  faculty  of  impress- 
ing their  qualities  on  their  get,  and  there  is 
many  a  half  breed  Hereford  which  is  absolutely 
indistinguishable  in  appearance  and  quality 
from  a  pure  bred  one,  so  completely  is  the  in- 
fluence of  the  dam  eliminated.  Another  point. 
The  Hereford  is  especially  strong  just  where 
our  western  cattle  are  weak,  viz.,  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  flesh  on  tbe  back.  The  back 
of  a  well-ripened  Hereford  steer  has  been  com- 
pared to  a  table,  and  the  back  of  a  Texas  steer 
to  a  wedge.  Volumes  could  not  say  more. 

"There  were  two  remarkable  sales  of  Here- 
fords during  the  past  .year;  one,  the  dispersal 
of  Mr.  Pitt's  (f  253)  herd  at  Chadnor  Court, 
(^1254)  and  the  other  the  dispersal  of  Mr. 
Turner's  herd  at  The  Leen.  (ff  255)  Mr.  Pitt 
established  his  herd  in  1842,  from  four  cele- 
brated cows  of  the  day.  I  present  a  little  state- 
ment of  the  amounts  received  by  Mr.  Pitt  at 
this  sale. 


Number   of  Animals. 


Value.    Average. 


32  cows  with  two  calves $13,450.00  $420.00 

25  calves  4,961.63  198.47 

122-year-old  heifers  7,818.05  651.50 

32-year-old  heifers  1,113.67  371.22 

12  yearlings  3,995.87  333.00 

7  bulls     2,800.00  400.00 

"Ninety-one  animals  averaged  about  $375 
each.  The  average  of  $651.50  for  12  two-year- 
old  heifers  has  never  before  been  equalled  in 
England  in  any  breed. 

"Mr.  Turner's  herd  has  been  established  for 
about  eighty  years,  his  grandfather  being  the 
founder.  Since  1854  Mr.  Turner  has  won  with 
individuals  of  his  herd  111  first  prizes,  60 
second  prizes,  11  third,  beside  52  special  prizes. 
He  received  an  average  of  $369  apiece  for  his 
animals,  his  cows  and  calves  averaging  a  little 
higher.  His  chief  stock  bull,  The  Grove  3d 
(5051)  2490  (^256)  brought  over  830  gs. 
($4,150). 

"These  two  herds  were  exceptionally  fine  and 
had  a  wide  celebrity.  Many  of  the  animals 
went  to  the  United  States,  making,  with  all 
others  forwarded,  a  total  of  1,800  pedigree 
Herefords  sent  to  the  United  States  from  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1883,  to  February  1,  1884.  This  in- 
cludes one  lot  of  300  sent  to  Baltimore  in 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


January  of  this  present  year.  The  question 
naturally  comes  up  now,  whether  this  demand 
for  the  Herefords  is  a  fancy  or  a  fashion,  likely 
to  die  out  and  let  down  prices.  It  is  worth 
considering.  I  have  said  that  the  principal 
demand  for  the  Herefords  in  the  United  States 
was  as  beef  makers,  but  I  did  not  intend  at  all 
to  intimate  that  their  merit  as  milkers  was 
overlooked.  On  the  contrary,  many  breeders 
in  the  United  States  are  enthusiastic  over  them 
as  a  dairy  breed  and  quite  a  number  of  wealthy 
men  are  forming  herds.  Some  go  so  far  as  to 
claim  that  the  Hereford  is  the  coming  breed, 
which  is  going  to  carry  all  before  it,  and  that 
the  Shorthorn  will  eventually  fall  before  the 
Middlehorn,  just  as  the  Longhorn  went  down  in 
the  past.  The  high -esteem  in  which  the  breed 
(Till  256A,  256B,  256C,  256D,  256E)  is 
held  in  the  United  States  and  the  growing 
appreciation  of  its  merits  which  exists  in  Eng- 
land preclude,  it  seems  to  me,  the  possibility 
of  a  fall  in  prices  in  the  near  future,  or,  in  fact, 
for  many  years.  It  is  even  possible  that  for  a 
time  prices  may  go  higher  than  now.  A  man 
writes  me  from  Hereford  County  thus:  I  am 
now  looking  out  for  a  lot  of  pedigree  Hereford 
cattle  for  America;  they  are  more  difficult  to 
get,  as  the  demand  has  been  great  and  prices  are 
much  higher. 

"How  TO  EXPORT  HEREFORDS. — By  far  the 
larger  proportion  of  the  Herefords  sent  to  the 
United  States  go  via  Liverpool,  though  several 
large  herds  have  been  sent  by  way  of  Bristol. 
I  am  of  the  opinion  that  in  many  cases  better 
facilities  could  be  obtained  via  Bristol  than  are 
obtained  via  Liverpool.  One  reason  I  have  for 
this  opinion  is  the  fact  that  several  of  the 
steamers  plying  in  the  lines  from  Bristol  to 
New  York  are  unusually  high  between  decks, 
and  extremely  well  lighted  and  ventilated— an 
important  matter.  Another  advantage  is  that 
cattle  can  be  brought  from  Hereford  in  the  cars 
directly  alongside  of  the  ship's  deck. 

"The  Great  Western  Railway  Company  quote 
the  following  to  me  as  about  their  average  rates 
for  transporting  cattle  from  the  town  of  Here- 
ford to  Bristol  or  to  Avonmouth  decks  (a  port 
of  Bristol)  : 

Half  wagen  load,  consisting  of  4  cattle $  5.46 

Small  wagon   load,   consisting  of  7   fat  cattle 8.20 

Medium  wagon   load,  consisting  of  8  fat  cattle 9.23 

Large  wagon  load,  unlimited  (holding  about  10) 11.00 

"The  Great  Western  Steamship  Company, 
plying  between  Bristol  and  New  York,  inform 
me  that  their  rates  average  from  $25  to  $30  per 
full  grown  animal.  The  ship  provides  water 
and  stalls  and  their  bills  of  lading  contain  this 
clause :  'Ship  not  accountable  for  mortality  or 


accident  from  any  cause  whatever/  A  herd  of 
109  Hereford  cattle  was  carried  on  this  line 
some  time  ago  at  the  following  rates:  Cows 
and  heifers,  $24.33;  calves,  $12.16  each;  suck- 
ling calves,  $-1.86  each.  A  herd  of  fine  Jersey 
cattle  carried  on  this  line  subsequently,  when 
freights  were  higher,  paid  an  average  of  $30.50 
each  for  full  grown  animals.  In  order  to  take 
proper  care  of  valuable  cattle  in  ocean  transit, 
there  should  be  one  man  for  each  twelve  cattle. 
Competent  men  for  this  purpose  can  be  hired  in 
England  for  about  $1.25  per  day  and  all  ex- 
penses paid,  including  a  pass  back  to  the  port  of 
departure.  When  a  steamer  gives  rate  for  car- 
rying cattle,  the  pass  over  and  back  for  a  cer- 
tain number  of  cattle  tenders  is  included.  The 
foreman  in  charge  of  the  tenders  would  of 
course  get  more  than  $1.25  per  day,  but  in  most 
cases  he  is  the  American  agent  or  buyer,  or  is 
connected  in  some  permanent  capacity  with 
the  farm  or  the  business  of  the  purchaser. 
Such  cattle  of  course  are  insured  to  their  full 
value  almost  invariably,  and  are  admitted,  be- 
ing breeding  animals,  into  the  United  States 
free  of  duty.  Certificates  from  a  veterinary 
surgeon  and  from  the  Consul  at  the  point  of 
departure  invariably  accompany  such  consign- 
ments. 

"HEREFORDS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. — Any 
account  of  Herefords  in  the  United  States 
would  be  incomplete  without  mention  in  con- 


PRINCESS     (V.     13,     p.     152). 
Bred   by  T.   Marston,   Herefordshire. 

nection  therewith  of  the  name  of  Mr.  T.  L. 
Miller,  of  Beecher,  111.  He  was  the  first,  or  one 
of  the  first,  to  perceive  what  a  boon  to  the  stock 
of  the  United  States  the  almost  unknown  Here- 
ford would  be,  and  for  years  he  has  persistently 
and  enthusiastically  advocated  him  in  his 
'Breeders'  Live  Stock  Journal.'  In  1873  he  im- 
ported from  Hereford  a  two-year-old  heifer, 
Dolly  Varden,  with  a  calf  at  foot.  She  has 
brought  a  live  calf  every  year  since,  one  of  the 


376 


HIS TOBY  OF  H&REFOBD  CATTLE 


first  being  the  bull  'Success/  hitherto  acknowl- 
edged as  the  best  Hereford  bull  in  the  United 
States,  and  still  alive  and  active.  Dolly  Varden 
and  Success  have  been  repeatedly  exhibited  and 
never  beaten,  whilst  the  get  of  Success  has  in 
several  instances  brought  $1,000  per  head. 

"The  'Hereford  Times/  of  Oct  18, 1883,  says : 
'To  this  purchase  of  Dolly  Varden  and  her  calf, 
combined  with  the  indomitable  energy  and 
perseverance  of  Mr.  Miller,  the  brisk  demand, 
present  high  favor  and  repute  in  which  Here- 
ford cattle  are  held  is  attributable/  Mr.  Mil- 
ler's neighbors  in  Illinois  are  following  his  ex- 
ample in  importing  Herefords.  Messrs.  G. 
Leigh  &  Co.,  of  Beecher,  111.,  have  bought  eight 
animals  within  the  past  few  weeks  from  the 
herd  at  Felhampton  Court;  Mr.  Culbertson,  of 
Chicago,  two;  and  Mr.  J.  V.  Farwell,  also  of 
Chicago,  16,  all  from  the  same  herd. 

"ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. — In  conclusion  I  wish 
to  acknowledge  the  extreme  courtesy  with  which 
my  requests  for  information  have  been  re- 
sponded to  by  the  breeders  of  Herefords.  It  is 
not  always  easy  for  a  consul  to  obtain  informa- 
tion. His  requests  sometimes  are  met  with  dis- 
courtesy, sometimes  with  indifference;  but  in 
this  case  only  five  letters  out  of  about  a  hundred 
and  thirty-five  dispatched  by  me  remained  un- 
answered. In  every  case  in  which  I  had  a  per- 
sonal interview  with  Hereford  men,  except  one, 


every  facility  was  placed  at  my  disposal  for  a 
thorough  investigation.  I  have  to  acknowledge, 
especially,  the  kindness  in  connection  with  this 
report  of  Thomas  Duckham,  Esq.,  M.  P.;  of 
S.  W.  Urwick,  Esq.,  secretary  of  the  Hereford 
Herd  Book ;  of  J.  Bowen  Jones,  Esq.,  of  Shrop- 
shire; of  Lord  Moreton,  M.  P.;  of  E.  G. 
Clarke,  Esq.,  of  Bristol;  of  N.  J.  Hine,  Esq., 
assistant  secretary  of  the  Smithfield  Club." 

From  the  table  prepared  by  Consul  Lathrop, 
showing  the  respective  weights  of  the  cattle 
exhibited  at  the  eighty-sixth  annual  show  of 
the  Smithfield  Club,  December,  1883,  we  con- 
dense the  following  table  of  weights  for  the  five 
heaviest  steers  under  two  years  old  of  each 
breed,  as  showing  the  early  development  and 
heavier  weights  of  the  Hereford  yearlings  over 
all  other  breeds,  their  winnings  evidencing  their 
earlier  maturity  : 


Herefords. 

1588 
1558 
1468 
1424 
1364 


Shorthorns. 
1544 
1498 
1426 
1423 
1369 


Sussex. 
1540 
1537 
1425 
1424 
1370 


Devon.  Cross-breds. 
1186  1536 

1162  1456 

1140  1455 

1115  1392 

1028  1365 


While  mere  weight  decides  nothing,  without 
consideration  of  the  cost,  this  table,  taken  with 
other  statistics,  shows  that  there  is  not  and  has 
never  been  any  preponderance  of  weight — age 
considered — of  the  Shorthorns,  over  the  Here- 
fcrds  and  other  large  breeds  of  British  cattle. 


THE    EQUINOX    2758. 
Bred   by   J.   Merryman,   Maryland. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


377 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

HEREFORDS  AS  DAIRY  CATTLE 


Those  who  have  had  experience  with  Here- 
ford cattle  know  that  some  families  are  fine 
milkers,  and  that  the  milk  of  all  the  Hereford 
cows  is  rich  in  butter.  Our  experience  with 
grade  Herefords  as  milkers  has  been  highly 
satisfactory;  these  grades  proving  to  be  good 
milkers  and  the  quality  of  the  milk  rich.  One 
h(  I'd  of  thoroughbred  Herefords  that  we  bought 
of  D.  K.  Shaw,  of  New  York,  were  all  of  them 
good  dairy  cows. 

We  have  also  given  elsewhere  much  testimony 
on  dairy  Herefords,  especially  in  the  preceding 
chapter.  Mr.  Sotham,  in  his  controversy  with 
the  Shorthorn  scribes,  mentioned  that  a  Here- 
ford cow  was  champion  dairy  cow  at  the  first 
show  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  at  Ox- 
ford, 1839;  in  a  letter  to  the  Albany  "Culti- 
vator" for  January,  184-t,  headed  "Herefords — • 
their  Dairy  Properties,  etc.,"  Mr.  Sotham  says : 

Messrs.  Gaylord  &  Tucker:  According  to 
promise  I  send  you  the  result  of  my  dairy; 
but  it  will  not  be  any  criterion  to  judge  from, 
although  the  actual  weight  is  taken  from  the 
book  of  Mrs.  Sheldrick,  who  has  kept  a  correct 
account  of  every  pound  made. 

I  had  no  dairy  to  keep  my  milk  in  the  month 
of  February,  when  six  of  my  cows  were  milk- 
ing, and  not  one  pound  was  made  from  them 
during  that  month.  Three  of  them  calved  in 
January. 

There  were  nine  three-year-olds,  two  four- 
year-olds  and  one  seven,  milked  during  the 
month  of  March.  I  sold  Cherry,  a  three-year- 
old  heifer,  on  the  3d  of  April.  From  that  time 
until  the  first  of  October  I  milked  eleven,  at 
which  time  I  sold  my  milk  to  the  milkman.  The 
following  is  a  true  statement: 

From   March  1st  to  Oct.  1st,  butter 1,456^   Ibs. 

35  cream  cheeses,   3   Ibs.   each,   equal 105      Ibs.  butter 

113  quarts  cream,   sold,   equal   to 113     Ibs.  butter 


I,674y2 


My  opinion  is  that  the  same  cows  next  year 
will  make  nearly  double  the  quantity ;  for  my 
first  cow,  Lucy,  4  years  old,  calved  Nov.  28, 


and  made  8  Ibs.  2  oz.  last  week;  the  only  cow 
I  have  now  in  milk.  I  quote  from  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express"  the  following  remarks  from  a 
speech  made  by  the  celebrated  breeder,  W. 
Fisher  Hobbs,  Esq.,  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  East  Sussex  Agricultural  Society,  Oct.  11, 
1843: 

"He  could  not,  however,  conclude  without 
making  a  few  observations  as  a  successful  candi- 
date. It  had  frequently  been  his  good  fortune 
to  appear  before  them  in  that  character,  but  he 
never  felt  so  much  pleasure  from  the  circum- 
stances as  on  the  present  occasion ;  for  it  must 
be  admitted  on  all  hands  that  except  in  a  few 
instances  the  competition  was  very  good  indeed, 
and  in  some  cases  very  severe  struggles. 

"He  was  the  more  happy  as  a  great  victory 
had  been  gained  for  a  breed  of  cattle  for  which 
he  was  a  strong  advocate.  He  did  not  think, 
as  judges  were  generally  prejudiced  in  favor  of 
Shorthorns,  that  Herefords  could  have  been  so 
successful  as  they  had  that  day  been. 

"When  he  first  became  a  farmer  he  was  de- 
termined to  have  a  good  breed  of  cattle.  He 
first  tried  Shorthorns,  because  he  thought  they 
were  the  best;  and  at  a  sale  in  Suffolk  he 
purchased  several,  better  than  which  could  not 
be  obtained.  He  also  purchased  some  Here- 
fords, and  kept  them  together  for  twelve 
months  and  the  result  was  most  decidedly  in 
favor  of  the  Herefords.  He  was,  therefore, 
compelled,  contrary  to  his  own  wishes,  to-  give 
up  the  Shorthorns  and  take  to  Herefords;  and 
he  had  from  that  time  continued  to  do  so, 
being  satisfied  that  with  his  soil  and  climate 
they  paid  the  best.  (Hear,  hear.)  He  trusted 
the  farmers  whom  he  was  addressing  would  do 
as  he  had  done,  and  judge  for  themselves  what 
•description  of  stock  was  best  suited  to  their 
farms;  and  when  they  were  satisfied  that  they 
had  a  breed  which  would  prove  most  profitable 
to  them,  he  would  advise  them  to  keep  to  them ; 
and  if  they  came  here  to  exhibit  them  and  were 
occasionally  unsuccessful,  he  would  advise  them 
to  go  home  with  a  determination  of  meeting 


378 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


with  more  success  on  a  future  occasion." 
( Cheers. ) 

Be  it  remembered  that  Mr.  Hobbs  gained  the 
first  premium  as  the  owner  of  the  best  cow  in 
milk,  of  any  breed,  with  a  Hereford.  What 
will  the  pen  depressers  of  milking  Herefords 
say  to  this?  Will  they  not  have  to  put  on  their 
"studying  caps"  to  find  some  endorsers  for 
"Youatt?" 

Again,  I  refer  you  to  a  sale  of  Herefords  in 
the  "Mark  Lane  Express"  Oct.  30,  page  12,  the 
property  of  Mr.  John  Hewer:  "An  in-calf 
cow,  Lady,  by  Chance,  was  knocked  down  for 


QUEEN    OP    THE    LILLIES    4367. 
Bred  by  T.  E.  Miller,  Beecher,  111. 

100  guineas  ($500)  ;  two-year-old  Victoria  at 
87  guineas  ($435)  ;  yearling  heifer,  40  guineas 
($200) ;  an  aged  bull,  Dangerous  (the  sire  of 
some  of  my  heifers),  100  guineas  ($500)  ;  Lofty, 
and  bull  calf,  51  guineas  ($255),  and  several 
others  at  similar  prices." 

What  does  this  say  for  the  Herefords  ?  Will 
it  not  "prove"  that  some  writers  know  nothing 
about  them  ?  and  will  it  not  teach  some  of  them 
to  search  for  facts  before  they  "abuse  the 
Herefords  T' 

I  refer  you  again  to  a  sale  at  Algarkirke 
of  an  excellent  herd  of  Shorthorn  cattle  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  Rogerson,  same  paper  for  Oct.  23, 
page  12  :  "Nonesuch,  two  years  and  six  months 
old,  was  knocked  down  at  £27  10s.  ($136.68), 
a  very  fine  animal;  others  fetched  from  £20 
to  £25  ($100  to  $125).  Altogether  the  sale  has 
been  highly  satisfactory,  and  reflects  equal 
credit  on  the  breeder  and  the  auctioneer.  Young 
Spectator  was  on  the  ground  and  was  much  ad- 
mired." 

Such  comparisons  as  these  are  the  true  stand- 
ards for  other  breeders  and  it  is  gratifying  to 
find  such  authority  to  substantiate  the  facts  I 
have  previously  stated.  I  have  an  own  sister 


to  Lady,  several  half  sisters  to  Lofty,  and  two 
half  sisters  to  Victoria;  and  they  came  from 
the  bleak  hills  of  Gloucestershire,  from  the 
herds  of  William,  John  and  Joseph  Hewer.  I 
do  not  think  an  "extraordinary"  milker  is  a 
profitable  animal  for  the  farmer.  If  I  can  keep 
my  cows  up  to  from  6  to  8  Ibs.  each,  for  nine 
months,  I  will  be  perfectly  satisfied ;  nor  do  I 
think  that  three  herds  in  twenty  will  do  more, 
unless  selected  entirely  for  that  purpose.  We 
all  know  that  a  great  quantity  of  milk  requires 
to  be  forced  with  extra  feed;  and  when  such  a 
cow  is  dried  for  the  grazier  or  feeder,  I  want 
him  to  keep  an  accurate  account  of  food  con- 
sumed, and  the  price  sold  to  the  butcher. 

One  more  statement  and  I  have  done.  I  do 
not  think  there  are  many  breeders  in  this  coun- 
try who  are  willing  to  give  a  remunerating 
price  for  a  good  animal.  The  butchers  have 
far  more  spirit  than  the  breeders,  and  my  ob- 
ject in  future  shall  be  to  serve  them.  If  breed- 
ers want  this  stock,  let  them  go  to  England 
and  fetch  them;  they  will  then  know  their 
true  value.  At  present,  I  intend  to  make  steers 
of  all.  Nor  do  I  intend  to  show  another  animal 
for  a  premium  in  this  country,  so  long  as  a 
combined  prejudice  exists. 

I  conclude  by  saying  that  the  Hon.  Erastus 
Corning  has  rendered  me  every  assistance  with 
his  purse,  and  deserves  as  much  credit  for  this 
noble  spirit  as  the  best  of  the  noblemen  in 
England.  They  know  agriculture  is  the  only 
support  of  the  country.  Directing  members  of 
this  country  know  equally  well  the  benefit  they 
render  it  by  such  praiseworthy  transactions,  and 
such  are  the  true  supporters  of  a  prosperous 
and  enterprising  country.  It  is  such  men  only 
that  can  place  America  in  the  exalted  station 
she  ought  to  occupy. 

WM.  H.  SOTHAM. 

Hereford  Hall,  near  Albany,  Nov.  30,  1843. 

A  notable  instance  of  Herefords  used  as  dairy 
stock  in  England  has  been  mentioned  in  the 
Consul's  report,  that  of  the  experience  of  the 
Messrs.  James  of  Dorsetshire. 

Several  years  since  Mr.  Duckham,  in  writing 
us  of  the  Herefords,  gave  an  account  of  their 
use  by  the  said  Mr.  James,  of  Mappowder,  near 
Blandford,  Dorsetshire,  England ;  referring  to 
their  use  at  Mappowder  to  show  their  adapta- 
bility to  different  sections  of  the  country. 
When  in  England  we  had  occasion  to  visit  his 
herds  and  some  of  the  neighboring  herds.  We 
learned  from  Mr.  James  that  his  father  estab- 
lished this  herd  in  1837,  and  that,  at  his  father's 
death  in  1857  or  1858,  he  came  into  possession 
of  the  herd  and  has  bred  them  from  that  time 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


379 


until  the  present,  a  continuous  experiment  of 
nearly  one-half  of  a  century — from  1837  to 
1884.  We  were  desirous  of  knowing  as  nearly 
as  possible  the  character  of  this  work.  We 
found  that  he  used  bulls  from  such  breeders  as 
Mr.  Turner,  of  The  Noke ;  Mr.  Jeffries,  of  The 
Grove;  Mr.  Stephens,  of  Sheep  House;  Mr. 
Stedman,  of  Bedstone  Hall;  Mr.  E.  Price,  of 
Court  House;  Mr.  Thomas  Rea,  of  Weston- 
bury;  Mr.  Tudge,  of  Adforton;  Mr.  Phillip 
Turner,  of  The  Leen;  Mr.  Thomas  Rogers,  of 
Coxall,  and  Mr.  Myddleton,  of  Llynaven. 

These  breeders,  from  whom  Mr.  James  se- 
lected his  sires,  will  be  recognized  as  among 
the  leading  ones  in  England;  Mr.  James  does 
not  'milk  or  work  his  dairies  himself.  He  keeps 
eighty  cows  in  milk.  These  are  rented  to  two 
dairymen,  40  cows  to  each.  The  cows  com- 
mence calving  in  March,  and  the  calves  put 
upon  the  pail  until  the  15th  of  May;  to  which 
time  the  milk  is  used  for  making  butter,  and 
from  that  time  for  making  cheese  and  butter. 
The  bull  calves  go  to  the  butcher,  and  the 
heifer  calves  are  carried  on  to  keep  the  herd 
good.  The  rental  is  so  much  per  head  for  each 
cow,  and  if  from  any  cause  the  cows  of  another 
breed  are  brought  in,  the  renters  are  not  as  well 
satisfied  as  when  they  have  the  entire  comple- 
ment made  up  of  Herefords.  Mr.  J.  has  not 
kept  a  record  of  their  breeding,  but  the  animals 
show  as  good  a  character  as  any  Hereford  herd 
we  saw  in  England.  This  is  especially  shown  in 
the  three-year-old  heifers,  the  two-year-olds, 
and  the  yearlings;  and  had  a  record  been  kept 
the  character  of  the  cattle  would  have  placed 
Mr.  James'  herd  among  the  best.  There  were 
nearly  or  quite  20  three-year-old  heifers  that 
had  lost  their  calves;  and  Mr.  James,  instead 
of  holding  them  for  further  breeding,  was  graz- 
ing them  for  the  butcher. 

It  was  early  in  August  when  we  were  there, 
and  we  had  seen  no  better  three-year-olds.  They 
would  have  compared  favorably  with  any  others, 
as  would  the  yearlings;  all  were  raised  on  the 
pail  to  the  15th  of  May  each  year,  and  then 
on  grass  from  that  on.  The  cows  of  the  herd 
are  drafted  out  for  the  butcher  at  from  6  to  8 
years  old,  unless  an  exceptionally  extra  cow 
for  the  dairy  is  kept  further  on.  The  rule  is, 
however,  to  draft  for  the  butcher  at  from  6  to 
8  years.  They  are  then  grazed  and  fed,  and 
bring  the  top  price  for  butcher's  beasts,  either 
from  local  butchers  or  at  Smithfield. 

Mr.  James  is  satisfied  from  this  half  cen- 
tury's experience  that  he  can  make  more 
money  from  thoroughbred  Herefords  than  from 
any  other  breed,  or  mixture  of  breeds.  The 
spread  of -this  blood  in  the  vicinity  of  Mappow- 


der  for  15  or  20  miles  is  constantly  on  the  in- 
crease, and  the  different  dairies  seen,  passing 
through  the  country,  show  a  large  proportion  of 
white-faced  cattle.  Since  the  herd  has  come 
into  the  hands  of  the  present  Mr.  James,  he  has 
taken  some  pains  to  exhibit  cattle  largely  at  the 
county  and  district  fairs,  and  has  kept  a  record 
of  the  winnings,  a  copy  of  which  we  took.  He 
has  not  only  taken  prizes  at  local  shows,  but  at 
the  Bath  and  West  of  England,  the  Royal, 
Smithfield,  and  the  Birmingham  Shows;  and 
whether  showing  in  competition  for  dairy  hon- 
ors or  in  competition  for  the  butcher,  he  has 
been  a  very  successful  exhibitor.  In  the  dairy 
competition  his  competitors  have  been  largely 
of  Shorthorn  and  Devon  blood,  and  these  tests 
have  been  made  strictly  in  view  of  the  dairy 
class  of  animals.  The  use  of  Herefords  at 
Mappowder  for  half  a  century  as  dairy  cattle, 
or,  if  you  pl'ease,  as  general  purpose  cows,  com- 
bined milk  and  beef,  has  given  a  record  that 
scarcely  any  other  breed  can  show  for  the  two 
purposes  of  beef  and  milk  combined. 

Anyone  at  all  conversant  with  the  production 
of  beef,  milk,  butter  and  cheese  who  will  come 
and  examine  this  herd  and  inform  themselves 
as  to  its  best  doings,  will  recognize  that  Messrs. 
Berry  and  Youatt  were  not  properly  informed 
when  they  made  the  statement  that  the  Here- 
fords were  not  a  desirable  milk  breed,  and 
those  who  have  adopted  the  theory  promulgated 


SILVIA  (V.  17,  p.  288)   8649. 
Bred  by  P.   Turner,  Herefordshire. 


through  "Youatt's  History  of  British  Cattle" 
would  find  occasion  to  change  their  views  after 
becoming  well  posted  as  to  the  results  of  these 
48  years'  use  of  the  Herefords  in  the  dairy. 

We  here  make  the  statement,  based  upon 
this  experiment,  that  the  Hereford  used  as  a 
dairy  cow  may  be  made  a  success;  and  that 
the  bullock  produce  from  such  a  dairy,  and  the 
draft  cows,  will  pay  more  money  than  any  other 


380 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


breed.  And  we  call  attention  especially  to  the 
following  premiums  awarded  to  the  animals 
from  this  herd: 

PRIZES  WON  BY  MR.  J.  W.  JAMES,  ON  DAIRY-BRED 
HEREFORDS. 

1859    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Yearling  Heifer. 
1859    First   prize   at   Bath  and   West    of   England   Show    for 
Yearling   Heifer. 

1859  First   prize   at  Bath   and  West   of   England   Show   for 

Extra    Stock. 

1860  First  prize  at   Dorchester  for  Yearling   Heifer. 
1860    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Yearling   Bull. 
1860    Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Fat  Cow. 
1860    Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Fat  Heifer. 
1860    Second  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Fat  Cow. 

1860    First  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Fat  Cow. 

1860    First    prize  at   Birmingham   Fat   Stock   Show   for   Fat 
Heifer. 

1860  First  prize  at  Smithfield  Club  Fat  Stock  Show  for  Fat 

Heifer. 

1861  First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Bull. 

1861  First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Bull. 

1862  First  prize  at   Sturminster   for   Steer. 
1862  Second  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Steer. 
1862  First  prize  at  Yeovil   for  Steer. 

1862  First  prize  at  Dorchester  for  Steer. 

1863  First  prize  at   Bath  and   West  of   England    Show  for 

Yearling  Steer. 
1863    Third  prize  at  Bath   and  West  of  England   Show  for 

Yearling  Steer. 
1863    Second  prize  at  Bath  and  West  of  England  Show  for 

Two-year-old  Heifer. 

1863    Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Cow  and  Offspring. 
1863    Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Cow. 
1863    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  One-year-old  Heifer. 
1863    First  prize  at  Wincanton  for  Two  Dairy  Cows. 
1863    First  prize  at  Sherbourne   for  Two-year-old  Heifers. 
1863    First  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  One-year-old  Heifer. 


1863    First  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Two-year-old  Heifers. 

1863  First  prize  at  Yeovil  for  One-year-old  Heifers. 

1864  First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Cow  and  Offspring. 
1864    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Two-year-old  Heifers. 
1864    First   prize   at    Sherbourne   for   Two-year-old    Heifers. 
1864    Second   prize   at   Sherbourne   for   Dairy   Cow. 

1864    First  prize  at  Dorchester   for   Fat  Heifer. 

1864  Second  prize  at  Dorchester  for  Fat  Heifer. 

1865  First   prize   at   Bath    and    West   of   England   for   Two- 

year-old   Heifers. 

1867    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Fat  Cow. 
1867    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Cow  and  Offspring. 
1867    First    prize    at     Sturminster    for    Pair    Two-year-old 

Heifers. 

1867  First  prize  at  Yeovil   for   Pair   Two-year-old    Heifers. 

1868  First  prize   at   Bath  and   West  of    England   for   Dairy 

Cow. 

1868  First  prize  at  Bath  and  West  of  England  for  Two- 
year-old  Heifer. 

1868  First  prize  at  Bath  and  West  of  England  for  One- 
year-old  Heifer. 

1868    First  prize  at  Dorchester  for  Dairy  Cow. 

1868    First  prize  at  Dorchester  for  Two-year-old  Heifer. 

1868    Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Cow  and  Offspring. 

1868    Second  prize   at  Sturminster   for   Fat  Cow. 

1868    First  prize  at   Sturminster  for  pair  Yearling   Heifers. 

1868    Second  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Fat  Cow. 

1868    Second   prize  at   Sherbourne  for   Dairy   Cow. 

1868    First  prize  at   Sherbourne   for   Pair  Yearling  Heifers. 

1868    First  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Three  Dairy  Cows. 

1868  First  prize  at  Bath  and  West  of  England  for  Fat 
Cow. 

1868  First  prize  at  Bath  and  West  of  England  for  Fat 
Heifer. 

1868  First  prize  at  Bath  and  West  of  England  for  Best 
Cow. 

1868  Second   prize  at  Bath   and  West  of  England    for   Fat 

Cow. 

1869  Second  prize  at  Bath  and  West  of  England  for  Year- 

ling Heifer. 

1869    First  prize  at  Stalbridge  for  Stock  Bull. 
1869    First  prize  at  Stalbridge  for  Yearling   Heifers. 
1869    First  prize  at  Stalbridge   for  Fat  Heifer. 
1869    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Fat  Heifer. 
1869    Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Bull. 


HORACE    (3877)    2492,    AT   15   YEARS. 

Bred   by   J.    Davies.    (From   a  photograph    from   life   by   Bustin.)    Horace   has   been   unsurpassed  .as 

an   improver   of    the   breed. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


381 


at    Sturminster    for    Pair    Two-year-old       1881 


1869    First    prize 

Heifers. 
1869    Second     prize     at     Sturminster     for     Pair      Yearling 

Heifers. 

1869    Second    prize    at    Sherbourne   for    Bull. 
1869    First  prize   at    Sherbourne   for   Fat    Heifer. 
1869    First  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Pair  Yearling  Heifers. 
1869    First  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Pair  Yearling  Heifers. 
1869    First  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Bull. 

1869    First  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Pair  Two-year-old  Heifers. 
1869    Second  prize  at  Yeovil   for   Yearling   Heifers. 
1869    Second  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Fat  Heifer. 
1869    First    prize    at    Bath    and    West    of   England    for    Fat 

Cow. 
1869    First    (extra)   at   Bath    and   West  of   England    for   Fat 

Heifer. 
1869    First   prize   at   Bath    and    West    of    England    for    Fat 

Cow. 

1869  First  prize  at  Dorchester  for  Fat  Cow. 

1870  Second  prize  at  Birmingham  for  Fat  Heifer. 
1870    Second  prize  at  Smithfield   for   Fat  Heifer. 
1870    First  prize  at  Plymouth  for  Fat  Cow. 

1870    First   (special)   at  Plymouth  for   Best  Cow. 

1870    First  prize  at  Southampton  for  Fat  Heifer. 

1870    First  prize  at  Sturbridge  for   Fat  Cow. 

1870    First  prize  at  Sturbridge  for  Fat  Heifer. 

1870    First  prize  at   Sturminster   for   Fat  Cow. 

1870    Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Fat  Heifer. 

1870    Second  prize  at  Sturniinster  for  Pair  Yearling  Heifers. 

1870    First   prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Fat  Cow. 

1870    Second  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Fat  Cow. 

1870  First  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Pair  Two-year-old  Heifers. 

1871  First  prize  at   Bath  and  West  of  England  for  Bull. 
1871    First  prize  at  Dorchester  for  Bull. 

1871    First  prize   at   Dorchester  for  Three   Heifers. 

1871    First  prize   at  Stalbridge  for  Bull. 

1871    First  prize  at   Stalbridge  for  Cow  and  Calf  (Dolly  V). 

1871    First  prize  at  Stalbridge  for  Pair  of  Heifers. 

1871    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Bull. 

1871  First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Pair  Two-year-old 
Heifers. 

1871  First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Dairy  Cow  and  Off- 
spring. 

1871    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Pair  Yearling  Heifers. 

1871    First  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Bull. 

1871    First   prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Pair  Two-year-olds. 

1871  First  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Pair  Yearling  Heifers. 

1872  First   prize    at   Bath    and   West   of   England   Show   for 

Two-year-old  Heifers. 
1872    Second  prize  at  Bath  and  West  of  England  for  Little 

Bull. 

1872    First  prize  at  Stalbridge  for  Two-year-old  Heifer. 
1872    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Two-year-old   Heifer. 
1872    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Pair  Yearling  Heifers. 
1872    Second    prize    at    Sherbourne    for    Pair    Two-year-old 

Heifers. 

1872  First    prize    at     Sherbourne    for    Pair     One-year-old 

Heifers. 

1873  First  prize  at  Bath   and   West  of  England  for  Two- 

year-old   Heifers. 

1873    Second  prize  at  Bath  and  West  of  England  for  Calf. 
1873    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Bull. 
1873    First   prize  at   Sturminster  for   Two-year-old   Heifers. 
1873    First   prize  at    Sherbourne    for    Two-year-old    Heifers. 
1873    First  prize  at  Smithfleld  for  Fat  Heifer. 

1873  Second  prize   at   Bath  and  West  of  England  for  One- 

year-old   Heifer. 

1874  First  prize   at   Sturminster  for  Bull. 
1874    First  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Bull. 

1874  First  prize  at  Yeovil   for   Bull. 

1875  First   prize  at   Bath   and   West   of   England   for   Two- 

year-old  Heifers. 

1875  First  prize  at  Royal  Agricultural  Society's  Show  for 
Two-year-old  Heifers. 

1875  First  prize  at  Dorchester  for  Bull. 

1876  First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Fat  Heifer. 

1877  Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Bull. 
1877    Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Bull. 

1877    Second  prize  at  Shelbourne  for  Fat  Heifer. 

1877  Third  prize  at  Smithfleld  for  Fat  Heifer. 

1878  First  prize   at    Smithfleld   for   Fat   Heifer. 

1879  First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Dairy  Cows. 

1879  First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Pair  Two-year-old 
Heifers. 

1879  First    prize    at    Sherbourne    for    Pair     Two-year-old 

Heifers. 

1880  Second  prize  at  Blandford  for  Dairy  Cow. 

1880    Second   prize   at   Blandford    for   Two-year-old   Heifers. 
1880    Third  prize  at  Blandford  for  Two-year-old  Heifers. 
1880    Third  prize  at  Blandford  for  Yearling  Heifer. 
1880    Second   prize   at   Sherbourne    for   Dairy   Cow. 

1880  First    prize    at    Sherbourne     for    Pair     Two-year-old 

Heifers. 

1881  First   prize   at   Sturminster    for    Dairy    Cow   and    Off- 

spring. 

1881    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Dairy  Cow. 
1881    First  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Two-year-old  Heifers- 


First    prize     at    Sturminster     for    Pair    One-year-old 

Heifers. 

First   prize  at  Dorchester  for   Bull. 
First  prize  at  Dorchester  for  Dairy  Cow. 
First  prize  at  Dorchester  for  Two-year-old  Heifers. 
First  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Dairy  Cow. 
Second  prize   at  Sherbourne  for  Cow. 
First    prize    at     Sherbourne    for    Pair    Two-year-old 

Heifers. 

Second   prize  at   Sherbourne  for  Bull. 
First   prize  at   Yeovil    for   Pair   Two-year-old   Heifers. 
Second  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Bull. 
Second    prize   at   Yeovil   for  Yearling   Bull. 
Second  prize  at  Yeovil  for  Cow   and  Offspring. 
First  prize  at   Sturminster  for   Yearling  Bull. 
First    prize    at    Sturminster    for    Pair    Two-year-old 

Heifers. 

Second  prize  at  Sturminster  for  Cow  and  Offspring. 
Second  prize  at   Sturminster  for  Fat  Cow. 
First  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Three  Dairy  Cows. 
First  prize  at  Sherbourne  for  Bull   over  2  years. 
Second  prize  at   Sherbourne  for   Bull   under  2  years. 

BULLS  THAT  HAVE  BEEN  IN  SERVICE  AT  MAPPOW- 
DER  FROM  1837  TO  1884. 

1836    Bot,   son  of  Old  Sovereign,   bred  by  Mr.   Turner,  The 

Noke. 

Goldflnder,    bred    by    Mr.    Turner,    of   Westhide. 
1839    Young  Cotmore,   bred  by  E.  Jeffries,  of  The  Grove. 

Young  Sovereign,   bred  by  Mr.   Turner,   of  The  Noke; 

dam   Countess   Cow. 

1846    Wallace,  bred  by  Mr.  Turner,   of  The  Noke. 
1877    Bertram,   bred  by   Mr.   Turner,   of   The  Noke. 

Chance,   bred   by   Mr.    Stephens,   of   Sheephouse;     dam 

from  a  cow  purchased  at  Mr.  Jeffries'  sale. 
Valentine,  bred  by  Mr.  Stedman,  Bedstone  Hall. 
Statesman  (1744),  bred  by  Mr.  E.  Price,  Court  House. 


1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 

1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 

1882 
1882 
1883 
1883 
1883 


1857 


DICTATOR    1989. 
Bred  by  T.   L.  Miller,   Beecher,  111. 


1859    Happy  Lad  (2561),  bred  by  Mr.  E.  Price,  Court  House. 

Sampson   (2208),    bred   by   T.    Rea,  Westonbury. 

Dundee  (3080),   bred  by   Mr.    Tudge,   of  Adforton. 
1869    Leopold    (3912),    bred    by    J.    W.    James. 

Prince  Chance,  bred  by  T.  Rogers,   of  Coxall. 

1875  Taurus,  bred  by  Mr.  Tudge,  of  Adforton;    sire  Game- 

ster (4594). 

1876  Baron     Munchausen     (5207),     bred     by    T.     Myddleton, 

Llynaven,   Clun,    Salop. 
Chance,   bred  by  J.   W.   James. 
Wonder  (3602),  bred  by  T.   Rogers. 
Baron  the  5th  (5735),  bred  by  J.  W.  James. 
1881    Northern   Light,    bred   by   Mr.    Lester,   Cefn   Ha.   Usk, 

Monmouth. 

1879    Lord   George,   bred  by  J.  W.   James.     Not  entered   in 
Herd  Book. 


At  Sherbourne,  England,  at  the  Agricultural 
Society's  Show  held  in  1883,  Mr.  James,  Map- 
powder  Court,  Blandford,  was  very  successful 
in  showing  Herefords  against  Shorthorns  as 
dairy  cattle,  taking  first  and  second  prizes  for 
Herefords,  with  a  first  for  three  dairy  cows,  of 


382 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


which  one  took  the  first  prize  in  the  cow  class  at 
Sherbourne  the  preceding  year,  and  the  other  a 
first  prize  as  a  heifer. 

From  the  foregoing  account  it  will  be  seen 
that  Mr.  James  and  his  father  before  him  had 
a  dairy  of  eighty  Herefords  for  a  half  century, 
that  were  successful  beyond  ordinary  dairy 
herds,  for  the  purpose  for  which  they  were 
used. 

The  "Mark  Lane  Express"  of  May  24th,  1880, 
says :  "A  correspondent  writing  from  the  Vale 
of  Blackmore  in  Dorsetshire  states  that  he  finds 
Hereford  cattle  the  better  in  that  district  than 
any  other  breed,  both  for  dairy  purposes  and 
for  beef,  and  keep  themselves  in  better  order, 
with,  the  same  amount  of  food  and  under  the 
same  conditions  of  life.  They  are  not  such 
large  milkers  as  some  other  breeds,  but  their 
milk  is  richer  than  that  of  the  Shorthorns." 

In  a  paper  on  "Pedigree  Cattle  in  Dairy 
Herds/'  by  Mr.  Joseph  Darby,  in  Vol.  15,  third 
series  of  the  Journal  of  the  Bath  and  West  of 
England  Agricultural  Society,  the  following 
testimony  is  given  to  the  values  of  the  Here- 
ford cross-bred  cow  as  a  milker. 

"The  Hereford  has  never  been  considered 
much  of  a  dairy  animal,  yet  strange  to  state, 
when  allied  to  the  Shorthorn,  the  effect  causes 
latent  lacteal  fertility  of  the  breed  to  spring 
at  once  into  full  development.  Probably  this 
fact  has  not  been  stated  so  authoritatively  be- 
fore, but  those  who  doubt  may  be  referred  to 
Mr.  E.  C.  Tisdale,  Wolland  Park  Dairy,  Kert- 
sington,  and  it  will  be  found  that  two  or  three 


of  his  very  best  cows  are  of  this  variety.  In 
fact,  the  one  styled  therein  'Old  Hereford' 
yielded  twenty-three  quarts  per  day  in  the  first 
month,  and  twenty-two  quarts  in  the  second  and 
third,  going  on  in  profit  for  eleven  months,  and 
averaging  for  the  whole  of  that  period  fifteen 
quarts  per  day.  There  is  not  one  in  the  entire 
list  that  affords  anything  like  such  a  record  as 
this,  but  another  Hereford- Shorthorn,  styled 
'Comalis,'  averaged  14.61  quarts  per  day  for 
19  months.  Facts  like  these  cannot  be  brought 
too  prominently  before  the  public  eye." 

It  does  not  appear  how  these  cows  were  bred ; 
whether  by  Hereford  bulls  out  of  Shorthorn 
cows  or  by  Shorthorn  bulls  out  of  Hereford 
cows.  But  the  facts,  as  stated,  show  the  value 
of  the  Hereford  blood  in  a  cross  with  the  Short- 
horn for  the  dairy,  because  none  of  Mr.  Tis- 
dale's  pure-bred  Shorthorns  were  such  good 
milkers  as  these  crosses,  whatever  they  may 
have  been — Hereford- Shorthorns,  or  Short- 
horn-Herefords.  It  is  quite  certain  that  the 
cross  of  the  Hereford  bull  on  the  Shorthorn 
cow  will  produce  a  better  grazing  animal  than 
the  pure-bred  Shorthorn,  and  the  facts  given 
above  show  that  cross-bred  Herefords  have 
beaten  pure-bred  Shorthorns — to  put  it  only  in 
that  way — in  one  of  the  most  noted  herds  of 
dairy  cattle  which  England  can  show.  This 
shows  that  what  we  have  constantly  advocated 
is  absolutely  correct,  namely,  that  where  there 
is  sufficient  keep,  the  Hereford  bull  on  the  top 
will  produce  the  most  useful  cattle  to  meet  gen- 
eral requirements  all  over  the  world. 


WABASH,  PURE-BRED  STEER. 
Champion    2-year-old    at   Chicago,    1882.      Weight   1940   Ibs. 


HISTOEY     OF    HEEEFOED     CATTLE 


383 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 


The  Hereford  cattle  have  been  successful  in 
all  the  countries  to  which  they  have  been  taken. 
Their  history  in  other  countries  than  ours 
proves  their  value  as  beef  animals  and  their 
hardiness  and  strong  constitution,  their  worth 
as  grazing  beasts. 

We  quote  the  following  from  the  "Mark  Lane 
Express/'  1880: 

"Eeports  are  continually  coming  to  hand 
relative  to  the  success  of  the  Hereford  breed  of 
cattle  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States,  and 
they  do  equally  well  in  the  Australian  colonies. 
In  an  excellent  report  on  the  live  stock  of  the 
colony  of  New  South  Wales,  Mr.  Alexander 
Bruce  wrote  as  follows  in  1876:  'The  Here- 
fords  have  proven  themselves  in  Australia  to 
be  an  excellent  race  of  cattle,  with  distinctive 
type,  characteristics  and  form,  thoroughly  es- 
tablished, and  capable  of  being  transmitted  to 
any  other  race  with  which  they  may  be  inter- 
bred. They  are  principally  located  in  the  north 
of  Sydney,  in  the  eastern  and  northeastern  por- 
tions of  the  colony.  The  effect  of  the  introduc- 
tion of  Hereford  blood  into  our  herds  has  so 
far  been  satisfactory,  and  if  a  constant  supply 
of  pure  bulls  of  this  breed  is  kept  up,  in  the 
herds  in  which  it  has  been  tried,  still  further 
good  results  may  be  expected,  as  the  Herefords 
are  hardier,  more  active  and  carry  heavier  and 
thicker  coats  than  the  Shorthorns.  They  are 
better  suited  than  the  Shorthorns  for  inferior 
pasturage  and  outlying  runs,  and  they  stand  the 
read  and  winter  better.  A  good  many  owners 
are  now  breeding  from  Herefords,  and  it  is  to 
be  expected  that  they  will  eventually  displace 
the  Shorthorns  on  the  lighter  soils  and  colder 
country,  and  on  the  more  distant  runs.' 

"This  is  precisely  the  same  sort  of  testimony 
we  see  almost  daily  in  the  United  States  press; 
and  from  occasional  notices  in  Queensland  and 
New  South  Wales  papers  we  find  that  the  Here- 
fords are  found  to  be  better  'wrestlers'  as  well 
as  better  beef  makers  in  Australia  as  well  as  in 
the  United  States." 


We  give  the  following  extract  from  a  letter 
of  a  friend  in  Australia :  "I  am  glad  to  see  that 
you  still  stick  up  for  the  'white  faces.'  I  have 
taken  the  'Hereford  Times'  about  45  years, 
and  I  see  that  you  are  a  'thorn'  in  the  sides  of 
the  Shorthorn  breeders.  I  am  glad  to  find  that 
you  are  succeeding  so  well  in  America  with  the 
Herefords.  It  seems  to  me  from  the  reports 
that  you  are  pushing  the  Shorthorns  off  the 
ground.  I  wish  I  could  say  the  same  here,  but 
I  am  sorry  to  say  that  that  cursed  thing  called 
fashion  takes  the  lead  in  everything.  The 
Shorthorn  is  the  most  aristocratic,  as  most  of 
the  noblemen  of  England  breed  them.  The  rich 
colonists  here  follow  their  example.  Now  that 
the  ports  are  thrown  open,  some  of  these  rich 
men  have  gone  to  England  and  purchased  many 
of  the  best  Shorthorns  they  could  find.  I  be- 
lieve it  is  nothing  but  pride,  to  show  the  Eng- 
lish noblemen  the  depth  of  their  purses.  One 
gentleman  in  this  colony  has  bought  about  20 
head,  which  are  now  in  quarantine.  He  breeds 
Herefords  as  well  as  Shorthorns.  He  bought 
his  Herefords  from  me  and  told  me  he  could 
keep  three  Herefords  where  he  could  keep  two 
Shorthorns,  but  he  must  'follow  the  fashion  of 
the  nobles.' 

"I  do  not  think  I  have  written  you  since  I 
was  at  Sydney  last  April  twelvemonth.  I  was 
there  judging  the  Herefords.  There  were  some 
first-class  Herefords  there.  I  intended  to  have 
shown  a  pair  of  heifers  at  the  Sydney  exhibition, 
but  the  breeders  were  determined  to  hold  their 
show  in  April.  My  heifers  were  too  young  to 
show  for  a  prize.  I  offered  £5  5s.  for  the  best 
pair  of  heifers  of  any  breed  under  24  months 
old.  I  am  very  sorry  that  I  could  not  go  to  see 
the  show.  I  gave  the  prize  on  purpose  to  put 
the  Herefords  against  the  Shorthorns,  and  am 
happy  to  tell  you  that  the  Herefords  were  vic- 
torious. There  was  but  one  pair  of  Herefords 
against  all  the  Shorthorns.  The  white-faces 
were  so  good  that  there  was  no  comparison. 
The  Shorthorns  had  not  a  chance  with  them. 


384 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


The  Herefords  were  shown  by  Mr.  Frank 
Reynolds,  of  Tocal.  He  is  the  leading  breeder 
of  Herefords  and  Devons  in  New  South  Wales. 
He  will  be  able  to  give  you  every  item  of  in- 
formation about  them,  as  I  could  not.  I  sold 
a  bull  and  three  heifers  to  go  to  West  Aus- 
tralia; the  same  person  had  one  bull  from  me 
two  years  since;  he  turned  out  so  well  that  he 
came  all  the  way — 1,500  miles  by  sea — for 
more.  They  are  the  first  Herefords  sent  to 
West  Australia;  they  all  arrived  safe,  and  are 
in  capital  hands ;  they  will  be  well  done  by.  I 


ARCHIBALD     (6290)     11129. 

Bred  by  A.  Rogers,  Herefordshire.    Weight  3,000  Ibs.    (From 
a  painting.) 

allowed  him  to  take  some  of  the  best  I  had,  so 
that  they  should  have  every  chance  to  make  a 
good  start. 

"I  must  now  tell  you  how  my  little  herd  is 
getting  on.  I  have  the  vanity  to  think  that  I 
have  as  nice  a  herd  as  I  ever  saw  on  one  farm. 
It  consists  of  about  200  head,  all  so  near  alike 
that  it  is  difficult  to  know  one  from  the  other. 
I  can  and  do  make  double  off  my  beef  to  what 
any  breeder  in  the  colony  does,  as  I  make  as 
much  off  my  two-year-and-a-half  old  steers  as 
any  of  them  make  off  their  five  and  six-year 
olds.  G.  PRICE/' 

We  find  the  following  in  the  "Queenslander," 
Australia.  It  will  be  seen  that  Australia  has 
good  Herefords,  but  the  feature  of  greatest  in- 
terest is  that  Lady  Claire  4116,  the  dam  of 
Lord  Wilton,  at  16  years  of  age,  should  make 
a  trip  from  New  Zealand  to  Queensland.  There 
is  no  doubt  but  what  some  of  the  best  of  the 
Hereford  breed  of  cattle  have  gone  from  Eng- 
land to  Australia,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but 
that  they  will  take  an  active  part  in  the  pres- 
ent effort  to  improve  cattle  in  that  country. 

"Messrs.  McConnel  &  Wood's  recently  im- 
ported Herefords  from  New  Zealand  deserve 


more  than  a  passing  notice,  inasmuch  as  they 
include  some  of  the  highest  class  of  Herefords 
ever  landed  on  these  shores.  The  draft  con- 
tains a  cow  now  become  celebrated  throughout 
all  parts  of  the  civilized  world  where  the  Here- 
ford breed  is  known.  This  cow  is  Lady  Claire 
(Vol.  9,  p.  336),  the  mother  of  the  celebrated 
Lord  Wilton  (4740)  4057.  (fl  257)  This  bull 
is  recognized  throughout  England  and  Amer- 
ica as  the  best  living  representative  of  the  Here- 
ford breed  of  cattle,  being  alike  unapproach- 
able as  a  show  animal  and  as  a  stock-getter, 
no  bull  of  any  breed  having  begotten  so  many 
prize-takers.  Lady  Claire  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  Stuckey,  of  New  Zealand,  before  the  im- 
mense value  of  Lord  Wilton  as  a  sire  had  been 
fully  appreciated.  Otherwise  she  never  would 
have  been  allowed  to  leave  England.  She  is 
by  Marmion,  bred  by  Mr.  Tudge,  her  dam  be- 
ing Lady  Adforton,  by  Pilot,  by  The  Grove.' 
She  is  in  calf  to  Chippendale  (6865),  a  bull 
of  equally  valuable  strains.  Chippendale — now 
in  New  Zealand — is  by  Lord  Wilton,  dam  Judy 
(Vol.  11,  p.  157)  14419.  He  also  was  a  most 
successful  show-yard  bull,  and  his  value  as 
sire  is  known  by  the  fact  that  after  Mr.  Stuckey 
had  purchased  him  he  was  offered  £500 
($2,500)  on  his  bargain  by  an  American  buyer. 
His  stock  have  realized  long  prices  in  England. 
Chippendale  is  the  first  of  Lord  Wilton's  stock 
that  have  come  to  the  southern  hemisphere. 

"Another  of  the  importations  is  Duke  of 
Chippendale,  a  17-months-old  son  of  Chippen- 
dale, from  Amethyst  (Vol.  9,  p.  216),  a  eele- 
brated  cow  of  E>  Turner,  The  £een.  This  bull 
contains  eight  strains  of  the  celebrated  Sir  Ben- 
jamin. Mr.  Stout,  another  young  bull  selected 
by  Mr.  Wood  in  New  Zealand,  is  also  by  Chip- 
pendale, and  of  the  Amethyst  tribe.  The  twins 
Castor  and  Pollux,  nine  months  old,  are  by 
George  4th,  by  Coomassie,  their  dam  Charity 
2d,  being  by  Horace  3d  (5386),  by  -the  cele- 
brated Horace  (3877)  2492.  We  learn  that 
Mr.  Wood  purchased  four  more  Chippendale 
calves  not  yet  old  enough  to  wean.  This  addi- 
tion to  the.  Durundur  herd  is  a  most  wonderful 
one,  and  had  our  ports  been  open  for  the  im- 
portation of  English  stock  the  enterprising 
owners  could  not  have  selected  in  England  an 
equal  number  possessing  more  valuable  or  more 
fashionable  strains  of  blood." 

HEREFORDS  THE  BEST  CATTLE. 

A  correspondent  of  the  "Queenslander,"  Mr. 
Reginald  Wyntham,  writing  from  Leeksfield, 
says: 

"I  have  sold  scores  of  Hereford  bulls  myself 
for  use  in  Shorthorn  herds,  and  hope  to  sell 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


385 


many  more.  A  buyer  came  to  me  only  a  few 
days  ago  wanting  Hereford  bulls  for  his  Short- 
horn cows,  his  Shorthorn  bulls  having  all  died 
during  the  late  drouth,  and  I  ventured  to  say 
that  there  were  few  cattle  breeders  who  have 
not  seen  and  admired  the  first  cross  between 
the  pure  Hereford  bull  and  Shorthorn  cow.  As 
Australia  is  the  finest  cattle  country  in  the 
world,  particularly  the  Queensland  portion  of 
it,  and  as  the  day  must  come,  sooner  or  later, 
when  they  will  be  worth  double  what  they  now 
sell  at,  we  shall  do  well  to  consider  the  merits 
of  all  the  different  breeds,  that  the  more  suit- 
able breeds  may  be  kept  on  the  different  classes 
of  country.  In  a  drouth  it  is  a  fact — and  a 
well  known  fact,  too — that  Shorthorns  will  die 
long  before  Herefords  and  Devons,  or,  I  be- 
lieve, any  other  breed.  New  Zealand,  I  should 
say.  is  1  tetter  adapted  for  the  Shorthorn,  where 
an  acre  of  land  will  provide  him  with  sufficient 
grass  and  water,  and  where  he  will  not  have 
to  travel  a  great  distance  to  market;  but  in 
Queensland,  on  very  many  runs,  the  Herefords 
or  Devons  should  be  kept." 

HEREFORD  CATTLE  IN  AUSTRALIA. 

Referring  to  the  assertion  of  a  writer,  that 
Hereford  cattle  grew  wild  when  turned  on 
ranges  in  New  Zealand,  Mr.  A.  J.  McConnel, 
of  Queensland,  in  a  contribution  to  the  "Live 
Stock  Journal,"  London,  says:  "With  regard 
to  the  Hereford  cattle  of  New  Zealand,  I  wish 
to  say  that  all  I  have  seen  were  extremely  quiet 
and  docile,  and  could  not,  by  any  stretch  of  im- 
agination, be  said  to  have  any  inclination  to 
wildness  or  even  unsteadiness,  and  I  have  heard 
enough  of  their  ways  to  convince  me  that  the 
ferine  Hereford  cattle,  of  which  Proteus  writes, 
must  be  the  result  of  some  terrible  neglect. 
With  respect  to  the  Hereford  cattle  of  Australia 
I  must  ask  you  to  receive  a  novel  writer's  state- 
ment with  great  reserve.  It  is  really  not  worth 
alluding  to,  for  the  paragraph  in  which  the 
author  writes  of  the  unsteadiness  of  the  Here- 
ford cattle  was  merely  a  repetition  of  the  usual 
talk  on  cattle  stations  in  years  past,  when  thi& 
particular  trait  of  wildness  was  insisted  upon 
by  men  who  had  never  seen  a  well-bred  Here- 
ford herd.  I  have  the  author's  authority  to 
say  that  his  only  experience,  in  a  large  way,  of 
Hereford  cattle  was  with  a  neglected  herd 
where  some  white-faced  bulls  had  been  used. 
These  by  no  means  could  be  called  pure,  and 
that  after  a  short  period  of  careful  manage- 
ment this  particular  herd  was  quieter  than  the 
herds  on  any  neighboring  properties.  I  should 
like  to  add  a  few  words  about  my  own  experi- 


ence. On  the  property  with  which  I  am  con- 
nected Hereford  cattle  have  been  bred  since 
1865  in  mountainous  and  broken  country,  and 
care  was  taken  at  the  start  to  get  the  best  pure- 
bred bulls  obtainable  in  New  South  Wales, 
where  Herefords  had  been  bred  from  imported 
stock  since  1825.  Before  we  commenced  with 
Herefords  we  had  a  very  quiet  and  highly  bred 
Shorthorn  herd.  We  made  the  change  because 
we  were  of  the  opinion  that  the  Herefords  were 
better  grazing  cattle  and  more  profitable  alto- 
gether, and  the  event  has  proved  that  we  were 
right.  But  the  point  I  wish  to  make  clear  is, 
that  the  very  quiet  and  tractable  herd  of  7,000 
Shorthorn  cattle  has  been  succeeded  by  a  herd 
more  tractable  still  of  Hereford  cattle.  The 
same  care  and  the  same  treatment  was  shown 
to  the  cattle  in  both  instances.  There  can  be 
no  doubt  that  a  Hereford  is  more  agile  in  his 
movements  than  any  breed  except  the  Devon. 
That  I  concede  readily,  and  I  hold  it  to  be  one 
of  his  excellencies,  for  it  enables  a  grazing 
Hereford  in  Australia  to  range  about  for  food 
in  times  of  scarcity,  and  do  well,  when  a  softer 
breed  gives  up  the  struggle  for  existence.  I 
suspect  the  truth  to  be  that  when  we  hear  of 
an  inclination  to  wildness  on  the  part  of  any 
cattle  of  any  breed,  if  we  knew  the  circum- 
stances, they  would  show  that  neglect  of  owners 
and  a  want  of  knowledge  in  working  numbers  of 
cattle  together  on  the  runs  is  at  the  bottom  of 


•112907 


FISHERMAN    (5913)     76239. 
Bred  by  T.  Rogers,  Herefordshire. 

this  inclination  to  wildness.  I  affirm  that  the 
Hereford  is  not  more  prone  to  ferine  habits  in 
Australia  than  any  other  breed.  I  have  seen 
neglected  Shorthorn  cattle  as  wild  as  it  is  pos- 
sible for  cattle  to  be — in  fact,  they  were  use- 
less, for  they  could  not  be  got  when  wanted." 

A  CHALLENGE. 

"To  the  Editor  of  the  'Queenslander* : 

"Much  has  been  written  and  published  in  your 
columns    during   the   past    two   years   of    the 


386 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


merits  and  demerits  of  the  different  breeds  of 
cattle.  The  majority  of  the  writers  are  gentle- 
men engaged  in  breeding  Hereford  cattle  for 
stud  purposes,  some  of  whom  have  had  very 
little  experience  with  the  cattle  they  were  (to 
use  a  colonial  phrase)  'cracking  up/  as  they 
had,  to  my  knowledge,  been  engaged  in  their 
production  only  a  few  years.  The  object  with 
all  Hereford  advocates,  clearly,  has  been  to 
prove  that  their  cattle  will  subsist  and  make 


TARQUIN     (12717). 

Bred    by    P.    Turner,    Herefordshire,    first    prize    yearling 
bull  R.  A.  S.   E..  1887. 

condition  on  poorer  pastures  than  Durhams; 
that  they  were  of  sounder  constitution,  and 
hence  better  able  to  withstand  the  effects  of  a 
long  drouth  than  Shorthorn  cattle.  Well,  it 
seems  to  me,  Mr.  Editor,  that  all  the  correspond- 
ents possible  will  never  lead  the  public,  for 
whose  benefit  you  permit  the  ventilation  of  the 
subject  in  your  columns,  to  a  just  conclusion, 
for  gentlemen  who  have  invested  a  consider- 
able capital  in  Hereford  cattle,  with  a  view  to 
making  a  profit  by  the  disposal  of  their  male 
calves  as  young  bulls  to  their  neighbors,  are 
quite  sure  to  do  vigorous  battle  against  other 
breeds,  but  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  sound, 
practical  tests  afford  the  best  proofs  of  all. 

"Let  the  Herefords  and  Durhams  be  brought 
into  competition,  under  exactly  similar  con- 
ditions, and  the  results  made  public,  and  the 
question  of  which  is  the  best  breed  for  our 
climate  and  pasture  will  quickly  be  settled.  We 
have  had  one  such  test,  the  result  of  a  challenge 
I  issued  through  your  paper,  and  I  will  now, 
with  your  permission,  issue  another  challenge, 
as  we  have  now  unfortunately  a  most  favorable 
opportunity  of  proving  which  breed  has  come 
through  the  drouth  the  best.  I  have  a  lot  of 
pure-bred  Durham  cattle  here  in  a  paddock  that 
is  stocked  at  the  rate  of  a  beast  to  six  acres. 
About  150  of  these  are  breeding  cows,  and.  I 


would  show  any  number  of  them,  not  being  less 
than  15  per  cent,  of  the  whole,  for  condition 
against  a  like  proportion  of  Herefords,  not  be- 
ing less  than  ten  head,  to  be  selected  from  any 
one  herd  in  Leechhard  district  that  has  been 
sustained  by  the  natural  pastures  for  at  least 
two  years.  The  only  conditions  I  impose  are 
the  cows  competing  must  be  four  years  of  age 
or  over  and  breeders,  the  test  to  take  place 
within  two  months. 

"W.  K.  PEBERDY. 
"Gellenbah,  22d  Jan'y,  1881." 

THE   CHALLENGE  ACCEPTED. 

"To  the  Editor  of  the  'Queenslander' : 

"I  have  to-day  seen  W.  K.  Peberdy's  chal- 
lenge of  the  22d  of  January.  If  I  read  it  aright 
it  is  merely  a  question  as  to  which  breed  of 
cattle  show  the  best  condition  after  the  late 
drought.  I  will  therefore  take  to  Eockhampton 
twenty  Hereford  cows  that  are  four  years,  with 
their  twenty  suckling  calves  by  their  sides,  and 
show  them  against  W.  K.  I'eberdy's  twenty 
Shorthorns  with  their  twenty  calves.  They  shall 
be  there  before  the  22d  of  March,  on  a  date 
to  be  named  by  W.  K.  Peberdy,  the  best  con- 
ditioned cows  to  win  the  prize,  which  I  propose 
to  be  a  ten-guinea  cup,  such  as  I  gave  at  the  last 
show,  and  the  loser  also  to  give  ten  guineas  to 
the  hospital. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  Mr.  Peberdy  so  very  philan- 
thropic as  to  breed  Shorthorns  for  other  pur- 
poses than  for  sale  and  to  make  money.  Un- 
fortunately I  and  Archer  Eignall  Windom  and 
Frank  Reynolds  and  Loder  are  compelled  to 
breed  for  the  dirty  dollars.  Of  course  the  cat- 
tle shown  are  to  be  pure  breds,  out  of  the  two 
stud  herds.  I  name  Albert  Wright  of  Nullal- 
bin  as  judge  on  our  side,  and  I  recommend  one 
of  these  three  gentlemen  as  umpire,  namely, 
Vincent  Dowling,  John  Button,  or  James  Ross. 
"I  am  sir,  etc., 

"BEARDMORE  OF  TOOLOOMBAR. 
"22d  of  Feb'y,  1881." 

THE  HEREFORD-SHORTHORN  CONTROVERSY  THAT 
FOLLOWED. 

The  acceptance  of  this  challenge,  it  was  sup- 
posed, would  result  in  a  trial  that  would  be 
valuable  to  the  Hereford  interest  in  that  coun- 
try. 

Under  date  of  13th  of  March,  Mr.  Peberdy 
replies  to  this  and  objects  to  showing  calves 
with  the  cows,  and  that  the  distance  to  Rock- 
hampton  was  some  80  miles  further  for  him  to 
travel  than  for  Mr.  Beardmore,  and  then  pro- 
poses to  issue  another  challenge  to  Mr.  Beard- 
more,  privately,  through  his  agent  at  Rock- 


HIST OB Y  OF  HEEEFOED  CATTLE 


387 


hampton.  The  second  challenge  by  Mr.  Peberdy 
is  as  follows : 

"To  definitely  settle  which  is  the  best  breed 
of  cattle  for  the  central  districts  of  Queens- 
land, Herefords  or  Durhams,  I  now  issue  the 
following  challenge  to  Mr.  0.  C.  I.  Beardmore, 
he  having  written  viciously  against  Durham 
cattle  and  warmly  in  praise  of  Herefords. 

"The  conditions  of  the  challenge  are  as  fol- 
lows: 

"1st.  The  cattle  exhibited  by  Mr.  Beard- 
more  shall  be  pure  Herefords,  and  the  cattle 
exhibited  by  me  shall  be  pure  Durhams. 

"2d.  The  definition  of  the  word  'pure/  as 
applied  to  the  different  breeds  or  pens  of  cattle 
exhibited,  shall  be  taken  to  mean  that  the  cattle 
exhibited  as  Herefords  shall  have  no  admix- 
ture of  Durham  or  Devon  blood  in  their  veins; 
that  the  cattle  exhibited  as  Durhams  shall  have 
no  admixture  of  Hereford  or  Devon  blood  in 
their  veins.  Should  either  pen  contain  one  or 
more  beast  that,  in  the  opinion  of  the  judges  or 
umpire,  is  not  'pure/  then  the  pen  shall  be  con- 
demned, and  the  opposing  pen  be  awarded  the 
prize. 

"3d.  That  judgment  shall  be  given  on  differ- 
ent points  of  merit  and  awarded  by  points  as 
follows : 

"Condition  of  cows,  ten  points. 

"Best  cattle  for  pastoral  purposes  generally, 
ten  points. 

"Aggregate  weight  of  pen,  five  points. 

"Greatest  yield  of  milk,  five  points. 

"4th.  That  the  judges  be  requested  to  make 
their  award  on  the  merits  of  the  pens  placed 
before  them  by  the  exhibitors,  independent  of 
any  prejudice  they  may  have  against  either 
breed. 

"5th.  The  cows  exhibited  shall  be  in  full 
milk,  but  it  shall  be  optional  with  exhibitor 
whether  he  pens  the  cows'  calves. 

"6th.  Should  the  judges  desire  it,  the  whole 
of  the  cows  shall  be  milked  in  their  presence, 
after  being  fourteen  hours  apart  from  their 
calves,  to  decide  their  qualities  as  milkers. 

"7th.  Should  the  points  be  awarded  in  equal 
number  to  each  breed,  then  the  umpire  and 
judges  shall  examine  the  cattle  again  as  one 
body,  and  shall,  having  taken  into  considera- 
tion the  points  of  the  contest,  decide  which  is 
the  best  pen  of  cattle  on  the  whole,  and  award 
accordingly  by  majority. 

"Should  Mr.  Beardmore  be  disposed  to  ac- 
cept the  above  challenge  as  it  is  given,  I  will 
meet  him  in  Eockhampton  with  ten  cows  of 
mine  to  compete  with  ten  cows  of  his  for  a  piece 
of  plate  to  be  selected  by  the  victor,  of  the 
value  of  $100;  at  any  time  he  may  please  be- 


tween now  and  the  date  of  the  P.  A.  and  H. 
show  in  the  above-named  place,  or  during  the 
week  that  show  is  held.  It  is,  perhaps,  better 
that  Mr.  Beardmore  should  understand  that 
I  will  not  travel  my  cows  that  are  rearing  calves 
150  miles  to  meet  him,  but  if  he  accepts  the 
challenge,  I  will  truck  them  down.  I  omitted 
to  add  that  the  cattle  exhibited  by  either  party 
shall  have  been  his  property  for,  say,  six 
months  prior  to  the  issue  of  this  chal- 
lenge. I  am  quite  willing  to  accept  Mr.  A. 
Wright  as  judge  on  Mr.  Beardmore' s  side,  and 
will  also  accept  either  Mr.  Vincent  Dowling  or 
Mr.  James  Boss  as  umpire;  and  will  appoint 
either  Mr.  Cunningham,  of  Eannes  Station; 
Mr.  Wood,  of  Calliangal,  or  Mr.  Lamond,  of 
Stanwell,  as  judge  on  my  side.  I  shall  not 
consider  myself  bound  by  this  challenge  unless 
I  receive  notice  of  its  acceptance  fourteen  days 
before  the  date  fixed  for  the  contest.  I  may 
add,  I  make  condition  a  leading  point  to  suit 
Mr.  Beardmore;  I  also  make  weight  a  minor 
point,  so  that  it  may  tell  against  myself,  and 
destroy  any  objection  he  might  otherwise  have 
to  the  condition. 

"(Signed)     W.  K.  PEBEBDY." 

To  which  Mr.  Beardmore  makes  the  follow- 
ing reply: 

"To  the  Editor  of  the  'Queenslander' : 

"Sir :  I  have  to-day  received  a  copy  of  a  sec- 
ond challenge  from  Peberdy  on  the  subject  of 
Herefords  vs.  Durham  cattle.  In  your  issue  of 
the  9th  of  February  Peberdy  issued  a  challenge 
which  I  accepted  without  alteration  and  left 
him  to  name  the  day.  To  that  I  adhere,  and 
will  do  so  two  months  longer ;  after  that,  I  shall 
have  to  wean  my  calves  and  not  be  in  a  position 
to  produce  twenty  mothers  with  their  progeny, 
and  I  now  again  call  Mr.  Peberdy  to  stick  to> 
his  challenge  as  then  issued  or  hand  over  two 
guineas  to  the  hospital  and  then  retire  into 
obscurity. 

"With  regard  to  his  second  challenge,  my 
Herefords  are  not  milkers,  and  therefore  I 
could  not  compete  for  milkers.  My  Herefords 
are  not  broken  in,  and  could  not  be  put  in  a 
yard  singly  to  be  handled,  and  I  have  yet  to 
learn  how  cows  are  to  be  in  full  milk  and  have 
no  calves.  Peberdy's  words  are:  'The  whole 
of  the  cows  to  be  milkers/  In  his  fifth  clause 
calves  are  to  be  optional,  in  his  sixth  it  is 
pretty  evident  there  must  be  calves  in  the  con- 
test. Again,  Mr.  Peberdy  states  that  he  can't 
drive  his  cattle  150  miles,  but  must  truck  them. 
Now,  all  Hereford  men  have  contended  that 
Herefords  are  better  travelers — this  is  one  of 
the  very  points  I  took  up — and  Peberdy's  de- 


388 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


sire  to  avoid  traveling  his  cattle  down,  shows 
the  weakness  of  his  breed  of  Durhams.  As  he 
says  he  has  150  miles  to  travel  to  go  to  Rock- 
hampton  while  I  have  only  90  miles  to  go,  I 
will  travel  my  Herefords  another"  60  miles  to 
make  up  the  150,  and  so  give  him  no  cause  of 
complaint.  Again,  what  does  he  mean  by  mak- 
ing 'condition'  a  leading  point  to  suit  Mr. 
Beardmore.  It  is  'condition'  and  'condition' 
only  that  he  'challenged  on'  in  his  letter  of  the 
9th  of  February.  I  look  on  Mr.  Peberdy's  chal- 


ELTON  1ST   (9875)  11245. 

Bred  by  Earl  &  Stuart.     Celebrated  son  of  Sir  Richard  2d 
(4984)  970A. 

lenge  as  a  piece  of  'blow'  and  nothing  more,  and 
that  he  has  no  intention  of  bringing  things  to 
a  point.  I  am,  sir,  etc., 

"BEARDMORE  OF  TOOLOOMBAR." 
(There  is  no  date  to  Mr.  Beardmore's  letter. — 
Ed.  Q.) 

We  have  several  other  letters  pertaining  to 
this  controversy.  We  give  but  one  of  these,  and 
that  signed  by  John  Fulford,  of  Lyndhurst,  and 
dated  the  21st  of  April,  and  which  appeared  in 
the  "Queenslander"  of  May  10th : 

"To  the  Editor  of  the  'Queenslander' : 

"Sir:  I  note  in  Mr.  W.  K.  Peberdy's  chal- 
lenge letter  of  22d  January  a  sneer  at  the  lim- 
ited experience  of  some  of  the  Queensland 
breeders  of  Herefords,  whp,  he  says,  'have  been 
engaged  in  their  production  only  a  few  years/ 
I  do  not  know  to  whom  he  refers  when  he  makes 
that  statement,  but  he  evidently  loses  sight  of 
the  fact  that  the  majority  of  the  Hereford 
breeders  were  breeders  of  Shorthorns  before 
they  commenced  to  breed  Herefords,  and  there- 
fore can  lay  claim  to  a  larger  experience  than 
men  who  have  bred  Shorthorns  only,  and  should 
be  in  a  better  position  to  know  which  breed  is 
most  suitable  to  this  country.  All  cattlemen 
know  that  no  breed  of  cattle  were  more  abused 


than  Herefords  were  for  many  years  in  Aus- 
tralia and  the  fact  of  their  coming  into  favor 
at  all — considering  how  little  capital  has  been 
invested  in  them,  and  how  few  have  been  im- 
ported, compared  to  the  fortunes  spent  in  im- 
porting Shorthorn  bulis  and  cows  from  Eng- 
land, and  animals  bred  in  the  Colonies — speaks 
volumes  to  the  mind  of  the  unprejudiced  per- 
son. However,  it  has  not  taken  our  American 
cousins  many  years  to  find  out  the  superiority 
of  the  Hereford  breed  over  Shorthorns  under 
conditions  almost  identical  with  our  own 
Queensland — namely,  where  the  cattle  have  ex- 
isted on  grass  alone,  as  they  do  in  Texas,  Col- 
orado and  other  states,  and  where  they  are  sub- 
ject to  drought,  cold  and  wet,  and  have  to 
travel  long  distances  to  market,  as  most  of  the 
Australian  cattle  have  to  do.  Xo  one  can  say 
that  Hereford  cattle  have  as  yet  had  a  fair  trial 
in  Queensland,  as  putting  a  few  white-faced 
bulls  into  a  herd  for  a  year  or  so,  and  then  re- 
verting to  Shorthorn  bulls  is  not  giving  them  a 
trial  at  all,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
herds  that  is  all  the  trial  they  have  had.  How- 
ever, I  am  told  that  Messrs.  Archer,  of  Grace- 
mere,  who,  I  think,  were  the  oldest  breeders  of 
pure  Shorthorns  in  Xorth  Queensland,  are 
using  nothing  but  Hereford  bulls  in  their  gen- 
eral herd,  and  many  others  are  following  their 
example,  I  believe,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Rock- 
hampton;  and  I  know  of  several  stations  fur- 
ther north  that  are  doing  the  same.  Mr.  Peb- 
erdy  says  that  correspondence  on  the  subject 
should  come  from  proprietors  of  fattening  pad- 
docks, drovers  and  butchers,  and  not  from  the 
breeders;  but  I  think  if  we  had  to  wait  for 
their  views  (in  print)  on  the  subject  we  should 
not  be  enlightened  very  soon.  But  I  can  give 
one  instance  of  the  estimation  Hereford  cattle 
are  held  in,  by  one  practical  man,  who,  I  believe, 
fattens  largely,  by  referring  to  an  advertisement 
in  the  'Queenslander,'  signed  J.  M'Connel  (of 
Durundur,  Brisbane  River),  a  short  time  since, 
wanting  to  purchase  a  thousand  Hereford  store 
bullocks.  He,  too,  is  an  old  breeder  of  Short- 
horns, yet  he  evidently  prefers  Herefords  for 
fattening  on  his  country.  Mr.  Peberdy  evi- 
dently thinks  his  challenge  to  the  few  Hereford 
breeders  of  the  Leechard  district  is,  as  he  terms 
it,  'a  true  invasion  of  the  Hereford  strong- 
hold,' while  to  me  it  appears  as  a  very  cheap 
means  of  letting  the  public  know  that  he  has  a 
certain  number  of  pure  Shorthorn  cows,  bred  in 
South  Wales,  for  which  he  paid  large  sums  of 
money ;  and  it  might  be  some  of  those  identical 
cows,  that  probably  had  the  advantage  of  Eng- 
lish grasses  and  hand-feeding  (and  in  conse- 
quence may  be  well-grown,  heavy  cows),  that  he 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


389 


wishes  to  show  against  the  Horefords  in  his  dis- 
trict, and  his  country  may  be  (and  probably  is) 
very  superior  to  the  country  the  Herefords  are 
pastured  on.  I  have  no  desire  to  write  against 
Shorthorn  cattle  or  their  breeders,  as  they  are 
a  breed  of  cattle  I  hold  in  high  estimation,  when 
in  their  proper  place,  and  that,  I  take  to  be, 
is  where  English  grasses  abound  in  summer,  and 
where  plenty  of  fodder  is  available  in  winter, 
and  the  few  favored  parts  of  this  great  colony  of 
Queensland  where  there  are  no  frosts,  and  the 
best  descriptions  of  natural  grasses  and  fattening 
shrubs  and  herbage ;  and,  as  the  despised  Here- 
ford has  not  had  a  fair  trial  under  the  latter 
conditions,  I  claim  that  no  one  can  say  that  the 
breed  is  not  quite  equal,  or  superior,  to  the 
Shorthorns  for  any  part  of  Queensland.  I  will 
now  assert  what  I  can  prove  to  be  the  fact — 
that  we  lost  far  less  cattle  on  this  run  during 
the  late  drought  than  any  of  our  neighbors 
within  a  radius  of  100  miles,  who  have  herds  of, 
say,  5,000  head  or  over  on  one  run,  and  I  may 
state  that  we  have  the  largest  herd  in  this  dis- 
trict (on  one  run) — namely,  about  20,000  head 
—in  fact,  the  usual  5  per  cent  allowed  annually 
for  losses  for  the  past  twelve  months. 

"I  am,  sir,  etc.,  JOHN  FULFORD. 

"Lyndhurst,  21st  April." 

(Mr.  Fulford  begged  hard  to  be  allowed  to 
say  one  word  more  on  this  subject,  and  our  reso- 
lution gave  way.  It  must  not  be  supposed,  how- 
ever, that  we  have  reopened  our  columns  for  a 
continuance  of  the  controversy. — Ed.  Q.) 

We  also  give  the  "Queenslander's"  report  of 
a  Charters  Towers  Show.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
this  Hereford  question  has  become  fully  as  in- 
teresting in  Australia  as  in  America,  and  the 
discussion  is  likely  in  the  end  to  bring  that 
breed  which  has  the  greater  merit  to  the  front. 

"Unlike  the  National  Shows,  the  cattle  are 
here  displayed  in  all  their  native  simplicity,  all 
purely  grass  fed,  and  exhibited  in  yards.  Al- 
though few  beyond  Mr.  Parr's  laid  claim  to 
purity  of  blood,  they  were,  with  very  few  excep- 
tions, when  looked  at  from  a  general  standpoint, 
a  magnificent  collection.  The  bulls  were  few 
in  number,  and  far  from  first-class,  a  passable 
animal,  originally  from  the  Mount  Noorat  herd, 
Victoria,  being  awarded  principal  honors;  and 
Mr.  Hann  showed  a  promising  •  Sir  Roderick 
calf.  Owners,  no  doubt,  were  unwilling  to  risk 
bringing  valuable  bulls  from  a  distance.  The 
bullocks,  cows  and  heifers,  however,  more  than 
made  up  for  the  deficiency  in  the  bull  classes. 

"The  principal  exhibitors  were  Messrs.  Mur- 
ray-Prior, of  Bulli  Creek;  Fulford  (Messrs. 
Barnes  and  Smith),  Lyndhurst;  Hann,  Van- 


neck;  J.  and  W.  D.  Clark  (Monahan),  Lol- 
worth;  Glissan,  Dottswood;  B.  C.  Parr,  New- 
stead  ;  and  Allingham,  Hill  Grove.  It  was  well 
known  throughout  the  North,  thanks  to  the  ex- 
tensive circulation  of  the  'Queenslander,'  that 
this  show  was  to  be  the  scene  of  a  grand  tilt 
between  the  'Ballys'  (Herefords),  and  the  red, 
white,  and  roans  (Shorthorns),  and  the  interest 
of  this  great  contest  never  flagged  from  the 
time  the  cattle  entered  the  show  grounds  until 
their  carcasses  were  displayed  in  the  butcher's 
shop.  It  may  be  safely  asserted,  that  as  much 
money  was  depending  on  the  butcher's  scales, 
in  this  contest,  as  is  usually  risked  upon  an  or- 
dinary cup  race. 

"In  the  Shorthorn  division,  Mr.  Parr's  blood 
told  in  the  heifer  class — 13  entries — Mr.  Van- 
neck  securing  second.  Mr,  Parr  also  carried  off 
the  100-guinea  prize  with  a  pen  of  three  highly 
bred  heifers,  which  were,  however,  in  very  low 
condition  in  consequence  of  the  drought. 
Messrs.  Clark,  of  Lolworth,  secured  the  prize 
for  the  best  cow  bred  north  of  Rockhampton, 
and  the  championship  of  the  yard,  with  a  grand 
roan  cow  of  beautiful  shape,  and  showing  lots 
of  quality. 

"In  Herefords,  Messrs.  Barnes  and  Smith 
(Mr.  Fulford)  had  matters  entirely  their  own 
way.  Their  pen  of  three  fat  bullocks,  entered 

to  do  battle  with  the    

Shorthorns,  and  a 
pen  of  six  bullocks, 
were  as  near  perfec- 
tion as  can  well  be 
imagined  of  purely 
grass-fed  cattle. 

"Up  to  this  point 
all  had  been  plain 
sailing  with  the 
judges,  each  particu- 
1  a  r  breed  having 
been  judged  within 
itself.  On  entering 
on  the  miscellane- 
ous division,  how- 
ever, cattle  of  'any 
breed'  came  into 
competition,  and  the  work  of  the  judges, 
therefore,  became  much  more  difficult.  For  the 
best  pen  of  three  heifers  in  this  division,  there 
was  an  exceedingly  good  class,  the  judges  com- 
mending the  whole  class.  Three  Herefords 
here  secured  a  victory,  Mr.  Fulford's  pen  hav- 
ing been  placed  first,  Mr.  Parr's  second, 
and  Mr.  Monahan's  (Lolworth)  third.  Then 
came  the  great  contest  of  the  meeting,  the  best 
pen  of  three  bullocks,  number  0  brand— that  is, 
four-year-olds — and  although  Messrs.  Clark, 


A.  C.  REED, 
Evanston,  111. 


390 


HISTORY  OF  HEBE FORD  CATTLE 


Vanneck,  and  Glissan  entered,  it  was  clearly 
seen  from  the  first  that  only  Mr.  Murray-Prior's 
Shorthorns  and  Mr.  Fulford's  Herefords  were 
in  the  race.  Mr.  Prior's  three  were  beautifully 
matched,  pure  white,  massive,  and  well  topped 
up.  Mr.  Fulford's  were  well  selected.  These 
were  judged  on  Thursday  morning,  and  the 
whites  awarded  the  coveted  prize.  They  were 
slaughtered  on  Friday  morning  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  concourse  of  breeders  and  the  shop 
(Harvey's)  in  which  they  were  hung  up  was 
for  a  time  besieged  with  persons  eager  to  obtain 
results. 

"The  weights  were  as  follows :  Prior's,  1,003 
Ibs.,  982  Ibs.,  and  1,020  Ibs.,  a  total  of  3,005 

Ibs.,  giving  an  aver- 
age of  1,001.66  Ibs. ; 
Fulford's,  1,024  Ibs., 
996  Ibs.,  and  933 
Ibs.,  a  total  of  2,953 
Ibs.,  giving  an  aver- 
age of  984.33  Ibs. 
Mr.  Prior,  therefore, 
won  by  an  aggre- 
gate of  52  Ibs.,  and 
an  average  of  17.33 
Ibs.  The  plucky 
owners,  however, 
were  not  content  to 
accept  this  as  a  final 
decision  between  the 
two  rival  herds,  but 
arranged  a  meeting 
on  the  same  show 
grounds  next  year  with  No.  0  cattle,  which  will 
be  then  5-year-olds.  It  is  but  justice  to  Mr. 
Fulford  to  state  that  his  cattle  had  been  driven 
240  miles  to  the  show,  being  100  miles  in  excess 
of  the  distance  traveled  by  Mr.  Prior's,  and 
that  they  were  got  together  on  the  1st,  2d,  and 
3d  of  May.  For  the  champion  prize,  for  the 
best  fat  bullock  on  the  grounds,  any  age  or 
breed,  Mr.  Fulford  was  first,  with  a  splendid 
cross-bred  animal,  which  on  being  slaughtered 
weighed  1,079  Ibs. 

"The  above  weights  [all  dead  weights,  T.  L. 
M.]  were  considered  really  good,  considering 
the  severity  of  the  season,  and  they  point  to 
the  Kennedy  as  being  one  of  the  best  cattle  dis- 
tricts in  Australia.  There  were  only  two  ex- 
hibitors of  Devons — Messrs.  Hann  and  Farren- 
den.  These  exhibits,  however,  showed  evident 
signs  of  Shorthorn  origin,  Mr.  Hann's  showing 
most  of  the  Devon  characteristics." 

The  battle  of  the  breeds  has  come  in  Aus- 
tralia, as  well  as  in  America.  The  above  ac- 
count of  the  Charter's  Towers  Show  shows  the 
Herefords  first  on  the  best  pen  of  three  heifers, 


E.  E.  ESSON, 

Peotone,  111. 


and  the  champion  prize  for  best  fat  bullock  in 
the  show,  the  Shorthorns  taking  first  in  the 
best  three  bullocks,  showing  an  aggregate  of 
52  pounds  greater  weight  in  the  three  carcasses. 
The  Shorthorns  were  driven  140  miles,  and  the 
Herefords  240  miles  to  the  show. 

In  response  to  a  letter  from  the  author,  we 
received  the  following  from  an  Australian  cor- 
respondent : 

"Editor  'Breeders'  Journal':  I  am  in  re- 
ceipt of  your  favor  dated  Dec.  10th,  and  also 
the  six  copies  of  your  journal,  which  you  so 
kindly  forwarded;  you  may  rest  assured  that 
I  will  do  my  best  to  get  the  'Journal'  a  large 
circulation  in  Australia.  I  never  lose  an  op- 
portunity, when  cattlemen  are  about,  of  show- 
ing your  paper,  and  numbers  have  promised  to 
write  for  it,  having  given  them  your  address. 

"I  am  extremely  glad  to  see  the  forward 
movement  of  the  Herefords  in  America.  Now 
that  they  have  got  a  start,  and  such  a  start, 
nothing  can  stop  their  onward  progress.  Their 
good  qualities  alone  would  send  them  to  the 
front  as  beef  producers.  Our  herd  has  been 
established  over  forty  years,  and  every  year 
makes  me  love  the^  more,  and,  I  am  happy  to 
say,  every  year  is  a  blow  to  prejudice  and  an 
advance  to  the  Herefords.  1  think  in  the  course 
of  time  they  will  occupy  the  first  rank  in  Aus- 
tralia. It  is  a  great  drawback  to  Australia, 
the  total  prohibition  of  stock  from  England, 
and  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the  cattle  trade  in 
Australia  has  been  very  bad  for  some  years, 
prices  ruling  very  low,  and  now  many  parts  of 
the  country  are  suffering  from  a  severe  drought, 
which  will  test  the  Shorthorn  hardiness. 

"What  price  do  you  charge  for  your  best  stud 
bulls,  and  could  arrangements  be  made  to  ship 
at  San  Francisco,  and  what  would  be  the  prob- 
able cost  of  so  doing?  They  have  admitted 
sheep  from  America  and  I  do  not  see  how  they 
can  prevent  cattle  from  coming.  However,  I 
will  inquire.  I  will  be  glad  to  send  you  some 
information  about  cattle  when  I  can  find  time, 
and  opportunity  occurs,  and  I  enclose  you  a 
copy  of  a  letter  received  from  a  large  and 
wealthy  squatter,  who,  being  a  practical  man, 
makes  his  opinion  doubly  valuable.  I  would 
like  to  get  from  you,  if  possible,  all  the  num- 
bers of  your  journal  from  the  start,  if  you  can 
lay  your  hands  on  a  copy  of  each,  and  let  me 
know  the  cost  and  the  best  way  of  remitting  the 
money,  so  I  can  send  it. 

"Would  be  glad  if  you  had  an  agent  here  in 
this  country.  Continue  my  subscription.  I  start 
this  week  to  New  Zealand  to  recruit  my  health, 
and  on  my  return  in  a  couple  of  months  I  will 
communicate  with  you  again,  and  it  is  possible 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


391 


that  next  year  I  may  be  able  to  run  across  and 
see  you.  Yours  very  truly, 

"F.  REYNOLDS. 

"Tocal,  Patterson,  New  South  Wales,  Austra- 
lia." 

The  copy  of  the  letter  that  Mr.  Reynolds  re- 
fers to  is  as  follows : 

"F.  Reynolds — My  Dear  Sir :  Press  of  work 
and  absence  from  home  prevented  my  replying 
to  yours  of  the  6th  inst.  I  have  been  working 
Hereford  cattle  since  1859,  and  consider  them 
better  suited  to  the  requirements  of  squatters 
on  inland  stations  (ranches),  especially  those 
situated  long  distances  from  market.  If  in  good 
paddocks  of  artificial  grass,  close  to  market,  or 
stall  fed,  I  consider  Herefords  quite  equal  to 
Shorthorns.  They  may  not,  perhaps,  be  quite 
so  heavy,  but  they  fatten  more  rapidly  and  at 
less  cost,  and  die  better  than  the  Durhams — 
namely,  they  cut  up  less  waste,  and  the  meat  is 
certainly  superior.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of 
the  superiority  of  the  Herefords  on  stations 
remote  from  market.  They  travel  better  and  do 
not  cut  up.  Being  more  active,  they  can  do 
the  long  dry  stages  more  easily.  They  are  nat- 
urally more  hardy,  and  after  a  long  journey  die 
better.  Their  meat  is  less  livery,  and  they  don't 
lose  their  inside  fat  like  the  Durhams.  My 
old  drover  will  tell  you  that  if  he  had  a  Here- 
ford in  his  mob  of  fats,  this  beast  always  looked 
best  at  the  end  of  a  long  journey. 

"On  large  stations  where  at  any  time  the 
water  is  scarce,  and  stock  compelled  to  travel 
long  distances  from  the  feed  to  the  water  and 
back  again,  the  difference  between  Herefords 
and  Durhams  is  very  marked,  the  Herefords 
traveling  in  good  condition  long  after  the  Short- 
horns are  poor.  Again,  after  a  long  drought, 
the  Herefords  pull  themselves  together  more 
quickly  and  get  their  condition  in  less  time. 
I  have  heard  men  argue  that  Herefords  are 
wilder  than  the  Durhams  and  in  nine  cases  out 
of  ten  I  have  found  they  knew  nothing  person- 
ally of  the  matter,  never  having  had  a  herd  of 
Herefords,  but  they  had  been  told.  My  experi- 
ence teaches  me  that  if  Herefords  are  properly 
looked  after,  they  are  actually  much  quieter  in 
the  lots  and  quite  as  steady  on  the  runs  as  the 
Durhams.  I  have  worked  both,  and  I  also  know 
from  my  own  knowledge  that  a  neglected  band 
of  Durhams  is  worse  to  deal  with  than  Here- 
fords under  the  same  conditions.  I  am,  of 
course,  speaking  from  actual  experience. 

"Not  long  since,  with  my  partners,  I  pur- 
chased three  stations  in  Queensland,  all  Dur- 
ham cattle,  about  16,000.  My  first  active  move 
was  to  remove  the  Durham  bulls  and  substitute 


Herefords.  This  will  give  you,  better  than  a 
volume  of  writing,  my  opinion  of  the  respective 
breeds  after  23  years'  work  among  both;  and 
after  a  careful  study,  I  have  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  Herefords  are  the  best  and  most  prof- 
itable all-round  cattle,  less  subject  to  disease, 
and  better  constitutions,  quite  as  steady  on  the 
range  and  steady  in  the  yard.  They  cross  well 
with  the  Durhams  and  are  better  mothers.  A 
Hereford  cow  will  never  leave  her  calf  as  long 
as  a  Durham.  If  you  wish  for  a  proof  of  the 
merits  of  the  breeds,  just  put  100  of  each  breed 
into  paddocks  equally  badly  grassed — that  is  to 
say,  in  a  dry  time — and  I  will  guarantee  you 
will  find  the  Durham  fall  away  much  more 
rapidly  than  the  others ;  in  fact,  the  Herefords 
will  be  in  fair  condition  when  the  Durhams  are 
actually  dying.  Both  lots,  of  course,  are  to  be 
in  equally  good  condition  when  put  in  the  pad- 
docks. 

"In  conclusion,  I  am  quite  certain  if  breeders 
would  put  aside  prejudice  and  give  Herefords 
a  fair  trial  they  would  find  all  I  have  said  true 
enough,  and  be  content  to  drop  the  Durhams  in 
the  future. 

"You  are  at  liberty  to  make  any  use  you  like 
of  this  letter.  Yours  very  truly, 

"VINCENT  DOWLING. 

"Lue,  Rylestone, 

"N.  S.  W.,  Australia,  1882." 

A  later  letter  shows  the  Hereford  movement 


The    Sydney 


growing. 

Editor  "Breeders'  Journal": 
Show  has  just 
closed.  The  Here- 
fords were  not  in 
large  force,  but 
were  well  repre- 
sented by  drafts 
from  the  herds  of 
Mr.  Frank  Rey- 
nolds ,  who  had 
about  a  dozen  very 
good  ones.  Your  old 
friend,  Mr.  Chas. 
Price,  was  a  judge 
at  this  show  on 
Herefords,  and 
bought  a  splendid 
bull  calf  bred  by 
Mr.  Frank  R  e  y  - 
nolds.  The  Here- 
fords are  growing  in  popularity,  and  those  who 
have  been  breeding  for  some  years  are  greatly 
encouraged. 

The  "Breeders'  Journal"  is  fully  appreciated 
by  them,  and  they  are  very  glad  to  hear  through 
it  of  the  great  success  the  Herefords  are  mak- 
ing in  America  and  England.  They  wish  to 


J.  H.  McELDOWNEY, 
Chicago  Heights,  111. 


392 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


establish  an  Australian  Hereford  Record,  and 
will  be  glad  if  you  will  give  them  some  facts 
and  a  plan  for  doing  so. 

Mr.  Frank  Reynolds  and  Mr.  Chas.  Price  are 
both  having  a  better  demand  for  their  young 
bulls  than  ever  before.  All  that  try  Herefords 
are  fully  satisfied  that  they  are  the  best  cattle 
for  our  runs,  and  it  looks  as  though  "our  time 
was  coming."  I  shall  endeavor  to  see  that  you 
have  a  largely  increased  subscription  list  from 
Australia.  Yours  respectfully, 

QUEENSLAND. 

Adelaide,  Australia,  Sept.  19,  1883. 

HEREFORDS  CONSIDERED  THE  BEST  IN  AUSTRALIA. 

We  find  in  the  "South  Australian  Register" 
(1883),  published  at  Adelaide,  an  account  of  a 

discussion  as  to  beef 
breeds  before  the 
Royal  Agricultural 
and  Horticultural 
Society  of  South 
Australia.  In  the 
discussion  we  find 
the  following  from 
Mr.  Chas.  Price,  of 
Hindmarsh  Island, 
who  had  been  a 
breeder  of  Hereford 
cattle  for  nearly  or 
quite  half  a  century, 
and  had  a  herd  of 
about  200  thor- 
oughbred Here- 
fords,  bred  for 
breeding  purposes. 

Mr.  P.  said  he  had  "had  a  good  deal  of  experi- 
ence in  the  breeding  and  rearing  of  Herefords 
and  Shorthorns  and  had  given  some  careful  at- 
tention to  the  relative  qualities  of  the  two 
breeds.  The  Polled  Angus  breed  he  had  had 
nothing  to  do  with.  They  were  all  agreed  that 
the  best  beast  was  that  which  would  produce  the 
most  and  best  beef  on  the  smallest  quantity  of 
feed,  and  he  held  that  the  Hereford  possessed 
these  qualifications.  It  will  live  and  thrive 
where  the  Shorthorn  will  not  do  at  all.  He  has 
brought  his  Herefords  out  at  two  and  one-half 
years  and  that  could  not  be  done  with  the 
Shorthorns.  He  had  looked  over  his  sales  for 
the  past  ten  years  and  found  that  his  steers  had 
averaged  $62.50,  at  two  and  one-half  years.  He 
found  that  Shorthorns  would  not  average  that 
or  anything  approaching  to  it.  He  was  positive 
he  could  carry  three  Herefords  where  he  could 
not  carry  two  Shorthorns.  He  had  one  Here- 
ford cow  that  had  produced  fourteen  calves  be- 
fore she  was  fifteen  years  old,  and  would  have 


J.  GORDON  GIBB, 
Lawrence.  Kan. 


her  fifteenth  before  she  was  sixteen  years  old, 
and  was  now  fit  for  the  butcher.  He  started 
with  four  Hereford  heifers  •  and  bought  some 
Shorthorns.  He  got  a  Hereford  bull.  A  friend 
from  Melbourne,  named  Saddler,  who  had  been 
buying  cattle,  came  to  look  at  his  cattle  and 
told  him  that  it  was  madness  to  try  to  breed 
such  cross-breds  with  a  Hereford  bull  from  those 
cows,  and  that  he  had  better  get  a  Shorthorn 
bull.  From  his  experience  he  found  that  his 
Shorthorns  lost  flesh,  that  they  only  bred  once 
in  eighteen  months,  whereas  the  Herefords  bred 
once  in  twelve.  Last  year  when  the  rains  were 
six  weeks  to  two  months  late,  the  Shorthorns 
would  have  died  where  the  Herefords  looked 
well.  He  had  no  change  for  his  cattle,  and 
there  was  not  one  living  on  that  dry  feed  that 
was  not  fit  for  the  butcher.  He  considered  the 
Hereford  the  best  cross  and  worth  all  the  cat- 
tle in  the  world  for  that.  It  might  be  put  to 
a  scrubber,  and  even  then  a  good  deep  breed 
would  be  got.  With  the  Shorthorns,  long- 
legged,  useless  brutes  were  got.  He  had  been 
at  Sydney  Sho^g  for  years,  and  the  Hereford 
bullocks  had  taken  first  prize  in  every  year  he 
had  been  there.  He  maintained  that  there  was 
no  difference  in  the  weight,  and  to  prove  this 
quoted  statistics  from  the  Smithfield  Show  as 
follows: 

"In  the  year  1869  the  Herefords  under  two 
years  and  six  months  weighed  1,731  pounds; 
Shorthorns  the  same  age,  1,648;  Herefords 
under  three  years  and  three  months,  1,936 
pounds;  Shorthorns,  1,976  pounds;  Herefords 
over  three  years  and  three  months,  2,228 ; 
Shorthorns,  2,200.  In  1875  Herefords  under 
two  years  and  six  months,  1,485  pounds ;  Short- 
horns, 1,565  pounds.  Under  three  years  and 
three  months,  Herefords,  2,036;  Shorthorns, 
1,982  pounds.  Over  three  years  and  three 
months,  Herefords,  2,161 ;  Shorthorns,  2,281 
pounds.  Extra  stock,  Herefords,  2,52-4  pounds; 
Shorthorns  and  Norfolk  cross,  2,290  pounds. 
Three  of  the  heaviest  cattle  shown  in  1875 
weighed,  first,  Hereford,  2,624  pounds;  sec- 
ond, Shorthorn,  2,444  pounds ;  third,  Hereford, 
2,420  pounds." 

SUPERIORITY   OF   HEREFORDS  AS   RANGE   CATTLE. 

In  publishing  the  "Breeders'  Journal,"  we 
received  a  large  number  of  congratulations  and 
commendations  from  parties  in  the  different 
parts  of  the  States  and  Territories,  on  the 
course  that  we  have  taken  in  advocating  the 
Hereford  interest  in  this  country,  and  not  only 
from  America,  but  from  Australia  and  Eng- 
land as  well.  Among  these,  none  were  so  highly 
appreciated  as  one  from  the  veteran  Hereford 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


393 


advocate,  Mr.  William  H.  Sotham,  in  which  he 
expressed  great  satisfaction  at  our  course  in 
exposing  the  frauds  at  the  Fat  Stock  Shows. 
Probably  next  we  esteemed  the  endorsement  of 
a  veteran  breeder,  nearly  80  years  of  age,  in 
Australia,  who  has  been  a  breeder  of  Herefords 
in  that  country  during  an  ordinary  lifetime, 
expressing  the  warmest  sympathy  and  commen- 
dation for  the  course  that  we  have  taken  in  ad- 
vocating the  merits  of  the  breed  that  he  has 
given  a  life  work  to.  In  speaking  of  his  expe- 
riences in  that  country,  we  find  that  it  is  not 
dissimilar  to  ours  in  this  country;  while  in 
some  parts  of  Australia  the  Herefords  early 
became  popular,  and  are  becoming  the  domi- 
nant breed,  still  they  have  met  the  Shorthorn 
opposition,  that  has  retarded  their  movements, 
and  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  Hereford  men 
have  seemed  to  lack  that  nerve  and  push  that 
was  necessary  to  overcome  the  opposition;  but 
Hereford  breeders  in  Australia  as  well  as  Eng- 
land felt  the  influence  of  the  Hereford  move- 
ment in  America,  and  began  to  move  with  more 
strength  and  system  for  the  permanent  estab- 
lishment of  their  breed  of  cattle  in  that  coun- 
try. We  valued  highly  also  a  letter  from  that 
veteran  breeder,  Mr.  Duckham,  at  Baysham 
Court,  in  Ross,  Herefordshire,  England.  An- 
other from  Mr.  Hill,  Felhampton  Court,  Salop, 
England,  both  speaking  warmly  in  commenda- 
tion of  our  efforts.  Mr.  Hill  had  quite  a  trade, 
and  has  had  for  some  years,  with  South  Amer- 
ica. 

About  this  time  we  received  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Fulford,  of  the  firm  of  Fulford  &  Williams, 
Springhill  Station,  Queensland;  in  referring  to 
a  purchase  of  Herefords  from  Mr.  J.  Barling, 
of  Casino,  New  South  Wales,  he  says:  "The 
cattle  arrived  at  Springfield  a  short  time  since, 
after  a  journey  of  nearly  1,500  miles,  with  only 
the  loss  of  three  head,  and  were  in  excellent 
condition  on  arriving,  notwithstanding  that  for 
the  first  500  miles  grass  and  water  were  very 
scarce,  and  that  quite  half  the  cows  were  suck- 
ling calves.  As  an  instance  of  the  superiority 
of  the  Hereford  over  the  Shorthorn  as  a  trav- 
eler, I  will  mention  that  just  as  our  cattle  were 
passing  near  Rockhampton  a  draft  of  pure 
Shorthorn  heifers  started  from  there  for  the 
Flinders  River,  and  traveled  almost  the  same 
stages  for  about  600  miles,  when  they  parted 
company.  The  Shorthorn  heifers  were  miser- 
ably poor,  while  the  Herefords  that  had  traveled 
from  Richmond  River,  New  South  Wales,  to 
Rockhampton,  then  600  miles  in  company  with 
the  Shorthorns,  and  then  about  300  miles  to  the 
end  of  the  journey,  arrived  in  excellent  condi- 
tion, half  of  them  having  calves  at  foot,  while 


the  Shorthorns  were  dry  heifers.  As  there  have 
lately  been  some  interesting  letters  in  the 
'Queenslander'  in  reference  to  Herefords  vs. 
Shorthorns,  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  send- 
ing you  these  particulars,  thinking  they  may 
be  of  interest  to  some  of  your  readers. 

"I  may  add  that  we  have  a  herd  of  about 
17,000  Hereford  cattle  in  Lindhurst,  not  having 
used  anything  but  Hereford  bulls  for  ten  years 
past,  owned  by  Messrs.  Barnes  &  Smith  Bros., 
of  which  I  have  been  manager  for  nearly  twelve 
years,  and  I  think  that  I  may  say  that  for  qual- 
ity and  docility  the  herd  will  compare  favorably 
with  any  herd  in  North  Queensland,  worked 
under  similar  conditions." 

Thus  was  the  Hereford  movement  receiving 
evidences  of  prosperity  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 
A  reference  to  the  map  of  Australia  and  South 
America  will  show  somewhat  the  relation  that 
this  movement  has  to  the  meat  production  of 
the  world.  Australia  as  well  as  South  America 
and  our  western  range  from  Panama  to  Mani- 
toba, are  great  grazing  districts,  and  these 
ranges  must  supply  the  beef  of  the  world.  The 
testimony  is  but  one  way  by  all  those  who  have 
used  the  Herefords  on  these  ranges. 

HINDMARSH     ISLAND    AND     MR.     CHAS.     PRICED 
HEREFORD    HERD. 

The  "South  Australian  Register"  (1884) 
gave  an  account  of  the  farm  of  Mr.  Charles 


BEAU    REAL    11055. 

Bred  by  Gudgell  &  Simpson,   Independence,  Mo. 
stock  bull  of  Shockey  &  Gibb. 


Favorite 


Price,  of  Hindmarsh  Island,  and  its  surround- 
ings. We  give  this  full  statement  that  our 
readers  may  see  the  conditions  under  which  one 
of  the  largest  Australian  herds  of  thorough- 
breds has  been  bred  and  reared.  Mr.  Price  was 
then  a  man  something  over  eighty  years  old, 
and  we  think  was  on  the  island  for  something 
over  forty  years.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active 


394 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Hereford  breeders  in  the  world,  and  one  who 
took  a  very  active  interest  in  all  that  pertained 
to  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle,  especially  in  its 
struggle  for  merited  recognition. 

He  had  the  usual  difficulties  on  the  show 
grounds  and  elsewhere  in  carrying  forward  his 
operations;  still,  he  never  questioned  the  ulti- 
mate outcome,  and  bred  (making  a  fair  paying 
business)  for  bullock  breeding  mainly.  He, 
however,  built  up  his  herd,  retaining  the  fe- 
males until  he  had  something  over  200  head. 


ANXIETY    4TH      9904     (6283). 
Bred  by  T.   J.   Carwardine,  sire  of   Beau   Real. 

We  give  this  full  statement  from  the  "Aus- 
tralian Register"  that  it  may  be  seen  that  it  is 
not  the  most  favorable  country  in  which  to  de- 
velop a  breed  of  cattle,  but  it  will  be  found 
that  under  just  such  conditions  as  these,  one  of 
the  best  herds  of  Herefords  in  the  world  has 
been  reared,  and  Mr.  Price  lived  to  reap  very 
large  returns  in  Australia  for  his  breeding 
stock.  With  these  remarks  we  give  the  state- 
ment as  appearing  in  the  journal  referred  to : 

"Every  South  Australian  who  takes  the 
slightest  interest  in  live  stock  of  any  description 
must  have  heard  of  Mr.  Charles  Price  and  his 
herd  of  Herefords,  but  for  several  years  past 
very  few  have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  any 
of  the  beautiful  animals,  because  they  are  rather 
difficult  to  get  at  upon  their  island  home. 

"Being  one  of  the  privileged  few  whose  busi- 
ness it  is  to  see  all  that  is  to  be  seen  and  is 
worth  seeing,  I  availed  myself  of  an  invitation 
from  Mr.  Charles  Price  and  visited  his  farm  at 
Hindmarsh  Island  on  the  17th  ult.  Hindmarsh 
Island  is  about  eight  miles  long,  and  averages 
two  miles  in  width.  The  River  Murray,  after 
passing  through  the  middle  of  Lake  Alexan- 
drina,  divides,  one  arm  going  down  by  Goolwa 
to  within  about  half  a  mile  of  the  sea,  and  then 
runs  eastward  parallel  with  the  beach,  from 
which  it  is  divided  only  by  a  sandhill,  for  sev- 


eral miles,  until  it  reaches  the  Murray  mouth, 
where  it  is  joined  by  the  other  branch,  and  the 
space  of  land  enclosed  is  known  as  Hindmarsh 
Island.  There  is  another  large  island  to  the 
eastward,  known  as  Mundoo  Island,  and  a  num- 
ber of  small  islands  are  to  be  seen  dotting  the 
surface  of  the  river  in  various  directions.  The 
water  is  sometimes  perfectly  fresh,  of  ten -brack- 
ish, and  occasionally  perfectly  salt,  so  that  the 
farmers  have  now  and  then  been  put  to  great 
straits  for  want  of  fresh  water,  and  once  a  large 
number  of  cattle  died  through  scarcity  of  it. 
At  the  same  time  there  were  wells  existing  at 
the  western  end  of  the  island,  at  the  base  of  the 
sandhills,  in  which  there  was  and  still  remains 
an  inexhaustible  supply  of  beautifully  fresh, 
sweet  water.  These  wells  are  merely  oblong  pits 
sunk  at  the  foot  of  the  large  sandhills,  having 
planks  around  the  sides  to  keep  the  sand  from 
breaking  in,  and  the  water  is  the  result  of  soak- 
age.  The  soil,  as  is  usual  where  sandhills  exist, 
is  clay  at  a  foot  or  two  below  the  level  of  the 
land  upon  which  the  sandhills  rest,  and  the 
water  is  chiefly  the  result  of  absorption  from 
the  hot,  moist  atmosphere  in  summer  time. 
When  the  clay  is  gone  through,  in  most  cases,  a 
brackish  or  salt-water  stratum  is  encountered. 
Upon  Mr.  Price's  farm  there  are  fresh  pools 
and  salt  pools  within  a  few  feet  of  each  other; 
but  the  salt  water  is  always  upon  the  lower  level. 
"From  the  ferry,  which  is  close  to  the  west- 
ern end  of  Hindmarsh  Island,  a  metaled  road 
proceeds  southward  for  about  a  mile,  and  then 
turns  eastward  through  the  length  of  the  island. 
The  whole  of  the  land  from  the  road  to  the 
river  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  road  for 
two  and  a  half  miles  belongs  to  Mr.  Price,  and 
he  rents  a  large  block  on  the  left  proceeding 
from  the  ferry.  Further  along  on  the  west 
side  there  is  a  large  block  which  has  lately  been 
taken  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  West-Erskine. 
This  land  has  been  terribly  mismanaged,  and 
through  being  broken  up  too  much  the  fibrous 
roots  of  the  grasses  and  other  herbage  which 
bonded  it  together  have  been  destroyed,  so  that 
hundreds  of  acres  may  be  seen  on  a  windy  day 
traveling  from  place  to  place,  or  flying  about  in 
the  air.  If  the  wind  is  from  the  south  the 
river  receives  the  greater  portion,  but  if  it 
comes  from  the  north  then  it  becomes  the  prop- 
erty of  Mr.  Price,  covering  up  the  herbage  to 
the  depth  of  several  feet.  In  some  places  for 
perhaps  fifty  acres  the  sand  has  blown  away  for 
several  feet  in  depth,  and  pieces  of  limestone 
stand  up  like  the  'boys'  left  by  contractors  for 
railway  cuttings  to  show  the  depth  to  which 
they  have  excavated,  except  that  there  is  no 
sod  left  on  top,  to  which  the  excavators  are  so 


HIST  OK Y  OF  HEKEFOKD  CATTLE 


395 


partial  that  they  will  sometimes  even  add  two 
or  three  spits  rather  than  not  show  enough. 
The  sand  which  is  carried  by  the  north  wind 
into  Mr.  Price's  land  to-day  may  be  removed 
into  the  river  by  the  south  wind  a  week  or  two 
after,  and  thus  a  deal  of  harm  is  done.  The 
metaled  road  is  also  covered  in  many  places 
with  several  feet  of  sand.  The  Council,  Mr. 
West-Erskine,  and  Mr.  Price  are  all  doing  what 
they  can  to  prevent  this  undesirable  state  of 
things,  but  it  is  probable  that  it  will  not  be 
stopped  until  the  shifting  sands  have  been  cov- 
ered with  boughs  and  planted  with  grasses. 

"There  are  very  few  trees  now  upon  the  is- 
land, but  the  settlers  are  inclined  to  encourage 
their  growth.  The  Shea  oak  seems  to  thrive 
there,  and  in  one  place  where  a  large  tree  has 
been  cut  down  there  are  a  hundred  or  so  of 
seedlings,  so  that  if  the  settlers  chose  to  obtain 
seeds  and  sow  them  there  would  be  good  hopes 
of  covering  the  place  in  a  few  years.  Mr.  Price 
introduced,  the  tobacco  tree  (really  a  species  of 
tobacco),  which  grows  to  a  height  of  twelve  to 
eighteen  feet  in  favorable  localities.  This  took 
kindly  to  the  sand  and  soon  every  one  was  anx- 
ious to  use  it  along  his  boundaries  as  a  hedge 


and  breakwind;  but  the  people  did  not  cut  it 
back  enough,  and  the  trees  grew  up  with  long, 
straggling  branches,  which  broke  down  with  the 
winds,  and  now  the  plant  is  being  neglected  on 
all  hands.  I  have  seen  the  tobacco  tree  made 
into  a  very  effective  wall  or  breakwind,  about 
ten  feet  high,  by  continually  stopping  all 
branches  that  break  beyond  bounds.  The  Agave 
Americana,  or  'American  Aloe'  or  the  century 
plant,  and  the  common  Opuntia,  or  prickly 
pear,  have  also  been  used  with  some  success  for 
stopping  the  shifting  sands.  Attempts  have 
also  been  made  with  couch  grass  and  by  sowing 
with  rye  grasses  and  other  plants  to  fix  the 
sands,  but  too  often  before  they  get  roots  the 
wind  comes  and  blows,  seed  and  soil  away  to- 
gether. 

"Mr.  Charles  Price  has  been  an  enthusiast 
in  respect  to  Herefords  ever  since  his  boyhood, 
and  by  this  time  ought  to  be  a  pretty  good  judge 
of  what  a  Hereford  should  be.  He  believes  that 
he  now  possesses  200  beasts  which  will  compare 
favorably  individually  with  anything  in  the 
Australian  colonies,  and  as  a  herd,  with  any  in 
the  world,  and  probably  he  is  not  far  out  in  his 
estimate  of  their  character.  He  was  brought 


PRIZE     WINNING     HERD     OF     1885,     PROPERTY    OF    THE    IOWA    HEREFORD     CATTLE    CO. 
Modesty    2d,    24284,  Melody    16th,    18549.  Stately    2d,    18522.  Forelock    17999.  Washington   (8152)  22615, 


396 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


up  at  Bringewood,  on  the  Downton  Castle  es- 
tate, which  belonged  to  the  late  Mr.  T.  A. 
Knight,  and  was  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the 
best  judges  of  that  breed  in  those  times.  This 
gentleman  always  kept  fifteen  picked  Hereford 
cows  for  the  use  of  the  Castle — for  milk  sup- 
ply— and  of  their  calves  four  of  the  best  heifers 
were  annually  selected  to  keep  up  the  herd,  and 
the  remaining  calves;  whether  male  or  female, 
were  sold  to  such  of  the  tenants  on  the  estate 
as  desired  to  have  them  at  the  uniform  rate  of 


HESIOD     (6481)    11675. 

Bred  by  P.  Turner,  Herefordshire,   founder  of  the 
Hesiod  line. 

$10  each,  which  was  the  butcher's  price  for 
calves. 

"Mr.  Price's  father  was  a  dairyman  and  his 
.farm  was  close  beside  the  Castle,  so  that  his 
sons,  who .  had  taken  a  great  liking  for  the 
Hereford  breed,  knew  pretty  well  to  a  day  when 
there  would  be  a  calf  for  sale,  and  being  always 
among  the  people  who  had  to  do  with  the  breed- 
ing of  the  animals,  they  had  already  gotten  a 
pretty  fair  notion  of  what  constituted  a  per- 
fect 'Hereford.  They  knew  the  pedigree  of 
•each  of  the  fifteen  cows,  and  could  give  a  good 
idea  of  what  might  be  expected  from  each  cow. 
When  the  calves  were  a  fortnight  old,  Mr. 
Knight  decided  whether  they  were  to  be  kept 
for  his  own  herd  or  whether  they  were  to  be  sold 
and  the  Price  boys  generally  came  in  ahead.  It 
was  not  very  long  ere  they  got  together  a  large 
herd  of  pure-bred  Herefords  of  the  'Knight' 
strain,  and  they  found  the  business  so  profitable 
that  they  gave  up  the  dairy  business  and  de- 
voted themselves  to  breeding  pure  Herefords,  to 
which  they  have  continued  to  give  their  almost 
undivided  attention  ever  since,  both  at  home 
and  here,  the  Knight  strain  being  the  founda- 
tion of  the  herds  in  both  places,  and  the  purity 
of  the  strain  is  being  maintained  with  scrup- 
ulous care  by  the  family,  notwithstanding  the 


fact  that  many  thousands  of  miles  of  sea  sep- 
arate the  one  herd  from  the  other. 

"There  is  no  indecision  when  I  have  to  de- 
scribe Mr.  Charles  Price's  character.  He  is 
most  decidedly  gone  upon  Herefords.  His  sit- 
ting room  is  decorated  with  numerous  portraits 
of  Hereford  cattle,  and  his  library  is  filled  with 
books  and  periodicals  relative  to  Herefords.  He 
is  filled  up  with  Hereford  lore,  which  leaks  out 
at  every  opportunity.  Among  the  portraits  of 
cattle  is  one  of  a  bull  named  'Cotmore,'  which 
was  the  property  of  Mr.  Jeffries,  of  The  Grove, 
Herefordshire,  and  won  the  premium  at  Oxford 
in  1839.  This  animal,  Mr.  Price  informed  me, 
was  the  grandest  Hereford  bull  ever  calved, 
and  if  the  portrait  is  a  faithful  representation 
it  seems  to  fully  bear  out  the  encomiums  passed 
upon  it.  The  next  portrait  is  that  of  Emperor, 
the  winner  of  the  Royal  (England)  Agricul- 
tural Society's  Show  at  Shrewsbury  in  1874, 
and  bred  by  Mr.  Thomas  Sheriff,  of  Coxall. 
Next  to  this  comes  the  portrait  of  'Conqueror,' 
attached  to  which  is  a  short  interesting  history. 
'Conqueror'  was  bred  in  the  same  herd  as  the 
celebrated  'Cotmore'  above  mentioned.  He  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  Price  when  he  was  farming  in 
Herefordshire,  and  after  he  had  used  him  for 
three  years  he  took  the  bull  to  market,  where 
he  was  offered  $160  for  him  by  a  butcher,  but 
he  wanted  ten  dollars  more,  and  had  to  take 
him  home  again.  He  let  him  for  seventeen 
cows,  at  $5  each,  and  then  took  him  to  Leo- 
minster,  in  Herefordshire,  where  he  let  him 
from  October  till  Christmas  for  $100,  and  the 
next  fall  let  him  from  Christmas  until  May 
for  $100. 

"The  next  year  the  same  person  hired  him 
for  $250  and  when  that  term  was  expired  Mr. 
Price  sold  him  for  $250.  Another  portrait  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  Herefords  in  South 
Australia  is  that  of  Bringewood  2981  E.  H.  B., 
which  was  bred  by  Mr.  J.  Price,  of  Bringewood, 
and  was  purchased  from  him  by  Mr.  Charles 
Price,  of  Hindmarsh  Island,  brought  out  here, 
used  by  him  for  four  years  and  then  sold  by 
auction  in  Adelaide,  to  Mr.  J.  H.  Angas,  for 
117  guineas  ($585),  being  then  the  first  and 
only  pure-bred  Hereford  bull  imported  into  the 
colony.  There  are  several  other  portraits  hang- 
ing around  and  one  group  of  Herefords  and 
grade  Herefords  which  the  "Breeders'  Jour- 
nal" (America)  has  thought  worthy  of  illus- 
trating in  colors.  They  are  very  nice  beasts, 
especially  the  three  pure-breds,  but  there  are 
better  on  Hindmarsh  Island.  Gratitude,  or 
love  for  a  perfect  specimen  of  his  class,  induced 
Mr.  Price  to  have  a  portrait  of  a  bull,  which 
he  owned  quite  a  short  time  ago,  named  'Mon- 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


397 


arch/  which  was  the  sire  of  fully  200  head  of 
calves,  each-  of  which  was  a  splendid,  level, 
square  and  perfect  type  of  what  a  Hereford 
should  be. 

"The  pure  strain  of  Hereford  has  been  main- 
tained in  this  herd  all  through,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  list  of  bulls  employed,  since  he  first  com- 
menced in  South  Australia.  First  came  Bringe- 
wood  (2981),  the  best  bull  that  could  be  found 
in  England,  and  the  first  Hereford  bull  im- 
ported to  South  Australia.  As  stated  before 
he  was  sold  to  Mr.  J.  H.  Angas  after  four  years' 
service  on  the  Island.  Neptune,  his  progeny, 
was  used  for  a  short  time  only  on  account  of 
being  too  nearly  related  and  Mr.  Price  not  be- 
ing favorable  to  in-and-in  breeding  where  a 
bull  of  equal  quality  can  be  got  from  else- 
where. The  successor  was  Mount  Aitkin,  then 
Hindmarsh  Island,  and  Merman  took  his  place, 
these  being  followed  in  due  time  by  Chief  of 
the  Isle — by  Mount  Aitkin  out  of  Alpha.  After 
him  for  one  year  came  Goolwa  and  Neptune, 
the  last  having  been  sent  back  to  the  island  by 
Mr.  Richard  Holland,  of  Turret  Field,  South 
Australia,  previously  to  sending  him  away  to 
Sydney  for  sale.  Next  came  Monarch,  whose 
sterling  qualities  caused  his  portrait  to  be 
taken,  which  portrait,  by  the  way,  is  rather 
marred  by  exhibiting  him  full  face  to  the  spec- 
tator. After  him  came  Myrtle  Bank,  and  then 
Benefactor,  who  will  very  shortly  give  place  to 
a  young  bull  named  Earl  Tredegar.  Thus  it 
will  be  seen  that  during  a  period  of  less  than 
thirty  years  twelve  bulls  have  reigned  over  the 
Hereford  herd,  and  if  the  herd  book  is  turned 
up  it  will  be  found  that  each  has  a  famous  pedi- 
gree or  ancestry  attached  to  its  name. 

"Mr.  Price  landed  in  South  Australia  in 
1853,  and  hearing  that  2,000  acres  were  being 
surveyed  on  this  island  he  started  to  have  a 
look  at  it  along  with  Mr.  Samuel  Goode 
(fl  258),  now  of  Goolwa.  It  was  a  wild  place 
then,  and  the  first  night  they  stopped  with  the 
blacks,  who  were  fishing.  He  was  pleased  with 
the  land — or  sand — and  having  secured  what 
he  wanted  has  never  had  occasion  to  regret  his 
choice.  He  pities  «the  poor  fellows  who  have 
to  grow  wheat  for  a  living,  and  does  not  envy 
those  who  have  to  grow  wool  for  a  subsistence. 
He  thinks  he  can  produce  one  Hereford  where 
another  man  would  have  his  work  to  do  to  main- 
tain three  sheep,  and  does  not  think  that  the 
cattle  waste  as  much  food  or  cut  up  the  land  as 
badly  as  the  sheep  would  do. 

The  Herefords  are  in  splendid  condition,  ow- 
ing to  the  great  quantity  of  grass,  which  is  even 
now  quite  green — a  thing  that  has  never  been 
noted  in  the  previous  thirty  years'  history  of 


the  place — and  there  is  not  one  cull  in  the 
whole  herd.  One  beast  is  so  like  the  other  in 
shape,  size,  color  and  appearance  that  it  is  not 
possible  to  tell  them  apart.  Mr.  Price  him- 
self, who  is  always  among  the  cattle,  can  only 
tell  by  such  minor  distinctions  as  would  escape 
the  casual  observer — such  as  a  small  spot  of  red 
near  the  eye  or  some  other  trivial  distinction. 

"I  have  given  the  history  of  the  first  Hereford 
bull  that  was  imported  into  South  Australia, 
but  the  story  of  the  first  cow  was  not  accom- 
panied with  so  fortunate  results.  In  1863  Mr. 
Charles  Price  purchased  the  best  cow  he  could 
find  in  England,  and  paid  £60  ($300)  for  her, 
which  was  the  highest  price  that  had  been  paid 
up  to  that  time  for  a  Hereford.  She  was 
named  'Maid  of  Coxall'  by  North  Star,  and  was 
bred  by  Mr.  T.  Rogers,  of  Coxall,  Hereford- 
shire. She  was  in  calf  to  Battenhall  before 
named,  and  had  a  heifer  calf  by  her  side  named 
Queen  of  the  Ocean.  On  the  voyage,  during  a 
storm,  Maid  of  Coxall  was  washed  out  of  her 
box  and  both  of  her  hind  legs  were  broken,  so 
that  she  had  to  be  killed,  but  Queen  of  the 
Ocean  was  saved,  and  thus  became  the  first 
pure-bred  Hereford  female  in  the  colony.  She 
was  calved  in  1863  to  Bringewood  and  has  pro- 
duced a  calf  every  year  for  fourteen  years.  Her 
pedigree  is  found  in  the  Hereford  Herd  Book, 
and  also  in  the  New  South  Wales  Herd  Book. 

"Mr.  Price  calculated  upon  raising  fifty  head 
every  year  and  for 
some  time  past  his 
calculations  have 
been  verified.  Last 
year  he  was  a  little 
short  of  his  number 
through  an  accident 
to  the  bull.  This 
was  only  a  tempo- 
rary affair  and  this 
season  his  calcula- 
tions will  again 
most  probably  be 
carried  out.  The 
following  is  the  his- 
tory of  the  Queen 
of  the  Ocean's  pro- 
geny : 

"Alpha,  a  heifer 
by  Bringewood,  sold  for  120  guineas  to  Messrs. 
Kirkham  Bros.,  along  with  her  heifer  calf 
Resalama.  This  Mr.  Price  informs  me  is 
the  only  cow  the  firm  ever  bought,  but  they 
also  purchased  the  bull  Hindmarsh  Island, 
then  aged  about  five  years,  at  the  same 
time  paying  100  guineas  for  him.  Since  then 
the  brothers  have  been  famous  for  their  fat 


R.  G.  HART, 
La  Peer,  Mich. 


398 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


cattle,  and  they  are  now  a  very  respectable  herd. 

"Neptune,  a  bull  by  Bringewood,  sold  when 
a  yearling  for  150  guineas  to  Mr.  R.  Holland, 
afterwards  used  by  Mr.  C.  Price,  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  sent  to  Sydney,  where  he  was 
sold. 

"Mermaid,  a  heifer  who  was  shown  several 
times  and  always  took  a  prize.  When  about 


CLEM    STUDEBAKBR, 
South  Bend,  Ind.     Firm  of  F.  H.  Johnson  &  Co. 

four  years  old  in  returning  from  a  show  she  fell 
over  a  cliff  and  was  killed.  On  the  day  of  her 
death  Mr.  Price  received  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Frank  Reynolds,  Tocal,  Patterson,  N.  S.  W., 
offering  150  guineas  ($750)  for  her. 

"Merman,  a  bull  by  Bringewood,  sold  to  Mr. 
W.  J.  Maidment  as  a  yearling  for  100  guineas 
($500). 

"Chief  of  the  Isle,  a  bull,  by  Mount  Aitkin 
(4800),  sold  to  Mr.  Hay  wood  Porter  for  150 
guineas  ($750)  as  a  yearling. 

"Goolwa,  by  Hindmarsh  Island  (4647),  a 
bull,  sold  as  a  yearling  at  Sydney  for  82  guineas 
($410). 

"Queen  of  the  Murray,  a  heifer  by  Goolwa 
(4647),  had  one  calf  and  then  died. 

"King  of  the  Murray,  by  Monarch  (206  in 
N.  S.  W.  Herd  Book),  sold  as  a  calf  for  100 
guineas  ($500)  to  Mr.  Ramsey,  Western  Aus- 
tralia, who  purchased  two  bulls  and  three  heif- 
ers from  Mr.  Price. 


"The  next  two  bulls  were  made  into  steers,  in 
consequence  of  no  purchasers  being  ready  for 
them. 

"Queen  of  the  Murray,  by  Monarch,  now  ris- 
ing two  years  and  in  calf  to  Benefactor. 

"Altogether,  Queen  of  the  Ocean  has  pro- 
duced ten  bulls  and  four  heifers,  seven  of  which 
realized  over  800  guineas  ($4,000),  and  what 
with  prize  money  and  other  odds  and  ends  in 
the  shape  of  steers  and  heifers  still  unsold,  her 
progeny  has  proven  to  be  a  valuable  source  of 
income. 

"The  next  cow  worthy  of  special  notice  is 
Effie,  by  Bringewood,  out  of  Pigeon,  imported 
from  Tasmania.  Pigeon  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Price  from  Mr.  John  Chambers  in  1853,  along 
with  two  other  heifers,  for  $180.  She  is  a  splen- 
did animal,  and  was  a  great  bargain.  Pigeon's 
first  calf  was  a  heifer  named  Jennie  Deans, 
which  was  sold  with  a  calf  to  Mr.  J.  H.  Angas 
for  200  guineas  ($1,000).  Effie  was  the  next 
offspring  of  Pigeon  and  was  dropped  on  Jan- 
uary 9,  1872,  and  had  her  first  calf  on  De- 
cember 3,  1874  (Dolly  Varden,  by  Merman). 
Since  then  she  has  given  a  calf  every  year,  and 
is  now  in  calf  again.  She  is  a  splendid  cow, 
with  every  point  from  head  to  tail,  from  back  to 
hoofs,  hair,  horns,  skin,  color  and  everything 
else  to  character,  but  this  is  equally  true  in  re- 
spect to  the  whole  herd.  They  are  so  alike  in 
every  particular  that  a  stranger  can  scarcely  dis- 
tinguish the  worst  from  the  best. 

"Sturt  Pea  is  another  beautiful  cow,  got  by 
Monarch,  out  of  Effie,  by  Bringewood.  She  was 
calved  on  October  17,  1877.  Her  first  calf  was 
Sweet  Melon  (another  first-class  beast,  now  run- 
ning on  the  farm,  and  one  of  the  grandest  heif- 
ers that  was  ever  calved).  On  January  15, 
1882,  she  gave  birth  to  a  bull  calf,  which  was 
sold  along  with  eighteen  other  bull  calves  to 
Messrs.  Grant  &  Stokes  for  a  run  up  in  the  far 
north.  Her  last  calf  by  Benefactor  was  also  a 
bull  and  was  dropped  on  July  30,  1883,  and  she 
is  now  in  calf  again.  Her  progeny  are  all  like 
the  rest,  without  a  bad  point  in  any  part. 

"Effie  2d  was  calved  on  August  15,  1879,  by 
Monarch,  out  of  Effie.  She  is  full  sister  to 
Sturt  Pea,  and  is  now  in  calf  to  Benefactor. 

"Little  Dorrit,  by  Mount  Aitkin,  out  of  Jen- 
nie Deans,  took  the  ten-guinea  cup  at  Adelaide 
some  years  ago  for  best  Hereford  cow.  She 
had  her  first  calf  in  1877,  and  has  given  a  calf 
regularly  every  year  since.  Little  Dorrit  2d, 
by  Goolwa  (4617),  Little  Dorrit  3d,  and  Little 
Dorrit  4th  are  all  the  progeny  of  this  fine 
cow,  and  are  all  good  specimens  of  pure-bred 
Herefords. 

"Both  the  bulls  now  in  use  on  the  farm  were 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


399 


purchased  in  Sydney  at  the  time  of  the  late 
Melbourne  Exhibition  and  are  of  good  pedigree 
and  splendid  character.  The  following  partic- 
ulars will  be  interesting  to  breeders: 

"Benefactor,  calved  February  16,  1876,  bred 
by  Mr.  F.  Reynolds,  Tocal,  Patterson,  N.  S.  W., 
sold  to  Mr.  F.  C.  Coyder  for  $375  on 
April  25,  1877,  and  purchased  from  him  by 
Mr.  Charles  Price,  who  has  had  him  three 
years.  There  are  between  60  and  70  calves 
on  the  farm  belonging  to  him,  and  another 
60  or  70  on  the  road  for  the  present  season. 
He  took  the  first  prize  at  the  Maitland  Show  in 
1877.  Benefactor,  by  Sir  James  (4975),  by 
Royal  Hero  (4094),  dam  Fairy,  by  The  Cap- 
tain (1409),  imported  g.  d.  Fancy,  by  Thurs- 
ton  (1422),  imported  g.  g.  d.  Favorite,  by  The 
Captain  (1409),  g.  g.  g.  d.  Wanton,  imported, 
by  Radnor  (1366). 

"His  successor,  just  commenced  duty,  was 
also  purchased  by  Mr.  Price,  on  August  30, 
1883,  from  Mr.  F.  Reynolds.  His  pedigree  is 
as  follows :  Earl  Tredegar,  calved  at  Tocal  on 
September  17,  1883;  sire  Dale  Tredegar 
(5856),  imported;  dam,  Last  Day  1st,  by  Sir 
James  (161  N.  S.  W.  H.  B.)  ;  g.  d.  Last  Day, 
by  Sir  Hercules  (160  N.  S.  W.  H.  B.)  ;  g.  g.  d. 
Eattie,  by  Garibaldi,  imported;  g.  g.  g.  d.  Re- 
becca, imported  (N.  S.  W.  H.  B.— Vol.  XI,  p. 
393,  E.  H.  B.)  Last  Day  is  dam  of  Last  Day 
1st,  2d,  3d  and  4th,  all  noted  good  animals. 
Last  Day  1st  won  first  prize  at  the  Singleton 
Show  in  1878 ;  was  very  highly  commended  at 
the  Maitland  Show  in  1879 ;  took  second  prize 
at  Sydney  in  1879,  and,  coupled  with  Fancy 
1st,  won  the  Challenge  Cup  given  by  Mr. 
Charles  Price,  of  Hindmarsh  Island,  for  the 
best  pair  of  yearling  heifers  of  any  breed.  She 
took  the  second  prize  at  the  Singleton  Show  in 
1879  and  the  first  prize  at  the  Maitland  Show 
in  1880.  Her  daughters,  1st,  2d,  3d  and  4th, 
have  taken  a  number  of  prizes  at  various  shows. 

"To  those  who  are  pleased  with  the  sight  of 
really  well-bred  animals,  and  others  who  are  de- 
sirous of  learning  all  that  is  known  about  Here- 
fords,  I  can  confidently  recommend  a  visit  to 
Hindmarsh  Island." 

AN  AUSTRALIAN  CATALOGUE. 

We  once  received  a  catalogue  of  Hereford  cat- 
tle bred  by  Mr.  F.  S.  Reynolds,  of  Tocal,  Pat- 
terson, New  South  Wales.  The  Hereford  bulls 
were  fifteen  in  number.  Many  of  them  are  by 
Dale  Tredegar,  a  bull  imported  from  Eng- 
land. Dale  Tredegar  (5856)  (ff  259)  was 
calved  August  14,  1879,  and  was  bred  by  Mr. 
H.  J.  Bailey,  Rosedale,  Tenbury,  England,  was 
got  by  Tredegar  (5077)  2478;  dam  Rosa  2d, 


by  King  of  the  Dale  (3891).  This  bull,  under 
the  name  of  Dale  Tredegar,  has  his  picture  at 
ten  months  old  in  Vol.  XI  of  the  English  Herd 
Book.  He  won  first  prize  at  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Society's  Show  at  Carlyle  in  1880,  sec- 
ond at  the  Bath  and  West  of  England  Show  at 
Worcester  in  1880,  first  at  the  Gloucester  Agri- 
cultural Society's  Show  in  1880,  first  at  the 
Hay  Agricultural  Show  in  1880,  and  third  at 
the  S.  &  W.  Midland  at  Bridgenorth  in  1880. 
It  gave  us  great  pleasure  to  receive  a  Hereford 
catalogue  from  this  distant  country,  indicating 
as  it  did  the  Herefords  were  making  their  way 
to  the  front  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 

AN  AUSTRALIAN  SHOW. 

We  have  an  account  of  a  show  held  in  Aus- 
tralia. We  quote  from  the  "Sydney  Mail"  of 
April  15,  1884,  of  the  meeting  of  the  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  that  city.  Of  the  Cattle 
Department  it  says:  "In  the  rosy  period  be- 
tween 1874  and  1878,  when  four  figures  for  a 
well-bred  bull  was  no  uncommon  figure,  the 
Agricultural  Society  was  each  year  favored  by 
very  large  entries.  Alfred  Park  has  had  as 
many  as  450  head  displayed,  and  its  sale  rings 
used  to  be  crowded.  The  show  afforded  proof 
that  in  the  matter  of  breeding,  low  prices  have 
not  proven  potent  enough  to  lower  the  stock's 
quality.  In  the  half  hundred  or  so  of  the 
Shorthorns  shown, 
there  were  several 
animals  which  bear 
comparisonwith  the 
champions  of  past 
years.  The  score  of 
Herefords  show  dis- 
tinct evidences  of 
progress,  and  the 
Devons,  of  which 
there  were  about 
ten,  prove  unmis- 
takably that  the 
hardy  red  breed 
are  still  favorites. 
There  were  over 
twenty  Ayrshire 
cattle.  The  judg- 
ing commenced  on 
Saturday  morning. 
We  note  the  awards  of  the  Herefords  as  follows : 
Bull,  three  years  old  and  over,  F.  S.  Reynolds, 
Kenilworth ;  for  two  years  old  and  under  three, 
first  and  second,  F.  S.  Reynolds ;  bull  one  year 
old  and  under  two,  first  to  Percy  Reynolds,  sec- 
ond to  F.  S.  Reynolds ;  bull  calf  six  months  old 
and  under  twelve,  F.  S.  Reynolds;  cow  three 
years  old  and  over,  F.  S.  Reynolds;  heifer  two 


j.  s.  HAWES, 

Reading,    Mass.      (Formerly    of 
Colony,    Kan.,    and   Vas- 
salboro,    Maine.) 


400 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


years  old  and  under  three,  Percy  Reynolds; 
heifer  one  year  old  and  under  two,  F.  S.  Rey- 
nolds first,  W.  McLeod,  second;  heifer  calf  six 
months  old  and  under  twelve,  F.  S.  Reynolds 
first,  H.  McLeod  second." 

THE  "BREEDERS'  JOURNAL"  ON  AUSTRALIA. 

Commenting  upon  the  Hereford  situation  in 
1884,  we  said  in  the  "Breeders'  Journal": 
"Australia  is  the  one  competitor  with  the 


SIR    EVELYN     (7263)    9650. 
Bred  by  T.   J.   Carwardine. 

American  continent  for  the  European  trade. 
The  inland  lines  on  which  cattle  must  be 
moved  in  Australia  are  as  long  and  as  expensive 
as  those  in  America.  The  water  transportation 
is  an  average  of  twelve  weeks  or  more,  while 
the  water  transportation  from  America  is  less 
than  that  many  days..  The  quality  of  the  Aus- 
tralian cattle  to-day  is  better  than  that  of  the 
American  cattle  from  the  plains.  This  gap 
must  be  closed;  that  is,  the  quality  of  the  plains 
cattle  must  be  improved,  and  this  can  be  done 
no  war  better  than  by  use  of  Hereford  blood. 
This  for  two  reasons ;  there  is  no  other  race  of 
cattle  so  hardy,  and  which  adapt  themselves 
so  well  to  the  conditions  to  which  cattle  must 
live  under  as  the  Herefords.  And  whatever 
may  be  said  of  other  breeds  claiming  merit  for 
this  purpose  on  the  ground  of  grazing,  there 
are  ho  other  cattle  in  the  world  that  can  com- 
pare with  the  Herefords.  This  being  true  the 
future  of  Hereford  breeding  is  a  sure  success. 
"When  these  facts  are  fairly  considered  and 
the  other  facts  that  are  behind  these  there  is 
a  certain  and  sure  profit  in  the  bullock  breed- 
ing, we  can  say  to  all  inquirers  as  to  the  fu- 
ture outcome  of  Hereford  breeding,  make  it  as 
large  as  you  can,  as  successful  as  you  can,  and 
you  will  always  find  very  large  returns." 

A  LETTER  FROM  AUSTRALIA. 

V?:e  received  the  following  from  Mr.  Price: 
"T.  L.  Miller:     I  must  now  tell  you  that  I 


have  had  an  oil  painting  taken  of  two  of  my 
breeding  cows.  They  were  full  sisters,  got  by 
a  Lord  Ashford  bull.  I  have  sent  you  a  rough 
copy  of  them,  as  1  want  you  to  tell  me  what 
you  think  of  them.  They  were  taken  at  the  end 
of  the  summer,  when  they  had  nothing  but  dry 
grass  for  the  last  five  months.  They  have  never 
tasted  a  bit  of  anything  in  their  lives  but  what 
they  got  from  pasture,  where  all  my  herd  run 
together.  You  will  see  that  Effie  2d  is  in  bet- 
ter condition  than  Sturt  Pea,  as  she  did  not 
suckle  her  calf.  Sturt  Pea  suckled  a  great  calf 
all  through  the  summer.  I  do  not  know,  but 
I  think  I  never  saw  a  better  Hereford  cow  than 
Effie  2d  in  my  lifetime.  Most  of  my  cows  and 
heifers  are  descended  from  the  same  strain  as 
these  two  cows.  I  think  I  told  you  in  my  last 
that  I  had  offered  ten  two-year-old  heifers  for 
25  guineas  each.  The  gentleman  took  them  and 
four  bull  calves  to  commence  a  Hereford  herd. 
I  hope  they  will  manage  them  well;  they  are 
a  grand  lot.  I  must  now  close,  hoping  this  will 
find  you  well.  I  am  now  far  gone  in  my  eight- 
ieth year,  enjoying  first-rate  health,  taking 
pleasure  in  my  'white-faces/  as  I  have  got  them 
to  such  perfection. 

"Yours  very  truly,          CHAS.  PRICE. 
"Hindmarsh  Island,  Australia, 
"April  27,  1885." 

The  pictures  spoken  of  were  received  in  good 
order  and  they  certainly  represented  grand 
specimens  of  beef  cows.  It  hardly  seemed  pos- 
sible that  they  have  not  been  fed  grain.  They 
were  an  inspiration  to  make  it  a  life-work  to 
breed  as  good  Hereford  cattle  as  has  Mr.  Price. 
What  can  be  more  satisfactory  than  for  a  man 
to  have  around  him  a  herd  of  cattle  that  he  has 
bred  himself,  which  for  massive  beef  qualities 
cannot  be  excelled. 

LIGHT   ON    THE   AUSTRALIAN    SITUATION. 

"Editor  'Breeders'  Journal': 

"I  received  a  letter  from  you  dated  October 
15,  1884,  saying  you  have  received  my  name 
from  Mr.  Charles  Price,  Hindmarsh  Island, 
S.  A.,  and  a  slip  of  the  'Queenslander/  con- 
taining a  letter  of  mine  on  Herefords  from  Mr. 
A.  J.  McConnel,  and  I  feel  quite  pleased  to 
think  it  was  made  use  of  by  you  in  your  'Breed- 
ers' Journal/  I  would  have  replied  to  that 
letter  sooner,  but  wished  to  be  in  a  position 
first  to  give  you  an  account  of  our  doings  for 
half  year  just  past  on  this  station.  I  may  first 
inform  you  that  we  are  experiencing  our  sec- 
ond season  of  drought,  and  as  the  cattle  in  this 
country  on  the  large  runs  (ranges  as  you  call 
them)  have  nothing  but  the  natural  grasses  to 


HIST  OK Y     OF     H EKE  FORD     CATTLE 


401 


subsist  upon,  of  course  a  short  supply  of  rain 
means  a  short  supply  of  grass. 

"We  have  on  this  station  about  22,000  cattle, 
and  they  have  about  1,000  square  miles  of 
country  to  make  use  of,  the  greater  extent  of 
which  is  good  grazing  country,  and  I  think  our 
management  of  cattle  is  very  similar  to  that 
on  your  ranges;  but  I  think  our  cattle  do  not 
get  so  mixed  up  in  this  country  as  they  do  on 
your  ranges,  as  in  the  more  settled  districts 
here  a  great  deal  of  fencing  is  done;  more  for 
sheep  than  for  cattle,  to  save  the  cost  of  shep- 
herds, as  sheep  in  unfenced  country  without 
shepherds  would  be  useless,  while  cattle,  if 
bred  in  a  certain  locality,  will  not  roam  far, 
even  in  unenclosed  country. 

"I  am  glad  to  say  that  our  cattle  are  standing 
the  effects  of  the  drought  exceedingly  well,  and 
last  year  we  were  able  to  muster  fat  cattle  at 
a  time  of  the  year  (November)  when  no  other 
station  in  the  district  could  do  so,  which  I  at- 
tribute to  the  fact  of  our  cattle  being  Here- 
fords  and  the  others  in  the  district  Short- 
horns. The  herd  here  were  originally  Short- 
horns, the  station  having  been  formed  in  1863 
with  Shorthorn  cattle  from  New  South  Wales. 
I  took  the  management  of  the  herd  in  1870, 
and  the  year  after  we  commenced .  with  Here- 
fords,  both  to  breed  them  pure  and  putting  pure 
Hereford  bulls  into  the  general  herd. 

"We  started  our  pure  herd  by  purchasing  15 
pure  heifers  from  Mr.  Frank  Reynolds,  of  To- 
cal,  N.  S.  Wales,  and  purchasing  a  bull  named 
Cato,  whose  dam,  Green  Lady,  was  bred  by 
Mr.  Green,  of  Hereford,  England,  and  im- 
ported to  this  country  in  calf  with  Cato,  his 
sire  being  Julius  Caesar  (3187).  Cato  was 
purchased  at  two  years  old  in  Sydney,  and  was 
in  use  here  nearly  13  years,  and  got  us  a  very 
fine  lot  of  stock.  He  was  only  fed  two  winters 
(on  oil  cake),  and  I  think  would  have  been  alive 
now  if  we  had  had  suitable  feed  for  him,  but 
having  no  cultivated  land  here  (except  a  veg- 
etable garden),  and  no  means  of  getting  fodder 
from  the  coast  except  by  horse  or  bullock  teams, 
at  about  $125  per  ton  carriage,  we  do  not  as  a 
rule  get  up  any  fodder.  We  have  had  other 
stud  bulls  in  use  also,  bred  in  N.  S.  Wales,  and 
added  to  our  stud  females  by  the  purchase  of 
about  thirty  pure  cows  and  heifers  from  the 
same  colony.  We  have  now.  about  250  pure 
Hereford  cows  and  heifers  and  all  the  bulls  we 
have  in  the  general  herd  are  pure  Herefords, 
and  have  been  for  the  last  ten  years,  and  the 
herd  now  is  getting  to  be  all  red,  with  white 
faces,  as  I  spay  the  cows  when  8  or  9  years  old, 
and  also  cull  and  spay  all  inferior  heifers  every 
year. 


"We  got  some  rain  last  December  and  Jan- 
uary that  caused  a  spring  in  the  grass  that  en- 
abled us  to  commence  work  among  the  cattle, 
branding  and  spaying,  etc.  Since  January  28th 
we  have  branded  close  on  4,000  calves,  spayed 
1,400  females,  mustered  360  fat  cattle  for 
butcher  and  1,100  fats  to  go  to  be  boiled  for 
their  hides  and  tallow  to  the  coast,  and  have 
still  about  500  more  to  muster  for  latter  pur- 
pose. 

"Our  great  want  in  North  Queensland  is  a 
certain  and  regular  market  for  fat  stock.  We 
have  not  a  large  enough  population  to  con- 
sume one-half  of  the  stock  fattened  here,  and 
owing  to  lack  of  railways,  we  have  no  means  of 
taking  them  to  the  principal  markets  to  the 
south  of  us,  and  to  take  cattle  to  Sydney  over- 
land means  about  1,500  miles  of  a  drive,  and 
to  Melbourne,  a  great  deal  further. 

"I  consider  we  are  fully  50  years  behind  you 
in  America  in  advancement,  and  we  seem  to 
be  still  crawling  on  our  hands  and  knees  in- 
stead of  marching.  You  seem  to  manage  mat- 
ters more  systematically  in  America  than  we 
do,  and  have  better  plans  of  thoroughly  testing 
the  capabilities  of  live  stock  than  we  have  in 
this  country. 

"You  will  scarcely  credit  that  there  are  no 
cattle  ever  weighed  alive  at  the  stock  shows  in 
Queensland,  and  no  prizes  given  for  the  best  car- 


LOVELY  2D  (V.  15,  p.  299),  21977. 

Bred  by  R.   W.  Hall,   Herefordshire.     A  celebrated  Michi- 
gan winner. 

casses  of  beef,  and,  generally  speaking,  judges 
at  shows  go  for  size  more  than  quality  in  the 
fat  cattle  classes. 

"I  exhibited  some  fat  bullocks  about  a  year 
ago  at  a  stock  show  about  200  miles  from  this, 
and  won  every  prize  I  competed  for  but  one. 
That  was  for  a  pen  of  three  bullocks  from  3| 
to  4  years  old.  I  met  five  pens  of  Shorthorn 
bullocks  and  prize  was  given  for  the  heaviest 


402 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


cattle.  Cattle  were  slaughtered  and  weighed 
the  day  after  the  show.  A  pen  of  Shorthorns 
won  that  dressed  an  average  of  1,005  pounds 
each;  our  three  dressed  988  pounds  each.  But 
our  cattle  traveled  100  miles  further  to  show 
than  the  Shorthorns,  and  of  course  the  whole 
distance  was  traveled  by  the  cattle  on  foot.  I 
wanted  to  bet  the  owners  of  Shorthorns  that 
ours  were  the  best  butchers'  and  consumers'  cat- 
tle and  leave  it  to  the  decision  of  the  butchers 
who  purchased  both  pens,  but  they  would  not 
make  the  bet,  but  agreed  to  leave  the  matter  to 
the  judgment  of  two  butchers  whom  we  knew, 


CASSIO    (6849)    13352. 

Bred    by    P.    Turner,    Herefordshire.     Rated   the   best   bull 
ever  seen  in  Canada. 


without  having  a  bet  on  it.  The  butchers,  not 
knowing  which  was  the  Hereford  carcass  and 
which  the  Shorthorn  when  hung  up  in  shop, 
decided  that  the  Hereford  carcass  was  far  and 
away  the  best.  I  may  say  that  we  decided  to 
each  select  one  carcass  from  our  three,  and 
have  the  decision  on  that.  I  then  offered  to 
enter  into  a  sweepstakes  of  from  $100  to  $250 
each  and  show  a  pen  of  bullocks  this  year  same 
ages  (3|  to  4  years),  the  prize  to  be  awarded  to 
the  cattle  that  show  the  best  beef  for  butchers 
and  consumers. 

"The  Shorthorn  men  would  not  enter  into  the 
matter  on  those  terms,  so  I  decided  not  to  be  an 
exhibitor  this  year.  The  following  were  the 
classes  we  won  in  last  year:  First  prize  for 
best  fat  bullock  in  the  yard,  any  breed  or  age; 
first  prize  for  best  pen  of  three  fat  bullocks,  any 
breed  or  age ;  first  prize  for  best  pen  of  four  fat 
bullocks  under  4  years  old;  first  prize  for  pen 
of  three  heifers  from  2  to  3  years,  any  breed; 
first  prize  for  pen  of  six  fat  Hereford  bullocks, 
any  age ;  first  prize  for  best  Hereford  cow  bred 
in  district;  first  prize  for  best  Hereford  bull 
bred  in  district. 

"Our  pen  of  three  Hereford  heifers  beat  a 


pen  of  Shorthorns  that  were  awarded  a  prize  of 
$500  for  the  best  pen  of  Shorthorn  heifers.  The 
latter  was  a  great  honor,  as  the  pen  of  Short- 
horn heifers  were  the  best  that  had  ever  been 
shown  in  North  Queensland,  and  were  stud  cat- 
tle out  of  a  stud  herd,  while  our  three  heifers 
were  grade  heifers  (about  three-fourths  bred), 
out  of  our  general  herd.  I  could  have  shown 
pure  heifers  from  the  stud  paddocks  very  much 
superior  to  those  I  won  with,  but  they  were  too 
valuable  to  travel  200  miles  to  a  show  and  the 
same  distance  back  again. 

"With  regard  to  the  great  opposition  to 
Herefords  from  the  breeders  of  Shorthorns  in 
this  country.  I  fear  it  will  last  much  longer 
than  it  has  with  you  in  America,  simply  because 
the  breeders  of  Shorthorns  outnumber  the 
breeders  of  Herefords  in  this  country  by  at  least 
five  hundred  to  one,  and  our  leading  journal, 
the  'Queenslander/  stopped  all  correspondence 
on  the  subject  last  year.  We  want  someone  like 
yourself  in  this  country  to  start  a  journal  in 
the  interest  of  Herefords.  However,  I  hope  a 
great  deal  of  good  will  arise  to  the  breed  in  this 
country,  when  people  are  more  acquainted,  gen- 
erally, with  the  great  success  they  are  having 
with  you  in  America,  particularly  if  they  go  on 
prospering  and  giving  satisfaction  on  your 
ranches  and  ranges,  where,  I  presume,  your  cat- 
tle have  to  exist  on  the  natural  grasses  as  they 
do  in  this  country. 

"I  am  quite  sure  they  are  gaining  ground  in 
Australia,  and  that  Shorthorns  are  gradually 
losing  favor  with  cattle  breeders,  particularly 
in  the  poorer  pasture  districts.  Of  one  thing  I 
am  certain,  that  is,  that  pure  Shorthorns  have 
decreased  in  value  quite  50  per  cent,  in  Aus- 
tralia in  the  last  five  years  and  as  no  cattle  are 
permitted  to  be  imported  from  England,  it  looks 
bad  for  the  breed. 

"One  of  the  largest  stud  herds  in  Australia, 
and  also  the  very  best,  has  lately  been  sold  at 
auction  and  realized  very  poor  prices,  compared 
with  what  cattle  from  the  same  herd  brought  at 
annual  sales  four  or  five  years  ago. 

"I  refer  to  Messrs.  Robertson  Bros.,  Colac, 
herd  in  Victoria.  About  eight  years  ago  they 
bought  out  another  celebrated  breeder  called 
Moreton,  of  Mount  Derrimut,  and  gave  him 
close  on  $200,000  for  about  400  head  of  pure 
Shorthorns  (his  entire  herd),  and  now  I  see, 
looking  over  the  sale  lately  held,  that  their 
whole  herd  of  cattle,  numbering  over  850,  near- 
ly all  of  which  were  pure  bred  and  350  of  them 
stud  cattle,  brought  a  total  of  $95,575.  In  this 
number  were  included  several  out  of  and  got  by 
imported  high-class  English  cattle. 

"The  highest  price  brought  by  a  bull  was  525 


HISTORY     OP    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


403 


guineas,  and  highest  price  for  a  cow  420 
guineas,  hut  the  average  for  27  stud  bulls  was 
a  fraction  over  $410,  and  for  72  stud  cows  $440, 
those  Being  the  very  pick  of  the  herd. 

"There  are  very  few  stud  Hereford  herds  in 
Australia,  not  more  than  about  ten,  I  think,  and 
the  largest  number  are  in  N".  S.  Wales.  How- 
ever, in  the  last  few  years  a  few  of  the  largest 
Queensland  cattle  owners  have  taken  up  Here- 
fords,  and  have  been  using  nothing  but  them  in 
the  general  herd,  but  the  majority  are  still  firm 
believers  in  the  Shorthorn.  The  Devon  is  also 
coming  into  favor  and  Shorthorn  men  fancy 
that  breed  crosses  better  with  the  Shorthorn 
than  Herefords  do.  But  it  is  nothing  but 
prejudice  that  makes  them  think  so,  as  it  has 
not  been  thoroughly  tested  in  many  parts  of  the 
country. 

"I  see  you  use  Hereford  grade  bulls  very 
largely  in  America.  I  confess  that  I  am  sur- 
prised at  that,  as  we  cattle  breeders  in  Australia 
are  of  opinion  that  it  is  a  great  mistake  to  use 
a  grade  bull,  particularly  a  grade  Hereford  or 
Devon,  and  I  must  confess  that  I  have  always 
seen  bad  results  in  this  country  from  so  doing, 
as  cattle  so  bred  go  to  be  inferior  in  the  long 
run.  All  breeders  of  any  note  in  this  country 
use  nothing  but  pure  bulls.  I  have  forgotten 
to  mention  that  we  have  a  great  deal  of  the 
same  Hereford  blood,  both  in  N".  S.  Wales  and 
Queensland,  as  Lord  Wilton  has  in  his  veins, 
as  the  firm  I  am  connected  with  imported  two 
bulls  named  Lord  Ashton  and  Lord  Brandon, 
some  years  ago.  The  former  by  Adolphus,  dam 
Lady  Ashford,  by  Carbonel  (1525),  and  the 
latter  by  Avon  (2393),  dam  Lady  Brandon  by 
Brandon  (2972],  g.  d.  Lady  Adforton,  by 
Pilot  (2156),  the  last  two  mentioned  cows  be- 
ing the  g.  d.  and  g.  g.  d.  of  Lord  Wilton. 

"I  fear  the  length  of  my  letter  will  tire  your 
patience,  so  I  will  stop.  I  enclose  ten  shillings 
to  pay  subscription*  to  the  'Breeders'  Journal' 
for  this  year,  and  if  sufficient,  for  1886,  also, 
and  hoping  to  hear  from  you  again  at  no  distant 
date,  I  am, 

"Yours  very  truly, 

"JOHN  FULFOED. 

"Lyndhurst  Station,  North  Queensland,  Aus- 
tralia, June  13,  1885." 

STAND  THE   DROUTH   IN   AUSTRALIA. 

We  have  the  following  from  Australia,  which 
we  commend  to  Hereford  breeders,  ranchmen 
and  farmers  of  America.  We  would  especially 
call  attention  of  range  cattlemen  to  the  facts  set 
forth  in  these  letters  and  articles.  If  the  range 
cattle  can  protect  themselves  from  the  storms 


of  winter  and  the  drouths  of  summer,  steady 
and  satisfactory  profits  can  be  realized.  An- 
other fact  as  shadowed  forth  in  the  articles  is 
that  Australian  breeders  usually,  if  not  always, 
look  for  thoroughbred  sires  to  put  with  their 
herds. 

In  Australia,  as  in  America,  it  took  hard 
times  to  drive  away  erroneous  prejudice  and 
predilection,  that  prevented  the  dispassionate 
consideration  of  the  value  of  breeds,  as  the  fol- 
lowing correspondence  will  show: 

"Editor  'Breeders'  Journal' : 

"I  send  you  two  letters  I  lately  issued  in  our 
local  press.  My  challenge,  you  see,  was  not 
taken  up.  Herefords  are  steadily  gaining 
ground,  and  there  is  a  good  demand  from  drov- 
ers for  our  coast  country;  Shorthorns  no- 
where. 

"This  awful  drouth  is  not  over  yet.  Sheep 
dying  in  millions;  cattle  by  thousands.  It  has 
been  on  now  near  three  years.  The  openings 
are  gradually  drying  up  and  the  big  water  holes 
getting  lower  and  lower.  Our  bullocks  at  Lales 
Creek  generally  average  820  Ibs.  dead  carcass; 
this  year  they  will  hardly  average  700  Ibs.  I 
fear  our  interior  will  yet  be  a  desert,  as  it  must 
have  been  when  our  early  explorers,  between 


H.     R.     HALL. 
Orleton,   Herefordshire. 


1830  and  1850,  went  out  and  returned  with  the 
report,  'All  desert/ 

"Our  sugar  industry  has  'gone  to  pot.'    The 
German  beet  sugar  and  want  of  reliable  black 
labor  has  closed  many  large  plantations. 
"Yours  faithfully, 

"BEARDMORE  or  TOOLOOMBA/' 


404 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     C  A  T  T  L E 


The  following  are  the  letters  referred  to: 
"Editor  'Daily  Northern  Argus': 

"I  see  by  newspaper  correspondence  that 
many  people  would  like  to  see  the  trial  be- 
tween Herefords  and  Shorthorns  come  off,  and 
1  think  it  just  a  good  time  to  challenge  Mr. 
Peberdy  to  produce  his  20  cows  against  mine. 
The  season  has  been  the  worst  ever  known  up 
here.  On  the  29th  of  November  last,  the  first 
rainfall  for  many  months,  and  my  Hereford 
females  were  very  poor,  nearly  all  of  them  hav- 
ing to  feed  their  calves  and  support  themselves 
on  the  bare  ground.  I  have  had  since  then 
about  one  month's  fair  rain,  but  no  floods  and 

no  wet  season,  and 
strange  to  say,  al- 
though the  grass 
appears  0.  K.  it  has 
none  of  its  usual 
fattening  qualities 
in  it.  There  could 
scarcely,  therefore, 
be  a  better  time  to 
show  the  hardiness 
of  these  Herefords 
and  their  vast  re- 
cuperative powers. 
"I  now  challenge 
Mr.  Peberdy,,  of 
Jelimbah,  to  bring 
down  to  the  next 
race  at  Rockhamp- 
ton  ten  Shorthorn 

cows  with  their  ten  sucking  calves  not  under 
four  months  old,  and  ten  dry  Shorthorn  cows 
(may  also  have  calves  if  owner  prefers,  must 
be  breeders),  to  show  against  a  similar  lot 
of  Hereford  cows  from  my  herd.  The  stock 
book  to  be  produced  so  that  the  judges  can  see 
they  are  pure  bred.  The  cattle  on  both  sides 
to  be  driven  by  land,  and  not  railed,  to  the 
ground,  and  as  I  live  nearer  to  Rockhampton 
than  Mr.  Peberdy,  I  bind  myself  to  drive  mine 
sixty  miles  extra  to  make  me  even  with  his  dis- 
tance. The  judges  to  decide  which  are  the  best 
breed  of  cattle  for  the  Central  District,  and  the 
loser  to  give  the  winner  a  ten  guinea  cup  prop- 
erly engraved,  and  five  guineas  to  the  hospital. 
"I  shall  also  give  Mr.  Peberdy  the  right  of 
examining  my  drovers  as  to  whether  I  fed  my 
cows  on  hay  during  the  drouth,  or  whether  I 
had  them  slung  up  in  slings  in  trees  to  keep 
them  up,  and  I  shall  expect  the  same  from  him, 
as  I  understand  he  had  a  very  suitable  tree  near 
his  house  occupied  with  a  cow  in  slings,  and 
had  to  import  hay  from  Melbourne  to  keep  them 
alive.  The  Herefords  did  not  require  that.  I 
have  only  my  own  herd  to  pick  from;  Mr. 
Peberdy  -has  the  pick  of  K.  S.  Wales,  as  he  has 


H.  W.  TAYLOR, 
Showle  Court,  Herefordshire. 


bought  his  cows  from  several  herds,  and  I  don't 
bind  him  to  produce  cattle  of  his  own  breeding. 
"Yours,  &c., 

"BEARDMORE  OF  TOOLOOMBA. 
"May  7,  1885." 

"Editor  'Daily  Northern  Argus': 

"Mr.  Peberdy's  reply  on  the  14th  May  to 
mine  of  the  7th  is  what  I  expected,  declining 
the  challenge,  abusive,  spiteful.  The  gentleman 
evidently  forgets  that  abuse  is  not  argument, 
and  that  this  is  not  the  first  time  he  has  made 
an  otherwise  interesting  controversy  a  medium 
for  personal  abuse.  I  shall  write  no  more  in 
reply,  but.  I  shall  state  a  few  facts  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  public. 

"Mr.  Peberdy  might  also  with  advantage  re- 
member that  running  down  my  cattle  does  not 
raise  the  value  of  his  or  further  the  interest  of 
the  Shorthorn  breed.  Mr.  Peberdy  also  intro- 
duces a  novel  idea  that  those  gentlemen  who  do 
not  win  the  cup  or  stakes  contended  for  shall 
advertise  in  the  papers  that  they  have  not 
gained  it.  Will  he  kindly  set  the  example? 
He  also  makes  the  same  mistake  made  by  sev- 
eral Shorthorn  men  before  him,  viz.,  of  stating 
that  the  Hereford  men  have  got  a  dose  of  Dur- 
ham in  their  cattle,  when  they  put  a  few  fine 
cattle  in  the  show  yard.  Will  Mr.  Peberdy  tell 
us  what  quality  a  Hereford  can  get  from  a 
Shorthorn?  Is  it  color,  constitution,  traveling 
capacity,  smallness  of  bone,  decrease  of  offal, 
depth  of  brisket?  What  quality  is  it?  I  only 
know  one  thing  that  might  be  gained  (I  speak 
for  myself  only)  viz.,  a  square  hind  quarter 
and  with  it  perhaps  a  few  more  pounds  in 
weight  at  the  expense  of  all  the  foregoing  qual- 
ities. To  conclude,  is  not  tfris  letter-writing 
of  Mr.  Peberdy's  a  cheap  way  of  advertising 
that  he  has  some  200  cows  to  dispose  of  ? 

"Three  mobs  of  bulls  have  lately  passed 
Tooloomba  from  the  south,  .one  from  the  Logan 
of  70  head,  very  poor  and  dying,  one  of  300 
from  the  Clarence  poor,  not  fit  for  work,  not  one 
sold  from  the  time  they  left,  mostly  Short- 
horns, and  the  few  half-breed  Herefords  in 
them  far  better  in  condition  than  the  rest,  and 
lastly  a  mob  of  pure-bred  Herefords  from  the 
Clarence,  200  strong  when  they  left.  Of  these 
some  ten  head  were  Shorthorns,  and  the  drovers 
had  to  sell  them  for  what  they  could  get,  be- 
cause they  could  not  travel  with  the  Herefords, 
150  Herefords  he  sold  on  the  road  up  to  Rock- 
hampton, and  as  he  passed  Yaamba,  Mr.  Shan- 
non, of  Salt  Bush  Park,  a  Devon  breeder,  met 
them,  and  was  so  struck  with  their  general  con- 
dition and  beauty  after  traveling  850  miles,  that 
he  bought  the  lot,  50  head,  and  a  lucky  man 
1  consider  him  to  be.  Some  of  those  fifty  were 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


405 


actually  fat  and  all  fit  to  put  in  a  herd  at  once. 
Some  1,200  head  of  bulls  have  lately  passed 
Rockhampton,  and  this  lot  of  200  Herefords 
is  the  only  one  sold  out.  No  one  seeing  these 
three  mobs  of  bulls  could  help  being  struck  by 
the  difference  in  their  condition  on  a  long  jour- 
ney, and  it  would  appear  also  that  these  letters 
on  Shorthorns  and  Herefords  are  doing  their 
work,  for  while  not  a  Shorthorn  was  sold,  the 
whole  of  the  Herefords  were  cleared  out. 

"The  last  two  mobs  of  bulls  came  from  with- 
in eight  miles  of  one  another.  1  would  also  ask 
Mr.  Peberdy  if  it  is  true  that  Mr.  John  Living 
is  going  in  for  Herefords  ?  No  man  in  this  dis- 
trict has  spent  more  money  on  or  brought  up 
better  Shorthorns  than  Mr.  Living,  but  this 
last  two  years'  drouth  seems  to  have  shown  him 
that  Mr.  Wright's  Nalabia  Herefords  alongside 
of  his  (Living's)  Shorthorns  have  proved  the 
hardier  and  better  cattle. 

"Wishing  now  the  gentlemanly  (and  the 
printer's  devil  need  not  put  a  ?  after  it,  for  it 
is  not  required)  Mr.  Peberdy  a  pleasant  three 
month's  western  trip.  Yours,  etc., 

"BEARDMORE  OF  TOOLOOMBA. 
"June  2,  1885." 

THE  DUUUXDUR  HERD. 

Some  very  interesting  history  of  the  Here- 
fords in  Australia  is  supplied  in  the  following 
letter : 

"Editor  'Breeders'  Journal' : 

"Sir:  I  enclose  a  postofh'ee  order  for  5s.  in 
payment  of  postage  of  the  three  volumes  of  the 
'Journal'  that  you  sent  me.  They  arrived  a  few 
weeks  ago.  I  called  upon  Gordon  &  Goch,  and 
inquired  about  the  pictures  of  Success.  They 
informed  me  that  the  pictures  had  arrived,  and 
they  would  distribute  them  among  people  who 
would  appreciate  them.  I  received  one  some 
time  ago  with  the  'Journal.'  I  have  had  it 
framed.  Some  little  time  ago  a  Hereford  Herd 
Book  society  for  the  publication  of  Australian 
pedigrees  was  started  in  Sydney.  I  requested 
the  Secretary  to  send  you  a  copy  of  the  rules, 
etc.  Unfortunately  Hereford  breeders  are  few 
and  live  far  apart  in  Australia,  so  we  cannot 
meet  as  often  as  we  should,  and  form  plans  for 
pushing  the  breed  to  the  front.  At  present  the 
continued  drouth  prevents  the  sale  of  cattle  on 
any  post.  When  this  drouth  ceases  there  is  no 
doubt  there  will  be  a  demand  for  bulls  to  re- 
place those  that  have  died,  and  it  is  probable 
that  Hereford  bulls  will  be  used  by  many  who 
formerly  had  Shorthorns.  The  former  cattle 
are  proving  themselves  best  adapted  for  this 
part  of  the  world,  where  the  seasons  are  so  try- 


ing. We  also  find  they  mature  early.  It  is 
rarely  that  we  keep  a  Hereford  bullock  to  four 
years  old,  we  sell  a  great  number  at  three  years 
old.  In  fact,  it  is  only  a  question  qf  size;  the 
condition  is  always  there.  In  years  past  we 
owned  a  very  well-bred  herd  of  Shorthorns,  the 
direct  descendants  of  imported  stock.  They 
were  excellent  cattle,  of  good  quality,  first-rate 
color,  with  big  bodies,  on  short  le^s;  but  in  a 
few  years  the  constitution  gave  way,  they  be- 
came delicate  and  narrow,  in  spite  of  money 
being  spent  and  care  taken  to  change  the  bulls 
frequently,  and  taking  care  to  get  good  ones. 
In  1872  it  was  decided  that  Hereford  bulls 
should  be  introduced  and  the  breed  adhered  to. 
The  result  has  been  quite  satisfactory.  We 
breed  and  wean  a  greater  percentage,  the  cattle 
are  quieter,  and  we  can  keep  more  stock  on 
our  freehold.  It  has  been  interesting  to  notice 
the  gradual  change  of  the  herd  as  each  succes- 
sive draft  of  pure  sires  has  been  introduced. 
About  the  second  cross  a  good  number  of  the 
females  were  unshapely,  bad  colored,  and  of 
nondescript  appearance.  The  pure  bulls  again 
corrected  all  that,  and  now  we  have  reached  a 
stage  in  which  80  per  cent,  of  the  calves  are 
properly  marked  with  characteristic  colors  and 
appearance  of  pure  Hereford  cattle.  They  are 
hardy,  vigorous  and  fat  from  the  start,  and  in 
our  opinion  there  is  no  breed  like  them  for 
making  prime  bullocks  at  3^  years  old,  weigh- 
ing 750  pounds  dressed,  and  this  is  to  be  done 
entirely  on  grass. 
All  our  bullocks  are 
fattened  on  grass. 
We  buy  and  fatten 
a  great  many  store 
bullocks,  and  we 
notice  that  the  few 
Herefords  we  get 
in  this  way  fatten 
about  two  months 
sooner  than  the 
Shorthorns.  We 
fatten  store  bul- 
locks on  an  average 
of  about  nine 
months.  The  tim- 
ber haulers  in  our 
neighborhood  pre- 
fer Hereford  to 

Shorthorn  bullocks  for  their  work,  and  give 
us  five  dollars  per  head  more  for  them  than  for 
other  breeds.  At  our  shows  at  Brisbane  we 
were  fairly  successful  with  our  Hereford  cattle. 
Unfortunately  there  is  not  much  competition  in 
the  Hereford  classes.  There  is,  however,  a  prize 
given  for  the  best  bull  in  the  show,  of  any  breed. 


T.  s.  MINTON, 

Shropshire,    Eng. 


406 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Last  year  we  showed  our  bull  Blood  Royal 
(7424),  but  as  he  had  to  walk  fifty-two  miles 
from  here  to  Brisbane  and  from  Brisbane  back 
again,  we  could  not  get  him  very  fat.  He  was 
beaten  by  a  Victoria  bull  that  came  by  steamer. 
He  was  a  very  fat  animal  that  could  scarcely 
walk ;  however,  he  beat  our  bull.  Last  August 
we  showed  our  bull  Prince  Leopold  under  the 
same  conditions  as  before.  This  time,  however, 
we  were  more  successful,  beating  animals  of 
Shorthorn,  Devon  and  Angus  breeds  from  the 


A.     E.     HUGHES. 
Wintercott,  Herefordshire. 


best  herds  in  Australia.  Our  bull  is  nine  years 
old,  and  weighed  seven  pounds  under  a  ton.  He 
walked  home  in  five  days,  and  did  not  seem  to 
feel  the  journey  in  the  least. 

"I  enclose  some  particulars  of  our  herd.  We 
have  a  catalogue  in  the  press,  and  when  it  is 
printed  I  will  send  you  a  copy. 

"The  Cressy  Company's  herd,  from  which  a 
good  many  of  our  stock  are  descended,  was 
formed  in  1825  by  the  purchase  of  a  bull  and 
three  cows  from  one  of  the  best  herds  in  Here- 
fordshire. Unfortunately  their  pedigrees  have 
been  lost,  but  all  the  cattle  bred  from  them 
were  recorded  in  the  private  herd  books  of  the 
company.  Good  cattle  were  bred  from  these 
cows,  bulls  in  the  early  days  selling  for  80  and 
100  guineas. 

"The  following  imported  sires  were  used. 
The  pedigrees  of  many  of  them  have  been  lost : 

"1.     Billy  (4353), 'imported  in  1825. 

"2.  Cressy  1st,  imported  in  1837.  He  was 
bred  by  Mrs^  Jeffries,  of  The  Sheriffs,  near 
Knighton,  Herefordshire,  and  was  purchased 
by  Mr.  J.  D.  Toosey  when  a  yearling  for  80 
guineas. 

"3.  Trojan  (4384),  imported  in  1833  by 
Mr.  Edward  Bryant. 


"4.  Trojan  (5083),  imported  1840  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Williams,  and  sold  on  arrival  for  300 
guineas  to  Mr.  Toosey. 

"5.  Hereford,  imported  with  Trojan 
(5083). 

"6.  Cronstadt  (1198),  imported  by  Mr. 
Robt.  Keate,  with  the  cow  Cressida,  was  bred 
by  E.  Williams,  Llowes  Court.  She  was  by 
Glasbury  (709),  dam  by  Quicksilver  (353). 
She  was  a  fine  cow  and  had  good  calves. 

"7.  Zealous  ( 1822 ) ,  imported  by  Mr.  J.  Cox, 
of  Clarendon.  This  well-bred  bull  cost  400 
guineas  in  England. 

"Mr.  Toosey  used  bulls  of  his  own  breeding, 
and  had  two  fine  animals,  one  called  Garibaldi, 
by  Garibaldi  (2005),  and  another  called  Under- 
graduate, by  the  Oxford  Lad  (4192).  Under- 
graduate was  sold  for  300  guineas  and  is  now 
in  New  South  Wales. 

"Many  of  the  Hereford  cattle  in  Australia 
are  descendants  of  this  fine  herd,  which  is  now 
dispersed,  the  late  owner,  Mr.  J.  D.  Toosey, 
having  died  a  year  or  two  ago,  aged  about  80 
years. 

"It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  our  ports  are 
closed  against  foreign  cattle,  or  we  might  take 
advantage  of  the  valuable  importations  to 
America  that  have  been  going  on  for  some  time 
past.  Yours  faithfully, 

"A.    J.    McCONNEL. 

"Durundur,    Brisbane,    Queensland,    Nov.    8, 

1885." 

"P.  S. — I  omitted  to  tell  you  the  following 
interesting  conversion  of  a  Shorthorn  breeder 
into  a  breeder  of  Herefords. 

"A  cattle-owner  breeds  very  good  Shorthorns, 
and  his  neighbor  very  good  Herefords.  The 
two  herds  mix  on  the  boundary  of  the  respective 
runs.  The  owner  of  the  Shorthorns  musters  his 
cattle  on  the  boundary  to  sell  the  fat  bullocks, 
to  the  butcher,  and  in  so  mustering  unavoidably 
collects  on  the  same  camp  his  neighbor's 
Herefords.  To  his  dismay  he  finds  the  butcher 
at  once  picks  out  all  his  neighbor's  bullocks  and 
drafts  them  first;  then  the  butcher  takes  the 
Shorthorns.  This  has  been  too  much  for  the 
breeder  of  Shorthorns.  He  has  sold  his  Short- 
horns and  replaced  them  with  Hereford  bulls." 

PEDIGREES  OF   HEREFORDS   IN    AUSTRALIA. 

We  find  in  the  "Breeders'  Journal"  for  1885, 
taken  from  the  "Queenslander,"  the  following 
account  of  the  Hereford  herds  in  Australia. 
There  was  a  plan  for  establishing  an  Australian 
Hereford  Herd  Book,  and  we  sent  to  the  breed- 
ers who  had  the  matter  in  charge  copies  of  the 
"American  Hereford  Record,"  so  far  as  they 
were  then  published.  The  Association  of 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


407 


Breeders  assumed  form  and  they  received  appli- 
cations for  entry.  They,  however,  found  that 
their  breeders  had  not  kept  records  in  all  cases, 
and  in  some  of  them,  where  the  records  have 
been  kept,  owing  to  the  death  of  parties,  the  rec- 
ords were  lost.  There  is  one  fact  clear,  that 
many  of  the  best  of  the  breed  have  been  taken 
from  England  to  that  country,  and  that  each 
herd  can  show,  not  the  detailed  data  that  would 
be  desirable,  but,  as  a  rule,  they  can  show  the 
line  of  sires.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  first  im- 
portation was  in  1825,  some  twenty  years  before 
the  Herd  Book  was  established  in  England. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  herds  referred  to  here 
are  pure  bred  and  the  editing  committee  prob- 
ably found  not  much  difficulty  in  determining 
what  were  pure  bred,  and  they  should  give  the 
facts  as  fully  as  possible  upon  which  they  admit 
animals  to  entry,  and  unless  the  breeders 
showed  that  they  raised  only  thoroughbred  sires 
and  dams  of  the  Hereford  breed  their  animals 
would  not  find  places  in  the  public  record. 

The  admitting  of  animals  of  doubtful  pedi- 
gree is  not  raising  their  value,  but  is  lowering 
the  value  of  all  better-bred  stock,  and  a  loose 
policy  at  the  beginning  will  be  felt  for  all  time. 

Commenting  upon  the  proposed  herd  book  at 
the  time,  we  said  in  the  "Breeders'  Journal" : 
"There  will  probably  be  clear  evidence,  as  it 
permits  of  breeding  in  the  majority  of  the 
Hereford  herds  of  Australia,  although  special 
dates  may  be  wanting,  and  this  evidence  should 
be  spread  upon  the  record  as  .fully  as  possible. 
We  have  a  right  to  an  interest  in  the  action  that 
the  Australians  shall  adopt  at  this  time,  and 
we  urge  upon  their  attention  the  fact  that  the 
policy  they  now  adopt  will  be  felt  for  all  time. 
It  will  be  felt  in  the  general  reputation  of  their 
herds,  and,  what  is  of  greater  importance,  it 
will  be  felt  in  the  character  of  the  herds  them- 
selves, or,  we  might  say,  in  the  character  of  the 
individuals  in  their  herds.  There  is  now  a  uni- 
formity in  the  individual  character  of  the  Here- 
fords  that  does  not  exist  in  any  other  breed. 
This  should  be  kept  in  mind,  and  cross-bred 
animals  will  damage  this  individual  merit. 

"If,  then,  the  Australian  breeders  shall  have 
in  mind  the  ultimate  good  and  value  of  the 
breed,  rather  than  the  supposed  value  of  in- 
dividuals, in  securing  a  place  in  their  record 
for  animals  of  doubtful  merit  and  of  doubtful 
breeding,  then  they  will  be  laying  the  founda- 
tion that  will  result  in  great  good  to  the  stock- 
men of  their  country. 

"The  Herefords  are  to  occupy  the  lead  in 
beef  production  the  world  over;  and  we  would 
that  we  could  impress  this  truth  upon  the  Aus- 
tralian breeders  at  this  time,  so  that  they  might 


fully  realize  the  necessity  of  building  upon 
such  foundation  as  will  stand  the  test  of  time, 
and  of  the  closest  scrutiny.  With  these  thoughts 
we  give  the  article  from  the  'Queenslander' 
referred  to: 

T 1 1  K  FOUNTAIN  HEAD  OF  AUSTRALIAN  HERE- 
FORDS. 

"There  are  very  few,  if  any,  Australian  Here- 
ford herds  that  do  not  trace  back  either  di- 
rectly or  indirectly  to  the  Cressy  Hereford  herd 
of*Tasmania.  As  this  breed  of  cattle  is  coming 
so  rapidly  to  the  front,  particularly  in  our  coast 
districts,  a  brief  history  of  that  herd  will  be  of 
interest  to  many.  Unfortunately  the  work  of 
compiling  a  public  Herd  Book  had  not  been 
undertaken  until  the  Cressy  Herd  Book,  which 
was  so  carefully  kept  by  the  late  Mr.  James 
Denton  Toosey,  had  been  lost,  a  circumstance 
which  has  rendered  the  work  of  tracing  the 
pedigree  of  the  herd  one  of  considerable  diffi- 
culty. Fortunately,  however,  Mr.  A.  J.  Mc- 
Connel,  of  Durundur,  a  gentleman  who  is  well 
posted  up  in  Hereford  lore,  is  in  possession  of 
a  number  of  letters  written  by  the  late  Mr. 
Toosey  a  short  time  before  his  death,  and  these, 
which  have  been  kindly  placed  at  our  disposal, 
throw  considerable  light  on  the  origin  and 
history  of  the  herd.  The  Cressy  Company's 
herd  was  founded  by  the  late  Mr.  Toosey,  who 


"THE    LEEN,"    PEMBRIDGE,    HEREFORDSHIRE. 
Home  of  the  Turners. 


brought  with  him  from  England  a  bull  and 
three  cows.     They  left  England  in  November, 

1825,  and  were  landed  in  Hobart  Town  in  May, 

1826,  and  were  thus  the  first  Herefords  that 
arrived  in  the  Australian  colonies.    Mr.  Toosey 
had  a  number  of  other  cattle  and  horses  in  his 
charge  by  the  same  ship.    The  bull's  name  was 
Billy,    entered    in    the    English    Herd    Book 
(4353).    The  cows  were  Matchless,  Beauty,  and 


408 


one  unnamed  (the  dam  of  Diana).  The  pedi- 
grees of  the  cattle  have  been  lost,  but  Mr. 
Toosey  states  that  they  were  purchased  at  high 
figures  from  one  of  the  first  breeders  in  Here- 
fordshire, and  that  he  bred  some  of  his  best 
stock  from  them ;  bulls  in  the  early  days  bring- 
ing from  80  to  100  guineas.  Beauty  and 
Matchless  were  splendid  cows,  and  much  ad- 
mired in  the  herd.  Diana  was  calved  in  1828. 
She  was  a  very  fine  cow,  and  was  sold  by  auction 
in  1841.  Her  dam  died  in  1829.  Beauty  died 


"LYNHALES,"    HEREFORDSHIRE. 
Home  of  S.   Robinson. 


early  in  1832,  having  bred  five  calves.  Mr. 
Toosey  used  Billy  for  some  years,  and  then  re- 
placed him  by  his  son,  Comet,  who  was  born  in 
1830.  Comet's  dam  was  Matchless.  He  was  a 
splendid  bull  and  good  stock-getter.  Comet 
was  succeeded  in  the  herd  by  Cressy  1st,  a  bull 
purchased  as  a  yearling  by  Mr.  Toosey  for  80 
guineas  from  his  breeder,  Mrs.  Jeffries,  of 
The  Sheriffs,  near  Knighton,  Herefordshire. 
Cressy  was  a  noble  bull,  well  shaped  and  of 
excellent  quality  of  flesh.  He  was  used  for  sev- 
eral years  in  the  herd  and  then  sold  by  auction. 
His  pedigree,  which  was  a  good  one,  was  given 
to  the  purchaser,  but,  unfortunately,  no  copy 
has  been  preserved.  Mr.  Jeffries  was  the 
breeder  of  the  celebrated  bull  Cotmore  (376 
E.  H.  B.),  whose  live  weight  at  the  Royal  Show 
at  Oxford  in  1839  was  declared  to  be  35  cwt. 
(3,920  Ibs.)  The  next  bull  used  was  Trojan 
(4384  E.  H.  B.)  He  was  imported  in  1833 
by  Mr.  S.  Bryant,  and  after  being  in  the  col- 
ony some  time,  was  sold  to  Mr.  Toosey,  who 
described  him  as  a  very  fine  symmetrical  bull. 
After  him  was  added  another  bull,  also  called 
Trojan  (5083).  He  was  imported  about  the 
year  1840  by  Mr.  Thomas  Williams,  of  Launces- 
ton,  and  purchased  by  Mr.  Toosey  for  300 
guineas.  He  is  described  as  a  bull  of  good 


quality  and  great  weight.  He  was  a  success- 
ful stock-getter,  and  was  the  sire  of  Dainty 
1st,  calved  October,  1843;  Lady  Bird,  calved 
November,  1840;  Juniper,  calved  June,  1846; 
Trojan  was  afterwards  sold  to  Mr.  Wier,  of 
Victoria,  who  has  his  pedigree.  Mr.  Williams 
at  the  same  time  imported  the  bull  Hereford, 
who  was  afterwards  used  at  Cressy  with  good 
results. 

"After  this  bull  Mr.  Toosey  used  two  of  his 
own  breeding,  Baron  and  Duke.  The  former 
was  calved  14th  November,  1845,  and  was  by 
Trojan  (5083),  dam  Blowdy,  by  Cressy  1st, 
g.  d.  Bashful,  by  Billy  (4353)  ;  Belinda,  by 
Billy  (4353)— Beauty.  Duke  was  calved  1st 
September,  1848,  and  was  by  Baron,  dam 
Darling  by  Trojan  (5083)  ;  g.  d.  Daphne,  by 
Cressy  1st — Damsel,  by  Billy  (4353)  ;  Diana  by 
Billy,  from  imported  cow.  He  was  a  very  good 
bull  and  was  used  in  the  herd  till  1854,  when 
he  was  sold  to  Mr.  Sloper  Cox,  of  Mudgee,  New 
South  Wales,  for  seventy  guineas. 

"Mr.  Toosey  next  used  Priam,  purchased  in 
April,  1850,  from  his  breeder,  Mr.  David  Gib- 
son, of  Pleasant  Banks,  near  Launceston.  He 
waB  by  the  celebrated  Hampton  (513),  who  was 
sold  for  500  guineas  on  his  arrival  at  Launces- 
ton, out  of  Miss  Stockton,  a  fine  cow,  imported 
from  England  by  Mr.  Gibson. 

"In  June,  1854,  Mr.  Eobert  Keate  purchased 
for  the  company  the  bull  Cronstadt  (1198),  and 
the  cow  Cressida,  then  three  years  old.  These 
cattle  arrived  at  Cressy  in  November,  1854. 
They  were  bred  by  Mr.  Edward  Williams,  of 
Llowes  Court,  Hay. 

"Cronstadt  was  succeeded  by  Zealous  (1822), 
a  bull  purchased  by  Mr.  James  Cox,  of  Claren- 
don, Tasmania,  for  400  guineas,  that  price 
being  paid  in  England.  He  was  bred  by  Mr. 
George  Pitt,  Chadnor  Court,  Dilwyn,  and  was 
a  remarkably  well  bred  bull,  coming  from  a 
long  line  of  illustrious  ancestors.  His  sire,  Mil- 
liam  (1321)  won  first  prize  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Hay  and  Wvside  Agricultural  Society  in 
1855.  His  g.  d."  White  Rose,  by  Young  Cot- 
more  (601),  won  second  prize  at  the  Royal 
meeting  at  Norwich  and  was  one  of  the  six  cows 
to  which  the  first  prize  was  given  in  1855  at 
Ludlow.  Young  Cotmore  (601)  won  first  prize 
at  the  Leominster  Agricultural  Society's  meet- 
ing in  1841,  and  with  cow  and  offspring  at  a 
subsequent  meeting.  His  third  dam,  Rose,  won 
first  prize  in  her  class  at  Hereford  in  1845; 
fourth  dam,  Blossom  3d,  by  Young  Favorite 
(460),  was  a  winner  of  the  first  prize  at  Here- 
ford, 1854.  She  was  a  dam  of  the  celebrated 
bull  Big  Ben  (248). 

"Young  Favorite  won  first  prize  in  1837,  and 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


409 


with  cow  and  offspring,  first  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Gloucester  Agricultural  Society  in  1831). 
Zealous'  pedigree  traces  hack  three  more  genera- 
tions to  the  esteemed  blood  of  Mr.  Knight,  one 
of  the  breeders  of  the  best  cattle  of  his  time. 
Two  years  ago  Mr.  Pitt's  herd  was  dispersed, 
when  ninety-one  animals  averaged  £77  Is  9d 
($385). 

"The  next  bulls  used  were  Cressy  2d  (4-174), 
Clarendon,  and  Garibaldi,  all  bred  at  Cressy, 
the  two  former  being  sons  of  imported  Cressida, 
and  the  latter  out  of  her  daughter  Countess,  by 
Cronstadt  (1198).  Clarendon  was  by  Cron- 
stadt,  was  calved  1st  September,  1860.  Cressy 
2d  was  bv  Zealous  and  was  calved  29th  July, 


"Mr.  Toosey  considered  Undergraduate  a 
magnificent  animal,  and  sold  him  to  Mr.  Vincent 
Dowling,  of  Lue,  for  300  guineas  ($1,500). 
Soon  after  Mr.  Toosey  gave  up  breeding.  Some 
of  his  principal  sales  were  the  following :  Mr. 
Learmonth,  of  Groongal,  many  years  ago  pur- 
chased a  number  of  heifers,  and,  mating  them 
with  English  bulls,  formed  a  very  fine  herd. 
The  cattle  there,  as  seen  by  a  well-known 
Queensland  Hereford  breeder  a  few  years  ago, 
were  very  large  and  thick.  A  number  of  fe- 
males from  this  herd  were  exported  to  found  a 
herd  in  New  Zealand. 

"About  forty-five  years  ago,  Mr.  Toosey  sold 
a  bull  to  Mr.  Hobbler,  of  the  Hunter.  This  is 


MAIDSTONE   (8875)  791bO. 

Bred    by  H.    W.   Taylor.     Invincible   in   English   show   rings.     Champion  at  the  Paris  World's  Exposition,  1889.     Sold 
for  $7,500  gold.     Exported  to  Argentine,   S.   A.,  where  he  was  again  champion.     Weight  3,200  Ibs. 


1861.  He  was  a  fine  animal  and  after  being 
used  many  years  was  sold  to  Mr.  R.  Q.  Ker- 
mode,  of  Ross,  for  fifty  guineas.  Garibaldi  was 
calved  19th  November,  1862.  He  was  by  Gari- 
baldi (2005),  a  fine  bull  imported  by  Mr.  W. 
Field,  of  Enfield,  Tasmania.  Mr.  Toosey  used 
Garibaldi  for  some  time  with  success,  and  even- 
tually sold  him  to  Mr.  James  Cox,  of  Clarendon. 
The  next  bull  used  was  Undergraduate,  calved 
13th  June,  1872.  He  was  bred  by  Mr.  Robert 
McDougall,  of  Arundel,  Victoria,  and  was  got 
by  his  celebrated  bull,  The  Oxford  Lad  (4192), 
afterwards  sold  to  Mr.  George  Loder,  of  Abbey 
Green,  for  600  guineas  ($3,000).  Undergrad- 
uate's dam  was  the  Cressy  cow  Jessie,  by  Zeal- 
ous, she  being  a  descendant  of  Matchless. 


probably  the  animal  named  Hobbler's  Trojan, 
a  name  met  with  in  some  of  the  Tocal  ped- 
igrees. 

"About  thirty  years  ago  ten  or  twelve  heifers 
and  the  bull  Young  Cronstadt  (5050)  were  sold 
to  Mr.  Lyall,  of  Western  Port,  Victoria.  These 
heifers  were  principally  by  Trojan  (5083),  and 
from  them,  by  Jerry  (1288),  Mr.  Lyall  bred 
cattle  equal  to  any  in  Australia. 

"About  the  year  1868,  Mr.  J.  D.  Cox,  of 
Cullenbone,  bought  seven  heifers,  most  of  which 
were  by  Cre*ssy  2d.  In  1872  he  purchased  six 
more,  these  and  four  others  that  he  bought  in 
1874  being  by  Garibaldi. 

"Messrs.  McConnel  and  Wood's  fine  cow 
Duchess  5th  is  from  one  of  these.  Mr.  Cox 


410 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


sold  drafts  from  his  herd  to  Messrs.  J.  Gar- 
diner and  I.  Irving  (Tomki).  He  also  sold  a 
cow  to  Messrs.  Archer,  of  Gracemore,  for  eighty 
guineas,  and  in  1882  Messrs.  McConnel  and 
Wood,  of  Durundur,  purchased  the  whole  of  his 
herd  descended  from  the  Cressy  cattle. 

"In  1872  Mr.  Reynolds  bought  some  heifers, 
and  Mr.  G.  Loder  a  bull  called  Julius,  and  later 
on  Mr.  Vincent  Dowling  bought  the  bull  Un- 
dergraduate and  all  the  young  females  by  that 
bull. 

"Finally,  owing  to  old  age,  Mr.  Toosey  dis- 
posed of  the  whole  of  the  remainder  of  his  herd 


HOTSPUR     (7726)     21721. 
Bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine,  Herefordshire.     Sold  for  ?3,500. 

to  Mr.  John  Taylor,  of  Winton,  near  Cleveland, 
Tasmania,  who  still  continues  to  breed  from 
them. 

"Mr.  Toosey,  as  already  stated,  kept  a  record 
of  his  breed  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  but 
since  then  his  son  states  that  the  Herd  Books 
are  not  to  be  found,  and  must  have  been  de- 
stroyed. This  is  very  much  to  be  regretted,  as 
a  detailed  record  of  the  earlier  cattle  of  the 
foundation  herd  of  Australia — a  herd  the  blood 
of  which  is  to  be  found  in  every  herd  in  Queens- 
land, and  perhaps  in  every  Hereford  herd  south 
of  the  equator — has  probably  disappeared  for 
all  time.  The  loss  is  all  the  more  to  be  de- 
plored that  arrangements  have  almost  been  com- 
pleted for  compiling  a  reliable  Hereford  Herd 
Book  for  the  whole  of  the  colonies." 

THE   DTJRUNDUR  EXPERIENCE. 

It  is  the  source  of  great  gratification  to  us 
when  we  can  secure  the  opinion  of  men  who 
have  had  a  large  experience  in  the  use  of  the 
Hereford  in  its  purity  and  in  crossing  on  other 
breeds.  There  is  no  question  but  that  our  large 
western  range  is  valuable  for  the  purpose  of 
breeding  cattle  and  producing  beef,  and  the 
question  which  they  wish  to  determine  is,  as  to 


the  best  breed  for  the  purpose  of  improvement 
on  that  range.  The  improvement  of  Texas  and 
range  cattle  has  moved  very  slowly  and  is  of 
comparative  recent  date,  but  the  discussion  of 
these  questions  in  this  country  has  had  a  very 
wide  influence  and  is  bringing  out  in  Australia 
the  experience  and  practice  that  cover  a  half 
century's  time  under  similar  conditions  to  those 
on  our  own  ranges;  we  find  in  the  "Queens- 
lander"  the  following  article  from  a  correspond- 
ent of  that  journal,  which  we  published  in  the 
"Breeders'  Journal,"  leaving  out  some  remarks 
as  to  individual  animals  and  giving  what  might 
be  termed  that  general  experience,  which  will 
be  of  value  to  our  breeders,  and  to  which  this 
correspondent  refers.  The  experiment  has  been 
in  operation  for  36  years,  and  we  refer  to  the 
article  itself  to  see  with  what  results : 

"I  must  honestly  confess  that  I  have  gener- 
ally viewed  the  Hereford  breed  with  an  unfavor- 
able eye,  induced  from  personal  experience  of 
their  general  wildness  when  bred  or  running  in 
mountain  districts,  though  I  never  denied  the 
excellence  of  their  beef-producing  qualities. 
After  some  days'  experience  of  the  Durundur 
herd  I  must  admit  the  error  of  my  views,  for  a 
quieter  and  more  kindly  dispositioned  herd, 
from  aged  bulls,  through  every  grade,  down  to 
the  year's  calves,  could  not  be  found  even  in 
their  original  homes  in  the  English  counties. 
The  cattle  I  worked  amongst  in  earlier  days 
were  a  bastard  breed,  Herefords  only  in  name 
— magni  nominis  umbra — badly  worked  and 
worse  managed.  At  Durundur  exactly  the  op- 
posite is  the  case.  The  cattle  are  worked  on  a 
very  different  system ;  the  consequence  is  they 
are  as  quiet  and  docile  as  a  mob  of  milkers, 
looking  upon  man  as  their  best  friend,  rather 
seeking  his  company  than  avoiding  it. 

"The  original  source  from  which  all  Here- 
ford herds  in  Australia  sprung,  either  directly 
or  indirectly, '  is  that  of  the  celebrated  Cressy 
herd  of  Tasmania,  started  by  the  direct  impor- 
tation from  England  of  three  cows  and  one 
bull  in  1825.  .In  1850,  Hereford  cattle  were 
first  introduced  into  Durundur  by  the  pur- 
chase of  some  pure-bred  bulls  from  Mr. 
Reynolds,  of  Tocal,  New  South  Wales.  The 
general  herd  then  consisted  of  Shorthorns,  and 
the  proprietors  for  some  years  oscillated  be- 
tween the  two  breeds,  in  reality  making  some 
costly  experiments,  aiming  more  at  quality  than 
quantity.  In  1873,  however,  a  final  decision 
was  come  to,  and  since  that  time  nothing  but 
Hereford  bulls  have  been  used,  their  prepo- 
tency being  so  assured  that  in  a  few  generations 
the  original  strain  of  Shorthorn  blood  was  en- 
tirely eliminated.  In  1882  the  pure  herd  was 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


411 


first  formed  by  the  purchase  of  49  pure  Here- 
ford heifers  from  Mr.  Reynolds,  of  Tocal,  hav- 
ing such  grand  blood  in  their  veins  as  could 
be  introduced  by  the  imported  bulls  Lord  Ash- 
ford,  Royal  Head  (fl  260),  The  Captain,  Thrux- 
ton,  with  many  colonial-bred  bulls,  all  of  high 
breeding  and  many  of  them  Royal  prize  win- 
ners. Misfortune  followed  their  importation, 
however,  as  many  of  them  fell  victims  to  that 
dire  disease,  pleuro-pneumonia.  Later  on,  15 
cows  were  purchased  from  Mr.  J.  D.  Cox,  of 
Mudgee,  New  South  Wales,  whilst  in  1883  eight 
more  were  obtained  from  the  same  gentleman, 
all  descendants  of  English  cows,  imported  to 
Tasmania,  many  of  them  prize  winners  them- 
selves or  the  produce  of  recipients  of  show 
honors. 

"Since  then  the  stud  cattle  have  been  aug- 
mented by  the  purchases  from  such  well-known 
and  successful'  breeders  as  the  Messrs.  White, 
of  Muswell  Brook;  G.  Rouse,  of  Mudgee,  and 
G.  Loder,  of  Singleton.  These  later  lots  are  all 
undeniably  pedigree,  descended  from  such 
splendid  sires  as  Defiance,  Oxford  Lad,  etc., 
and  all  bred  from  cows,  winners  of  first  prizes 
at  the  great  English  shows.  These  females 
numbered  123,  to  which  may  be  added  about 
200  more,  being  a  choice  herd  of  high-grade 
cows,  bred  by  thoroughbred  bulls  from  dams 
that  have  been  carefully  selected  for  several 
generations. 

"The  general  herd  are  deserving  of  much 
credit,  being  large  framed,  of  a  good  uniform 
color,  and  very  even  as  regards  shape  and  make. 
One  feature  in  the  raising  of  Hereford  cattle 
is  especially  noticeable.  They  come  to  perfec- 
tion for  butchering  purposes  at  an  earlier  age 
than  other  breeds.  Rarely  is  a  bullock  kept 
after  reaching  four  years  of  age;  in  fact,  the 
Hereford  beast  at  three  and  a  half  years  will 
fetch  as  good  a  price  in  the  open  markets  as 
one  of  the  other  breeds  at  five  years  of  age. 
Corisequently  the  breeder  realizes  on  his  stock 
far  earlier  than  he  otherwise  would.  The  intro- 
duction of  Herefords  and  the  adhering  to  that 
breed  has  been  most  satisfactory.  The  Herd 
Books  show  a  greater  percentage  of  branded 
and  weaned  calves,  the  stock  are  quieter,  and 
the  estate  carried  a  larger  quantity.  Most  in- 
teresting must  have  been  the  gradual  improve- 
ment of  a  herd  as  each  successive  draft  of  pure 
sires  was  introduced.  Mr.  Wood  tells  me  about 
the  second  cross.  A  good  number  of  the  fe- 
males were  unshapely,  bad  colored,  and  of 
nondescript  appearance.  The  pure  bull  again 
corrected  all  that,  and  now  the  stage  has  been 
reached  when  80  per  cent  of  the  calves  are  prop- 
erly marked  with  the  characteristic  colors  and 


appearances  of  the  Hereford  cattle.  They  are 
vigorous,  hardy,  fat  from  the  start.  There  is 
no  breed  like  them  for  making  prime  bullocks 
at  three  and  a  half  years  old,  weighing  750 
pounds,  dressed,  and  this  done  entirely  on  nat- 
ural grass.  Further,  there  is  no- breed  like  them 
for  accommodating  themselves  to  the  changes 
and  chances  that  grazier's  cattle  are  exposed  to 
in  the  capricious  climate  of  Australia. 

"This  station  buys  large  numbers  of  store 
bullocks  yearly,  and  it  is  a  curious  fact  that  the 
few  Herefords  they  get  in  this  way  fatten  about 
two  months  sooner  than  the  Shorthorn  cattle. 
From  personal  experience  I  know  that  Here- 
fords travel  long  distances  to  market  better  than 
Shorthorns,  with  less  lameness,  and  keeping 
their  condition  better ;  further,  that  a  Hereford 
beast  in  hard  times  will  fight  for  his  living 
where  a  Shorthorn  simply  lies  down  and  dies. 
From  inquiry  I  find  the  .timber  getters  are  al- 
ways ready  to  pay  $5.00  per  head  more  for 
Hereford  bullocks  than  for  Shorthorns  to  break 
them  into  the  yoke,  as  they  find  them  more 
active,  hardier  and  more  docile. 

"The  owners  of  this  herd  have  evidently  cre- 
ated an  ideal  till  they  have  succeeded  in  pro- 
ducing a  highly  satisfactory  result.  The  ex- 
periments have  no  doubt  been  costly,  but  the 
primary  difficulties  appear  to  me  to  have  now 
been  surmounted,  and  they  are  now  fairly  in 


IMPORTED  LORD   WILTON  5739,   AT  3  YEARS. 

Bred  by   C.    M.    Culbertson.     Son   of  the  champions,   Lords 

Wilton  and   Pretty  Face. 


the  straight  run  for  the  goal  of  success.  There 
is  not  a  doubt  that  their  stock  will  be  constantly 
sought  after  by  breeders  desirous  of  improving 
their  own  herds.  The  three  runs  of  Durundur, 
Corondale,  and  Mount  Kilcoy  have  wonderful 
capacities  for  fattening  stock — splendid  flats 
and  gullies,  while  the  ranges  are  clothed  with 
herbage  to  their  very  summit,  and  permanent 
streams  of  water.  It  is  marvelous  to  me,  how 


412 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


little  the  residents  of  Brisbane  know  about  this 
valuable  district. 

"When  we  see  a  long-established  herd  of  con- 
summate excellence,  the  result  of  one  man's 
mind,  we  naturally  ask  ourselves  the  question 
how  that  man  becomes  possessed  of  the  judg- 
ment and  accompanying  qualifications  to  enable 
him  to  do  that  work,  the  results  of  which  are 
before  us.  Accident  could  never  accomplish 
such  high  and  uniform  results.  Some  men  are 
amongst  stock  all  their  lives  and  never  acquire 


1T316 


REPRESENTATIVE    SUSSEX    COW. 

that  knowledge.  They  can  multiply  animals 
already  improved  for  them,  but  for  their  lives 
they  could  not  breed  up  a  family  or  tribe  to  any 
preconceived  pattern.  This  Messrs.  McConnel 
and  Wood  have  done;  their  good  example  is* 
well  worthy  of  imitation.  The  great  error  many 
make  is  expecting,  after  the  purchase  of  high- 
bred animals,  that  great  results  will  come  with- 
out effort  and  unsought.  The  best  animal  is 
nothing  unless  well  fed.  Their  growth  and  .de- 
velopment comes  of  liberal  feeding,  and  full 
growth  and  symmetry  from  full  feeding  to  fat- 
ness. 

"The  cattle  on  these  runs  are  a  proof  of  our 
argument;  witness  the  eagerness  with  which 
they  are  sought  after  and  the  quantities  sup- 
plied. The  man  who,  after  buying  select  ani- 
mals, retreats  to  his  shell  like  a  turtle  under 
the  idea  that  he  is  possessed  of  property  which 
through  the  innate  force  of  circumstances  will 
retain  all  the  good  it  has  about  it  at  the  time 
of  purchase  will  wake  up — Rip  Van  Winklelike 
— to  find  out  the  error  of  his  ways.  This  fault 
Messrs.  McConnel  and  Wood  have  not  beenguilty 
of.  Slowly,  step  by  step,  with  every  possible 
care  and  forethought,  they  have  sought  to  im- 
prove their  stock.  Well  have  they  succeeded, 
and  if  breeders  have  any  wisdom  for  their  pains 
they  ought  to  reap  a  rich  harvest  in  the  future ; 
they  most  certainly  have  deserved  it." 

In  closing  this  section  of  our  work  we  quote 
again  from  the  special  U.  S.  Consular  Reports 


(page   645)    on    cattle,  heretofore   mentioned. 
Consul  Griffin,  of  Auckland: 

NEW   ZEALAND  CATTLE   IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

"The  high  class  of  cattle  in  this  colony,  and 
the  low  price  at  which  they  can  be  obtained,  has 
very  naturally  attracted  the  attention  of  cattle 
breeders  in  the  United  States.  In  August, 
1883,  Mr.  A.  W.  Sisson,  of  California,  dis- 
patched Mr.  Rolin  P.  Saxe,  a  cattle  expert,  to 
\e\v  Zealand,  to  purchase  for  him  a  band  of 
pure-blooded  Herefords.  Mr.  Saxe  arrived  in 
Auckland  in  September,  1883,  and  after  visit- 
ing several  of  the  cattle  districts  in  the  colony, 
purchased  20  two-year-old  heifers  in  calf  and 
24  bulls  from  one  to  two  years  from  the  New 
Zealand  Stock  and  Pedigree  Co.,  of  Auckland. 
Mr.  Saxe  was  not  only  surprised  at  the  superb 
condition  of  the  company's  cattle,  but  at  the  low 
prices  at  which  they  were  sold.  They  were 
shipped  to  San  Francisco  by  the  Pacific  Mail 
steamer  City  of  Sydney,  in  October  last,  being 
the  first  shipment  of  New  Zealand-bred  cattle 
ever  made  to  the  United  States. 

"Mr.  Saxe  is  of  the  opinion  that  Hereford 
cattle  can  be  more  easily  and  economically 
brought  to  California  from  New  Zealand  than 
across  the  continent  by  railway  from  Illinois 
and  other  states  celebrated  for  this  particular 
breed.  In  Illinois  these  cattle  sell  at  from 
$500  to  $5,000  per  head,  whereas  they  can  be 
bought  in  New  Zealand  at  from  $100  to  $700 
per  head.  *  *  *" 

NEW   ZEALAND   HEREFORDS. 

"The  New  Zealand  Stock  and  Pedigree  Com- 
pany of  Auckland  has  one  of  the  largest  herds 
of  pure-bred  Herefords  in  the  world.  This 
breed  has  long  been  a  favorite  one  here.  They 
are  tough,  hardy,  and  able  to  pick  their  food  on 
poor  soil,  and  when  two  or  three  years  old  out- 
weigh any  other  breed,  and  are  famous  for  their 
high-priced  meat;  that  is  to  say,  their  loins 
are  well  developed,  and  their  yield  of  succulent 
porterhouse  and  sirloin  are  proportionately 
heavy.  The  hindquarters  of  the  pure-bred 
Hereford  are  long  from  the  hip  backwards.  The 
thighs  are  large  and  full  and  well  meated  at 
the  hocks.  The  whole  carcass  is  set  square  on 
good,  short  legs,  standing  well  apart.  The  flesh 
is  firm,  the  hide  mellow,  with  soft  hair,  not  too 
fine,  but  giving  the  impression  that  it  can  be 
stretched  to  any  extent. 

"The  color  of  this  breed  is  a  distinct  red  with 
white  face,  mane,  and  white  breast  and  legs 
as  far  as  the  knee.  As  an  evidence  of  how  they 
stand  hard  feed,  it  is  said  that  during  the  long 
drought  of  1878  and  1879,  in  Australia,  about 
five  per  cent  of  the  Herefords  were  lost  on  a 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


run  in  Queensland.,  against  10  per  cent  of  the 
Shorthorn  herd  and  20  per  cent  of  the  stud 
Shorthorn.  In  one  large  paddock  there  were 
70  Shorthorn  and  70  Hereford  bulls,  one  and 
two  years  old.  The  Shorthorns  got  so  poor 
that  they  had  to  be  turned  out  on  the  run,  the 
paddocks  being  bare  of  grass,  but  the  Herefords 
kept  in  good,  strong  condition. 

''When  Captain  Cook  first  visited  New  Zea- 
land there  were  no  cattle  in  the  country,  but 
at  a  subsequent  period  some  were  introduced 
from  Australia.  In  the  early  settlement  of  the 
colony  the  length  of  the  time  occupied  in  a  voy- 
age from  England  and  the  many  difficulties 
which  had  to  be  overcome  by  the  pioneers  pre- 
vented any  special  attention  being  given  to  the 
improvement  of  the  breed  of  cattle  by  importa- 
tion, as  that  necessarily  involved  a  heavy  ex- 
penditure of  money,  not  to  say  anything  of 
the  time  and  patience  required  to  introduce 
them;  but  at  last  the  colonists  began  to  im- 
prove their  herds  by  the  introduction  of  thor- 
oughbreds from  Europe,  and  I  have  not  the 
slightest  hesitation  in  saying  that  nearly  all  the 
imported  cattle  thrive  better  in  New  Zealand 
than  in  their  native  homes,  and  that  this  supe- 
riority is  developed  to  a  still  higher  degree  in 
their  offspring." 

HEREFORDS   FOR   THE   ISLAND    OF   JAMAICA. 

Hereford  cattle  have  done  remarkably  well 
on  this  island,  and  purchases  of  thoroughbreds 


are  still  continuing  in  England  for  exportation 
to  that  island. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  1885,  a  little  knot 
of  Hereford  breeders  gathered  at  the  Southwest 
India  docks  to  see  the  shipment,  by  the  ship 
Catib,  of  six  thoroughbred  Herefords  to  that 
distant  island.  Mr.  John  Malcolm,  of  Paltal- 
loch  at  Knockalba,  and  Retrieve,  Penn.,  in 
America,  was  the  purchaser.  Mr.  Malcolm 
personally  superintended  the  loading,  and  he, 
in  company  with  other  friends  who  had  come  up 
from  Hereford  to  see  them  off,  were  entertained 
at  luncheon  by  the  captain,  Mr.  Vicary.  The 
lot  of  Herefords  comprised  two  bulls  and  four 
heifers.  The  bulls  were  Lemon  Boy  3d,  bred 
by  Mr.  P.  J.  Hughes,  and  Benjamin  17th,  bred 
by  Messrs.  J.  B.  &  G.  H.  Green,  of  Marlow, 
Leintwardine.  This  bull  was  a  year  and  a  half 
old,  and  said  to  be  a  good  one.  The  four  heifers 
were  all  yearlings  past,  and  named,  respectively, 
Miss  Hamar  2d,  Countess  10th,  Miss  Silver 
7th,  Miss  Nobleman  8th.  They  were  all  bred 
by  Mr.  Thomas  Myddleton,  of  Beckjay,  Aston- 
on-Clum,  and  were  an  extraordinary  good  lot. 
These  four  heifers  were  picked  out  of  ten 
heifers  shown  by  Mr.  Myddleton  at  the  Glouces- 
tershire show,  they  going  to  the  show  off  the 
grass  and  beating  a  like  number  shown  by 
John  Price  and  others.  These  cattle  are  going 
to  join  a  large  and  valuable  herd  of  Herefords 
that  have  been  bred  in  Jamaica  since  1835. 


REPRESENTATIVE    DEVON    COW. 


414 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII, 


HEREFORDS  ON  THE  BLOCK 


The  following  items  in  regard  to  the  beef 
price  of  Hereford  cattle  as  they  ranged  from 
1881  to  1886,  taken  as  they  are  from  publica- 
tions of  those  dates,  give  information  as  to  the 
actual  cash  value  of  the  Herefords : 

HEREFORD   BULLOCKS   IN   LONDON. 

Mr.  George  T.  Turner  says  in  a  letter  to  the 
"National  Live  Stock  Journal":  "The  Here- 
ford bullock  in  London  is  quite  a  season  animal, 
and  comes  only  as  grass-fed  beef  in  the  late 
summer  and  autumn,  then  it  tops  the  market, 
for  there  is  no  better  grass  beef  sent  to  London 
than  the  Hereford,  except  the  West  Highland- 
ers, which  are  older  and  few  in  number.  These 
generally  make  prices  which  are  above  the  ordi- 
nary top  quotations.  The  Polled  Scotch  cattle 
are  stall-fed,  and  do  not  come  under  the  same 
category  as  the  Herefords." 

THE    LONDON    METROPOLITAN    CATTLE    MARKET. 

On  Monday,  Jan.  16,  1882,  the  best  supplies 
comprised  a  fairly  conditioned  assortment;  a 
few  choice  Scots  brought  6s.  per  stone,  but  the 
more  current  topping  rates  for  first  quality 
Scots,  Devons  and  Herefords  were  5s.  8d.  to 
5s.  lOd. ;  Shorthorn,  5s.  4d.  to  5s.  6d.,  occa- 
sionally 5s.  8d.  Some  Danish  cattle  were  on 
offer,  and  ranged  from  4s.  8d.  to  5s.  4d.,  and  in 
a  few  instances  5s.  6d.  At  Deptford  there  were 
about  1,100  head,  comprising  Dutch,  French 
and  American ;  the  top  rates  for  the  two  latter 
were  about  5s.  4d.  to  5s.  6d. 

This,  in  the  language  of  American  reports, 
would  be  quoted  about  as  follows : 

Live,  Dressed, 
per  cwt.       per  Ib. 

West  Highland   Scots,    extra  choice,?            10.75  18%c 

Choice  Herefords,  Scots  and  Devons.               10.50  17%@181/ic 

Shorthorns,    extra    choice 10.00  17%c 

Choice    Shorthorns 9.50@  9.75  16V2@17c 

Danish  and  French 8.25@  9.50  14%@16^c 

Americans     9.50®  9.75  16%@17c 

It  is  said  that  the  quality  of  the  best  Amer- 
ican beef  is  such  that  when  dressed  it  is  often 
sold  as  British  raised,  and  that  it  is  impossible 


to  do  this  with  the  product  of  any  other  coun- 
try. 

HEREFORD    COW   JENNIE. 

The  Hereford  cow  Jennie,  that  won  and  took 
the  champion  prize  as  the  best  cow  at  the  Fat 
Stock  Show  in  1878,  and  won,  but  did  not  take 
it  at  the  same  show  in  1879,  was  slaughtered 
and  dressed  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  December  5, 
1879,  by  T.  M.  Lincoln  &  Co.,  of  that  place. 
We  give  below  a  letter  of  Messrs.  Lincoln  &  Co. 
to  Mr.  Imboden  (ft  261)  (one  of  the  best  judges 
developed  by  the  American  Fat  Stock  Show), 
showing  the  dressed  weight  and  their  opinion  as 
to  the  character  of  the  meat: 

Providence,  R.  I.,  Dec.  11,  1879. 
Mr.  J.  Gr.  Imboden. 

Dear  Sir :  In  answer  to  your  letter  of  Nov. 
21st,  concerning  the  Hereford  heifer,  Jennie, 
Avill  say  that  she  was  dressed  last  Friday.  The 
day  before  dressing  she  was  exhibited  in  front 
of  our  store,  and  attracted  considerable  atten- 
tion. She  dressed  a  very  pretty  color,  and  is 
very  thick,  and  mixed  beautifully.  Her  per- 
centage of  shrinkage  was  the  lightest  of  any- 
thing that  has  been  dressed  about  here. 

Her  live  weight  is  given  as  she  weighed 
the  day  she  was  dressed,  which  you  see  is  98 
pounds  less  than  her  Chicago  weight.  Live 
weight,  1,622. 

DRESSED   WEIGHT. 

Lbs.  Lbs. 

Meat     1,110  Liver    12 

Hide     92  Heart    8% 

Tallow     154  Tongue    5 

Total    1,356       Total     25V2 

Shrinkage  16.39  per  cent,  and  meat  68.44. 
The  caul,  which  weighed  37  pounds,  is  included 
in  the  154  pounds  of  tallow.  The  Aveight  of 
the  meat  in  quarters,  hinds  being  cut  with  one 
rib  on  them,  is  267  and  264  for  hinds,  and 
287  and  292  for  the  fores. 

Yours  respectfully, 

T.  M.  LINCOLN  &  Co. 

On  November  27,  1882,  the  beef  market  in 
London,  England,  was  quoted  as  follows ; 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


415 


"Cattle,  which  are  not  at  all  plentiful,  main- 
tain steady  value.  Herefords,  Scots  and  Dev- 
ons  were  quoted  at  18|  to  19^  cents  per  Ib. 
dressed;  Shorthorns  at  17f  to  18|c." 

The  "Chamber  of  Agriculture  Journal" 
(Eng.),  of  Monday,  December  4,  1882,  speak- 
ing of  the  cattle  market  in  London,  says : 

"Herefords  sold  for  18fc  to  19£c;  Shorthorns 
at  17fc  to  18|c,"  making  a  difference  of  1-Jc 
per  pound  in  favor  of  the  Herefords.  Danish 
cattle  quoted  at  17c;  Canadian  from  14^c  to 
15c;  Swedish,  14c  to  14-|c. 

HEREFORD    STEERS    DRESSED. 

We  republish  from  an  eastern  paper  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  two  Hereford  steers  which 
were  exhibited  at  the  New  York  State  Fair 
(1882),  where  they  won  first  and  second  prizes. 
They  were  purchased  and  slaughtered  by  John 
Battersby,  butcher,  of  Albany.  The  beef  of  the 
two  weighed  in  the  aggregate  3,370  pounds. 
The  beef  in  the  carcass  of  the  steer  George  was 
63  per  cent  of  live  weight,  and  of  Pierre,  69 
per  cent.  With  hide  and  tallow  the  former 
turned  out  80  per  cent,  the  latter  87  per  cent. 
The  lean  was  finely  streaked  with  fat,  and  was 
of  a  rich  texture.  The  following  was  the  result 
in  detail: 

Pierre.  George. 

Ibs.  Ibs. 

Weight  before  killing 2,310  2,575 

Beef    1,590  1,668 

Tallow    147  215 

Hide   128  141 

Liver    23  19 

Tongue   10  10 

Heart   7  8 

Total    1,905  2,074 

This  beef  was  graded  at  the  West  Albany 
market  as  first-class. — Breeders'  Journal,  1883. 

THE    FIRST    HEREFORD    RANGE    STEERS. 

Some  very  fine  distillery-fed  cattle  were  re- 
cently marketed  at  Chicago.  They  were  half- 
blood  Herefords,  originally  from  the  Wyoming 
ranch  of  Swan  Brothers ;  in  fact,  they  were  the 
first  fruits  of  the  bulls  of  that  breed  which  they 
took  out  to  the  ranch  some  three  or  four  years 
ago.  The  lot  numbered  75  head,  averaged  1,380 
pounds,  and  sold  at  $6.15  per  cwt.,  which  was  at 
least  25  cents  per  hundred  more  than  any. other 
cattle  sold  for  on  the  day  of  their  arrival.  They 
sold  to  Armour  &  Co.  (ff  262),  to  dress  at  Chi- 
cago and  be  forwarded  in  refrigerator  cars  to  a 
New  York  butcher  who  makes  a  specialty  of 
handling  the  best  grades  of  beef.  The  lot 
dressed  sixty-four  pounds  per  hundred,  an  ex- 
traordinary record,  being  about  eight  pounds 
above  the  average,  The  lot  attracted  much  at- 


tention, and  was  inspected  by  numerous  breed- 
ers of  note,  the  most  of  whom  came  for  the 
express  purpose  of  seeing  the  first  really  large 
lot  of  Herefords  that  has  been  marketed.  On 
the  same  day  and  with  the  same  lot  was  a  large 
shipment  of  ordinary  range  cattle  that  had  been 
slop-fed  the  same  length  of  time  as  the  half- 
bloods,  which  averaged  1,309  pounds  and  sold 
at  $5.75.  A  few  practical  lessons  like  that, 
showing  in  actual  figures  the  value  of  improved 
blood,  carry  more  weight  than  almost  any 
amount  of  theorizing. — Breeders'  JowmaZ,1883. 

COMPARATIVE   PRICES    IN   LONDON. 

From  the  "Farmer  and  Chamber  of  Agricul- 
ture Journal"  (England)  we  get  the  market 
reports  at  Smithfield  on  the  2d  of  June,  1884. 
There  were  in  the  Metropolitan  Cattle  Market 
on  that  day  about  2,400  beasts,  and  the  best 
Scots,  Herefords,  etc.,  were  5s.  4d.  to  5s.  6d. 
(or  16£c  to  17^c  dressed,  equal  to  $9.50  to  $10 
per  cwt.  alive)  per  eight  pounds.  The  best 
Shorthorns  were  sold  at  from  5s.  2d.  to' 5s.  4d. 
(or  16c  to  16^c  per  Ib.  dressed  and  $9  to  $9.50 
per  cwt.  alive) ;  the  second  quality  beasts, 
which  were  made  largely  from  Shorthorn  blood, 
were  selling  at  from  4s.  to  4s.  lOd.  (or  12|c  to 
15c  dressed  and  $7  to  $8.50  per  cwt.  alive). 

The  above  are  about  the  regular  comparative 
quotations  that  appear  in  the  English  jour- 
nals from  week  to  week.  The  Scots  and  Here- 
fords stand  within  the  range  of  5s.  4d.  to  5s.  6d., 
which  means  about  "$1.33  to  $1.37^  for  a  stone 
of  8  pounds  weight.  The  best  Shorthorns  stand 
at  $1.29  to  $1.33,  and  then  comes  in  a  quality 
below  the  best,  which  makes  from  $1  to  $1.20. 
Dividing  these  sums  by  eight  shows  the  price 
per  pound  of  meat,  making  no  account  of  the 


TYPICAL    SHORTHORN     BULL. 

offal.  This  second  quality  is  a  feature  that 
exists  in  all  markets  in  reference  to  the  Short- 
horn cattle,  which  brings  the  average  very 
much  below  the  Scots  and  Herefords.  The 
Scots  and  Herefords  have  that  uniform  char- 


416 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEBEFOED  CATTLE 


acter  that  is  represented  between  $1.33   and 
$1.37^. — Breeders'  Journal,   1884. 

ANOTHER  SALE  OF  RANGE  STEERS. 

The  Swans  showed  at  Union  Stock  Yards, 
Chicago,  Hereford  steers  raised  on  the  range, 
and  fed  at  their  feeding  stables  at  Omaha  dis- 
tilleries. 

A  lot  of  20  choice  two-year-old  grade  Here- 
ford steers,  averaging  1,235  pounds,  sold  at 
$6.75  to  Bailey  &  Co.,  of  Evanston.  At  the 
same  time  a  car  of  natives  of  the  same  age, 
weighing  1,116  pounds,  sold  to  Armour  &  Co., 
at  $6.10,  and  twenty-eight  tailings  sold  at  $5.75. 
They  had  sold  the  week  previous  sixteen  head 


SHORTHORN     STEER,     SCHOOLER. 
Winner  in  class  at  Chicago  and   Kansas  City,  1883-4-5. 

of  grade  Hereford  steers,  averaging  1,443 
pounds,  to  Wolfe  &  Pfaelzer,  at  $6.30.  This  lot 
dressed  64£  per  cent  of  beef. — Breeders'  Jour- 
nal, 1884.  - 

MR.  FUNKHOUSER'S  STEERS. 

James  A.  Funkhouser,  Plattsburg,  Mo.,  sold 
in  Chicago,  on  Dec.  10,  1886,  seven  yearling 
grade  Hereford  steers  at  $6.50  per  hundred. 
They  were  shipped  to  Albany.,  N".  Y.,  where 
they  were  killed,  and  from  Chicago  to  New 
York  they  only  shrunk  fourteen  pounds  per 
head. 

Weight  of  seven  steers  in  Chicago,  Dec.  10, 
1886,  9,490  pounds;  killed  by  Wiley  Bros.,  Al- 
bany, N.  Y.,  Dec.  18,  1886 : 


1  Steer  
1  Steer  
1  Steer  
1  Steer 

.Gross  Wt. 
in  Albany. 
1280  
1310  
1350  
1350 

Weight  of         Per  cent, 
beef,      net  to  gross  wt. 
835  65.23 
826  63.05 
887  65.70 
...  886  64.14 

1  Steer 

1390 

884  63.60 

1  Steer  
1  Steer  

1410  
1300  

918  65.19 
828  63.69 

Total  Weight 9390 6044. .  .average  of.. 64.36 

Weight  of  hides,  660  pounds;   weight  of  tal- 
low,  747  pounds ;  per  cent  of  profitable  weight 


(carcass,  hide  and  tallow)  to  gross  or  live 
weight,  average  79.36. 

We  wish  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that 
through  a  journey  of  836  miles  the  seven 
steers  made  a  shrinkage  of  only  100  pounds, 
or  14  pounds  each. 

It  is  a  peculiarity  of  the  Herefords  that  they 
make  less  shrinkage  than  any  other  breed  in 
traveling,  whether  by  rail  or  foot. 

Another  feature — the  average  price  for  these 
yearling  steers  at  .Chicago  was  a  fraction  under 
$84. — Breeders'  Journal,  1887. 

SOME   MAINE  STEERS. 

At  the  Xew  England  and  Eastern  Maine, 
Maine  State  and  one  local  fair,  North  Kenne- 
bec,  Messrs.  Burleigh  &  Bodwell,  Vassalbor- 
ough,  Maine,  exhibited  18  Hereford  steers  on 
which  they  were  awarded  33  premiums,  24  of 
which  were  first  prizes.  These  cattle  took  every 
first  premium  offered  for  pairs  of  fat  cattle 
•  over  two  years,  and  every  first  prize  on  matched 
cattle.  They  were  then  taken  to  Boston  and 
arranged  in  front  of  the  Quincy  House,  and 
then  arrayed  before  Faneuil  Hall  Market,  with 
their  beautiful  red  coats  and  white  faces,  their 
symmetrical  forms,  combined  with  the  rarest 
quality,  which,  added  to  their  great  weights, 
considering  age,  made  this  a  sight  of  a  life- 
time. They  were  then  slaughtered.  The  dressed 
weight  and  shrinkage  of  these  steers  were  as 
follows : 


Age. 
Description.  Yrs. 

1   Pair    5 

1   Pair    5 

1   Pair   5 

1   Pair   4 

1  Pair    4 

1  'Steer   3 

1   Steer    3 

1   Pair   3 

1   Pair    3 


Shrinkage,     Net  Wt. 


Per  cent. 
201,4 
20 
26 
20% 
23% 
19 
23 
24 
22 


Lbs. 
3356 
3253 
2683 
2829 
2781 
1403 
1451 
2457 
2341 
1942 


1   Pair   27  months      24% 

— Breeders'  Journal,  1885. 

KANSAS  CITY  FAT  STOCK  SHOW,  1885. 

Awards  were  as  follows.: 

For  best  three-year-old  carcass — Texas  Jack 
(Hereford  bull  on  Texas  cow) ;  W.  E.  Camp- 
bell, breeder,  feeder  and  exhibitor. 

For  best  two-year-old  carcass — Fred.  (Here- 
ford) ;  J.  S.  Hawes,  breeder,  feeder  and  exhib- 
itor. 

For  best  one-year-old  carcass — Kansas  (Gal- 
loway) ;  M.  R.  Platt,  breeder,  feeder  and  ex- 
hibitor. 

Sweepstakes  for  the  best  carcass  in  the  show 
—Fred  (ff  264)  (Hereford  steer) ;  J.  S.  Hawes, 
breeder,  feeder  and  exhibitor. 

These  animals  do  not  show  as  heavy  weights 
or  dress  so  large  a  per  cent  as  the  dressed  car- 
casses at  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show,  but  the 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


41 


question  may  bo  fairly  raised  as  to  whether,  for 
the  consumer,  they  may  not  be  fully  as  good. 

\Ye  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  a  cross-bred 
Hereford  and  Texan  takes  the  first  as  a  three- 
vear-old,  and  a  thoroughbred  Hereford  wins  as 
a  two-year-old,  and  also  sweepstakes  for  best 


We  think  we  may  safely  say  that  no  equal 
display  of  high-fed  and  ripe  bullocks,  prize 
sheep  and  wonderful  hogs  was  ever  made  by 
any  one  man  in  this  country,  and  those  who 
had  seen  like  exhibits  in  England  said  they  had 
never  seen  the 'quality  of  the  meat  surpassed. 


DRESSED   CARCASSES   AT    THE    KANSAS    CITY   FAT    STOCK    SHOW   FOR   1885. 


Owner. 
W     E     Campbell 

Breed. 
.  Hereford    and    Texan.. 

Name.          w 
at 
sla 
Texas  Jack  .. 

Live 

eight 
time  of 
ughter. 
1695 
,1760 
,1725 
1300 
.1715 
.1510 
.1475 
.1535 
,2090 
.1320 
.1180 

Left 
fore 
quarter. 

290 

301 
224 
288 
238 
234 
273 
380 
222 
198 

Right        Left        Right 
fore         hind         hind 
quarter,  quarter,  quarter. 

289               261%            261 
289               279               272 
300               261%            255 
210               196               203 
273               267               2S1 
223               245               231 
222               231               228 
265               245%           240 
369               314               311 
225               204%           205 
185               195               201 

Hereford  

J.  S.  Hawes  
G  S  Burleigh 

Hereford  
Hereford  

Fred    
Star     .   . 

H.  Blakesley  
W.  H.  H.  Cundiff  
E.  B.  Milieu  
J  H  Potts 

Shorthorn  
Shorthorn  
Shorthorn  

Arabella    Beauty 
Angelica    13th... 
Queen    
Hopeful 

A  B  Matthews 

.   .Galloway  

Matthews'    Pet 

M.  R.  Platt  
W.  R.  Estill  

Galloway  

Aberdeen  Angus  

Kansas    
Bloom    

carcass;  a  Galloway  taking  first  as  yearling. 
Thus  a  two-year-old  Hereford  takes  the  sweep- 
stakts  at  Kansas  City  and  Chicago  Fat  Stock 
Shows  as  the  best  dressed  carcass. 

At  the  Kansas  City  Show,  in  the  competi- 
tion between  breeds,  the  Herefords  took  only 
one  premium,  and  that  went  to  Mr.  Jas.  A. 
Funkhouser  for  Challenge,  under  one  year  old, 
by  Invincible,  by  Success.  But  on  carcasses 
tliry  took  two  out  of  three,  and  sweepstakes. 
That  is  something  like  old-time  reading. — 
J-irrt'/lrrx'  Juurn<i/,  1885. 

PR  IZ10   BKKF   AT   DETROIT. 

At  the  late  Fat  Stock  Show  (1880)  at  Chi- 
cago the  judges  decided,  we  hope,  to  the  best 
of  their  ability,  but  the  only  true  criterion  for 
beef  cattle  to  be  judged  by  is  the  butcher's 
bk>ck.  Recognizing  this  truth,  Mr.  T.  L.  Mil- 
ler, of  this  place,  wishing  to  see  his  Herefords 
slaughtered  in  competition  with  the  animals 
against  which  he  showed,  having  bought  some 
of  the  latter,  sold  three  head  of  Herefords,  and 
the  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son's  two-year-old  Shorthorn 
steer  to  Wm.  Smith  &  Son,  the  best  butchers  in 
Detroit.  Mr.  Smith  had  already  bought  the 
first  and  second  premium  Shorthorn  cows  in 
their  classes,  to  the  largest  of  which  cows  the 
able  ( ?.)  judges  also  awarded  the  champion 
prize  for  the  best  cow  in  the  show.  These  ani- 
mals with  many  others  were  all  purchased  by 
Mr.  William  Smith  to  make  his  usual  display 
of  Christmas  beef.  The  hanging  up  of  so  much 
valuable  meat,  and  particularly  the  opportunity 
which  it  afforded  of  seeing  Hereford  and  Short- 
horn beef  hung  up  side  by  side,  drew  together 
large  crowds.  Stock  breeders  were  there  from 
Canada,  Ohio,  and  Illinois,  and  even  men  from 
the  distant  Western  plains. 


In  fact,  the  display  took  all  by  storm,  and  it 
was  universally  acknowledged  by  all  who  saw 
it — and  there  were  thousands — that  it  was  im- 
possible to  make  a  better  show. 

Mr.  Smith  occupies  stall  No.  1  and  2  in 
Mansfield  Market,  Detroit.  His  Christmas  dis- 
play consisted  of  twenty-eight  head  of  prize 
beef  animals,  one  hundred  and  twenty  head  of 
prize  sheep  (quite  a  number  of  them  having 
won  honors  at  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show), 
and  prize  Suffolk  and  Essex  hogs. 

-Mr.  T.  L.  Miller's  prize  three-year-old  Here- 
ford heifer,  "Maid  of  Orleans,"  hung  in  a  con- 


SHORTHORN    STEER,     CLEVELAND, 

At   497    days.      Weight   1,290    Ibs.      Most    perfect    Shorthorn 

bullock   ever  produced   in   America.     Practically 

approximating  the  Hereford   type. 

spicuous  place,  and  was  a  center  of  attraction ; 
her  massive  form  and  deep  meat,  combined  with 
rounds  and  chine  that  could  not  be  excelled, 
drew  forth  the  praises  of  all.  The  carcasses 
of  the  two  Shorthorn  cows  that  showed  against 
the  "Maid  of  Orleans"  for  sweepstakes  at  Chi- 
cago were  quartered  and  hung  up,  so  an  exact 


418 


HIS  T  0  R  Y     0  F     II  E  K  E  F  0  Li  D     C  A  T  T  L  E 


opinion  of  their  value  as  beef  animals  could  be 
formed.  Mr.  Win.  Smith,  who,  by  the  way, 
is  one  of  the  best  judges  of  a  beef  animal, 
either  alive  or  dressed,  in  the  country,  pro- 
nounced the  meat  of  the  Shorthorn  cow  that 
took  the  sweepstakes  not  worth  within  a  cent  a 
pound  of  what  the  second  Shorthorn  cow  was, 
and  that  the  Hereford  cow  "Maid  of  Orleans" 
was  worth  a  cent  more  per  pound  than  the 
best  Shorthorn,  making  her  two  cents  per  pound 
better  than  the  cow  that  was  awarded  the  sweep- 
stakes. 

Mr.  Smith  said  the  meat  that  he  considered 
the  best  of  the  whole  exhibit  were  the  Here- 
ford carcasses,  and  that  he  could  not  ask  for 
anything  better ;  the  marbling  of  the  meat  was 
perfect,  and  that  the  following  were  the  live 
and  dressed  weights  of  three  of  the  steers : 

Per  cent 

Live  Dressed  Dressed 

Weight  Weight        to 

at  at  Live 

Detroit.  Detroit.  Weight. 

T.  L.  Miller's  two-year-old  Rob  Boy..  143(5  971          67.6 
J.  H.  Potts  &  Son's  Shorthorn  two- 
year-old 1590              1045 

G.S.  Burleigh's  yearling  Hereford..  1300  880 


C5.6 
67.6 


The  above  figures  show  that  the  Hereford 
steer  Bob  Roy  dressed  two  per  cent  to  the  hun- 
dred more  than  the  Shorthorn  steer  of  J.  H. 
Potts  &  Son.  The  quality  of  the  Hereford  steer 
carcass  could  not  be  excelled.  He  dressed  a  very 
white,  nice  color,  and  the  fat  was  distributed 


throughout  the  lean,  presenting  one  of  the  best 
samples  of  marbled  meat  that  we  ever  saw. 
Wishing  to  test  the  quality  of  meat  by  taste 
as  well  as  sight,  we  procured  some  juicy  steaks 
from  this  carcass,  for  which  Mr.  Smith  could 
not  hear  of  pay,  and  we  returned  him  our 
hearty  thanks.  These  steaks  were  cooked  at 
a  restaurant,  and  partaken  of  by  a  party  of 
stock  breeders,  who  are  well  calculated  to  judge 
of  its  qualities,  having  largely  traveled  both 
in  this  country  and  Europe.  The  unanimous 
verdict  was  "unsurpassed." — Breeders'  Jour- 
nal, 1881. 

It  was  by  the  constant  publication  in  the 
"Breeders'  Journal"  of  such  facts  as  these  that 
we  were  able  to  get  and  keep  the  Herefords  be- 
fore the  public.  We  were  among  the  first  agri- 
cultural publishers  to  send  large  numbers  of 
free  sample  copies  to  lists  of  people  we  desired 
to  interest,  and  by  this  method  we  not  only 
brought  the  "Breeders'  Journal"  to  the  notice 
of  agriculturists,  thereby  gaining  largely  in  our 
paid  subscription  list,  but  we  brought  the  Here- 
ford breed  and  its  merits  before  the  farmers 
and  ranchmen  of  America  in  a  manner  never 
before  attempted. 

We  have  been  deeply  gratified  by  the  fruits 
born  of  these  efforts,  but  confess  that  at  the 
time  they  were  made  we  were  secretly  some- 
what annoyed  that  they  were  not  fully  appre- 
ciated by  the  very  men  most  benefited. 


GRACE,    PURE-BRED  COW,   WEIGHT   1,875  LBS. 

Exhibited    at    Chicago     Fat    Stock    Show.      Fed    by    John 

Gosling. 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEBEFOBD  CATTLE 


419 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

FAIR  AND  FAT  STOCK  SHOW  REPORTS 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  FAIR 
AND  CATTLE  SHOW  IN  1841. 

The  following  is  the  record: 

Senate  Chamber,  Albany,  Jan.  11,  3  p.  M. 

Met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  H.  D.  Grove, 
Ksq.,  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  in  the  chair. 
The  committee  appointed  to  nominate  officers 
made  their  report,  which  was  read  and  ac- 
cepted, and  the  following  gentlemen  were  unan- 
imously elected  officers  of  the  Society  for  the 
ensuing  year :  Joel  B.  Knott,  of  Albany,  Presi- 
dent. A^ice-Presidents :  1st  District,  Jeromus 
Johnson,  of  Kings;  2d,  Eobert  Deniston,  of 
Orange;  3d,  Caleb  N.  Bement,  of  Albany; 
4th,  Edward  C.  Delevan,  of  Saratoga;  5th, 
Benjamin  P.  Johnson,  of  Oneida;  6th,  Lewis 
A.  Morfell,  of  Tomkins;  7th,  Willis  Gay- 
lord,  of  Onondaga;  8th,  T.  C.  Peters,  of 
Genesee.  Additional  Members  of  the  -Execu- 
tive Committee:  Alexander  Walsh,  of  Rensse- 
laer;  George  Vail,  of  Kensselaer;  Henry  D. 
Grove,  of  Eensselaer;  A.  L.  Linn,  of  Schenec- 
tady ;  John  D.  Mclntyre,  of  Albany ;  Henry  S. 
Randall,  of  Cortland,  Corresponding  Secretary ; 
Ezra  P.  Prentice,  of  Albany,  Treasurer;  Lu- 
ther Tucker,  of  Albany,  Recording  Secretary. 

On  the  third  Wednesday  in  March,  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Executive  Committee,  consisting  of 
Messrs  Knott,  Bement,  Vail,  Prentice,  Mcln- 
tyre and  Tucker,  committees  were  appointed  for 
each  county.  At  a  meeting  on  the  third  Wednes- 
day of  May,  present,  Bement,  Knott,  Prentice, 
Walsh  and  Tucker,  the  time  and  place  for  hold- 
ing the  first  Fair  was  fixed  to  be  at  Syracuse, 
Sept.  59th  and  30th,  and  the  premium  list  was 
arranged  and  published.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  New  York  State 
Agricultural  Society,  held  at  Syracuse,  Aug. 
IS.  1841,  present:  Messrs.  Knott,  Johnson  (of 
Oneida),  Gaylord,  Randall  and  Tucker,  the  fol- 
lowing Viewing  Committees  were  appointed  to 
award  the  premiums  offered  by  the  Society  at 


their  cattle  Show  and  Fair  to  be  held  at  Syra- 
cuse on  the  59th  and  30th  days  of  September: 

ON    CATTLE. 

Class  I. — Bulls  of  any  breed,  3  years  old  and  upwards — 
Henry  S.  Randall,  Cortland;  A.  B.  Allen,  Erie;  C.  N. 
Bement,  Albany;  William  Garbutt,  Monroe;  J.  D.  Mc- 
lntyre, Albany. 

Classes  II  and  III. — Bulls  of  any  breed  under  3  years  old — 
Francis  Rotch,  Otsego;  Henry  Rhoades,  Oneida;  J.  C. 
Hathaway,  Ontario;  Geo.  Vail,  Rensselaer;  George  J. 
Pumpelly,  Tioga. 

Class  IV. — Cows  of  any  breed,  3  years  old  and  upwards — 
Anthony  Van  Bergen,  Greene;  E.  P.  Prentice,  Albany; 
Thomas  Hollis,  Otsego;  Ira  Hitchcock,  Oneida;  Hiram 
Bostwick,  Chemung. 

Classes  V  and  VI. — Heifers,  any  improved  breed  under  3 
years— Lewis  F.  Allen,  Erie;  Silas  Gaylord,  Onondaga; 
Thomas  Weddle,  Monroe;  John  Gaskin,  Otsego;  Jonah 
Davis,  Chemung. 

Class  VII.— Grade  cows— Garret  Sacket.  Seneca;  C.  S. 
Button,  Wayne;  M.  Bullock,  Albany;  Thomas  Goodsell, 
Oneida;  William  Ottley,  Ontario. 

Class  VIII. — Grade  heifers — S.  W.  Brace,  Onondaga;  John 
M.  Sherwood,  Cayuga;  William  Alexander,  Otsego;  D.  D. 
Campbell,  Schenectady;  Rufus  Boies,  Cortland. 

Class  IX. — Cows,  native  breeds — Myron  Adams,  Ontario; 

Thomas  S.  Meacham,  Oswego;  Aaron  Barnes,  Oneida;  

Crane,  Herkimer;  Tyler  Fountain,  Westchester. 

To  Breeders — F.  Rotch,  Esq.,  having  given 
the  Society  $30,  for  that  purpose,  premiums 
will  be  awarded  to  breeders  as  follows:  To 
the  breeder  of  the  best  thoroughbred  bull, 
$10;  to  the  breeder  of  the  best  thoroughbred 
cow,  $10;  to  the  breeder  of  the  best  thorough- 
bred heifer,  $10. 

FOR   WORKING   OXEN. 

William  Gaylord,  Esq.,  having  contributed 
$20  for  that  purpose,  a  premium  will  be  given 
for  the  best  yoke  of  working  oxen,  $12 ;  for  the 
second  best  yoke  of  working  oxen,  $8.  In  award- 
ing this  premium,  particular  reference  will  be 
had  to  the  close  matching,  excellent  training 
and  docility  of  the  animals,  as  well  as  to  their 
general  good  appearance.  Committee:  Abel 
Baldwin,  David  Bundy,  and  Dan  Hibbard. 

Fat  Cattle — Mr.  Rust  offers  a  sweepstakes, 
twenty  dollars  entry,  for  the  best  yoke  of  fat 
cattle.  Committee:  B.  P.  Johnson,  B.  D. 
Noxon,  and  M.  D.  Burnett. 

A  plowing  match,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Onondaga  County  Agricultural  Society,  will 
take  place  immediately  after  the  trial  of  plows, 
on  the  second  day  of  the  Fair. 


420 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


I.  M.  FORBES, 
Henry,  111. 


The  first  Agricultural  Fair  was  held  at  Syra- 
cuse, on  the  29th  of  September  (29-30),  1841. 
About  1,200  sat  down  to  dinner  at  the  Syracuse 
House.  An  address  was  delivered  by  the  Hon. 
Micah  Sterling,  followed  by  L.  F.  Allen  and 
others. 

The  following  are  the  awards  given  at  this 
show : 

CATTLE. 

Class  I — Bulls — 3  Years  Old  and  Over. 
To  J.   M.   Sherwood,   Auburn,    for    his    bull 

Archer,  bred 
by  F.  Rotch, 
Butternuts,  1st 
prize. 

To  E.  P.  Prentice, 
Albany,  for 
his  bull  Nero, 
bred  by  him- 
self, 2d  prize. 
To  C.  N.  Bement, 
Albany,  for 
his  bull  Asto- 
ria, bred  by 
himself,  3d 
prize. 

To     Silas     G  a  y  - 
lord,     Skanea- 
teles,  for  his  bull  Splendid,  4th  prize. 

"There  were  several  others  animals  (in  this 
class)  on  the  ground,  possessing,  in  the  esti- 
mation of  your  committee,  high  grades  of  excel- 
lence, and  they  only  regret  that  the  premiums 
were  not  more  numerous.  Among  these  your 
committee  particularly  noticed  the  animals  of 
Mr.  Mclntyre,  Mr.  Van  Bergen,  Mr.  Fonda, 
and  Mr.  Sears." — Report  of  the  Committee. 

Class  II— Bulls— 2  Years  Old.    . 

To  John  Johnston,  Fayette,  Seneca  Co.,  for  his 

bull  Royal  William,  bred  by  G.  V.  Sacket, 

Seneca  Falls,  1st  prize. 
To  Thomas  A.  Clark,  Chittenango,  for  his  bull 

Young  Warden,  bred  by  Thomas  Hollis, 

Gilbertsville,  2d  prize. 
To  D.  D.  Campbell,  Schenectady,  for  his  bull 

Rotterdam,  bred  by  himself,  3d  prize. 
To  Nicholas  Garner,  Burlington,  for  his  bull 

,  bred  by  himself,  4th  prize. 

Class  III— Bulls— 1  Year  Old. 

To  Moses  Kinney,  Cortlandville,  for  his  bull 
Daniel  Webster,  bred  by  G.  V.  Sacket,  Sen- 
eca Falls,  1st  prize. 

To  Enoch  Marks,  Navarino,  for  his  bull  Brutus, 
2d  prize. 

To  Benjamin  Stoker,  Cortland  Co.,  for  his  bull 
— »— ,  3d  prize. 


To  Joseph  Baker,  Onondaga  Co.,  for  his  bull 

— ,  4th  prize. 

"Your  committee  beg  leave  to  express  their 
regret  that  though  the  exhibition  in  Classes 
II  and  III  were  very  numerous,  yet  but  few  of 
the  animals  were  in  what  they  considered  com- 
mon store  order,  which  rendered  the  effect  of 
comparison  with  such  as  were  high  fed  very 
difficult." — Report  of  Committee. 

Class  IV— Cows. 

To  John  M.   Sherwood,  Auburn,  for  his  cow 
Stella,  bred  by  F.  Rotch,  five  years  old,  1st 
prize. 
To  Ezra  Prentice,  Albany,  for  his  cow  Daisy, 

3  years  old,  bred  by  himself,  2d  prize. 
To  John  M.   Sherwood,  Auburn,  for  his  cow 

Daisy,  12  years  old,  3d  prize. 
To  John  M.   Sherwood,  Auburn,  for  his  cow 
Pansy,  5  years  old,  bred  by  F.  Rotch,  4th 
prize. 

To  Corning  &  Sotham,  Albany,  for  their  Here- 
ford cow  Matchless,  imported,  an  extra 
prize,  equal  to  the  highest  premium 
awarded  on  cattle. 

"Your  committee  further  report  that  a  new 
and  beautiful  race  of  cattle  were  presented  for 
their  examination,  the  Herefords,  imported  by 
a  distinguished  breeder  of  cattle,  residing  in 
Albany  County,  which  they  take  pleasure  in 
recommending  to  the  attention  of  those  who 
desire  to  improve  their  stock.  Your  commit- 
tee recommend  a  special  premium  of  twenty 
dollars  for  the  Hereford  cow  Matchless,  as  we 
consider  her  a  very  superior  animal,  and  they 
would  also  suggest  the  propriety  of  offering  and 
awarding  premiums  for  the  best  blooded  ani- 
mals of  each  individual  breed — improved  Short- 
horned  Durhams,  Herefords,  and  Devons,  at 
their  next  Agricultural  Meeting,  in  addition  to 
the  premiums  offered  for  the  best  animals  of 
any  breed." — Report  of  Committee. 

Class  V— Two- Year-Old  Heifers. 

To  John  M.  Sherwood,  Auburn,  for  his  heifer 
Sylvia,  bred  by  F.  Rotch,  1st  prize. 

To  E.  P.  Prentice,  Albany,  for  his  heifer  Diana, 
bred  by  himself,  2d  prize. 

To  Corning  &  Sotham,  Albany,  for  their  Short- 
horn and  Hereford  heifer  Eliza,  imported, 
3d  prize. 

Class  VI — Yearling  Heifers. 

To  Ezra  P.  Prentice,  Albany,  for  his  yearling 
calf  Charlotte,  bred  by  himself,  1st  prize. 

To  John  M.  Sherwood,  Auburn,  for  his  year- 
ling calf  Norna,  bred  by  H.  S.  Randall, 
Cortlandville,  2d  prize. 

To  John  M.  Sherwood,  Auburn,  for  his  yearling 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


421 


heifer  Dianthe,  bred  by  J.  Alexander,  Bur- 
lington, 2d  prize. 
To  William  Fuller,  Skaneateles,  for  his  heifer 

calf  -  —,  bred  by  himself,  4th  prize. 
"All  the  animals  on  which  the  above  prizes 
were  awarded,  with  the  exception  of  the  Here- 
ford cow  and  the  Shorthorn  and  Hereford 
heifer  of  Messrs.  Corning  &  Sotham,  were  thor- 
oughbred Shorthorns." — Report  of  Committee. 

Class  VII — Grade  Cows. 

To  Win.  Ward,  Camillus,  for  his  eight-year-old 

half-blood  Holderness  cow,  1st  prize. 
To  W.  H.  Sotham,  Perch  Lake  Farm,  for  his 

half-blood  Durham  cow  No.  1,  2d  prize. 
To  W.  H.  Sotham,  Perch  Lake  Farm,  for  his 

half-blood  Durham  cow  No.  2,  3d  prize. 
To  W.  H.  Sotham,  Perch  Lake  Farm,  for  his 

half-blood  Devonshire  cow,  4th  prize. 
"The  best  grade  cow  which  came  under  our 
observation  belonged  to  G.  V.  Sacket,  of  Sen- 
eca Falls,  but  he,  being  one  of  the  committee, 
generously  witbdrew  her  from  competition." — 
h'cport  of  Committee. 

Class  VIII— Grade  Heifers. 

To  H.  S.  Randall,  Cortlandville,  for  his  roan 

heifer,  bred  by  himself,  1st  prize. 
To  G.  V.  Sacket,  Seneca  Falls,  for  his  red  and 

wbite  heifer,  bred  by  himself,  2d  prize. 
To  G.  V.   Sacket,  Seneca  Falls,  for  his  roan 

heifer,  bred  by  himself,  3d  prize. 
To  H.   S.  Randall,  Cortlandville,  for  his  red 

and   white  heifer,  bred    by    himself,  4th 

prize. 

Class  IX — Native  Cows. 
"The  Committee  on  Native  Cows  would  re- 
port that  very  few  cows,  and  those  of  inferior 
quality,  were  to  be  found  in  the  pens ;  and  they 
probably  not  intended  for  exhibition.  They  re- 
gret that  the  farmers  in  this  vicinity  should 
have  refrained  from  taking  advantage  of  the 
very  liberal  encouragement  offered  by  this  So- 
ciety, by  the  false  impression  that  cows  were 
going  to  be  brought  from  a  distance  which 
would  have  eclipsed  the  cows  of  this  neighbor- 
hood. We  are  unwilling  to  believe  that  there 
are  not  cows  in  this  village  and  vicinity  that 
would  have  honored  the  exhibition  and  made 
a  credit  to  the  State.  They  regret  that  a  mat- 
ter so  important  as  the  improvement  of  our 
native  cows  does  not  excite  more  attention. 
Such  cows  must,  of  necessity,  be  the  ground- 
work of  much  of  the  improvement  in  cattle.  If 
a  farmer  has  a  cow  possessing  some  excellent 
qualities,  he  is  prepared  to  improve  in  any  de- 
sirable point.  The  general  dissemination  of 
high-blood  animals  renders  such  crossings  easy 


and  cheap,  and  it  is  a  matter  yet  at  issue 
whether  such  crosses  will  not  make  the  most 
desirable  animals  for  the  common  farmer.  We 
want  the  best  native  cows  for  such  crosses,  and 
the  committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  Ex- 
ecutive Committee  of  the  State  Society  are  hold- 
ing out  liberal  encouragement  for  active  com- 
petition in  the  matter  of  improving  our  native 
cattle.  In  conclusion  we  would  add  that  we 
hope  that  no  future  committee  will  be  under 
the  necessity  of  reporting  'no  competition/  but 
let  the  farmer,  the  lawyer,  the  merchant,  and 
mechanic  bring  forward  their  best  cows,  and 
render  it  a  matter  of  nice  discrimination  to 
decide  between  them." — Report  of  Committee. 

WORKING  OXEN. 

To  Caleb  Gasper,  Marcellus,  1st  prize. 

To  Samuel  Allen,  Jr.,  New  Haven,  2d  prize. 

FAT   CATTLE. 

To  P.  N".  Rust,  Syracuse,  for  the  best  yoke  of 
fat  oxen,  one  of  which  was  bred  by  G.  V. 
Sacket,  1st  prize. 

BULL  CALVES. 

To  Ezra  P.  Prentice,  Albany,  for  his  thorougb- 
bred  improved  Durham  bull  calf  Homer,  6 
months  old,  bred  by  himself,  1st  prize. 

To  Samuel  Phelps,  Ira,  for  his  grade  Devon- 
shire, 3d  prize. 

TO   BREEDERS.' 

To  Francis  Rotch,  Butternuts,  as  the  breeder 

of  the  best  bull,  prize. 
To  the  same,  as  the 

breeder  of  the 

best  cow,  prize. 
To  the  same,  as  the 

breeder  of  the 

best  2-year-old 

heifer,  prize. 
"The  premium  to 
breeders  having 
been  offered  by  Mr. 
Rotch,  he  declined 
receiving  more  than 
a  certificate  of  the 
award,  leaving  the 
money  ($30)  with 
the  Society  to  be  of- 
fered in  premiums 
for  the  same  pur- 
pose next  year." — Report  of  Committee. 

The  foregoing  we  copy  from  the  New  York 
State  Agricultural  Report,  1841.  We  call  at- 
tention to  the  extracts  from  the  report  of  com- 
mittees. This  system  should  be  enlarged  and 
revised  in  present-day  shows.  Judges  should 
be  obliged  to  give  written  reasons  for  awards. 


c.  FORBES, 

Henry,  111. 


422 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFOBD     CATTLE 


It  will  be  noticed  that  all  thoroughbreds 
showed  in  the  competitions;  that  the  commit- 
tee made  the  recommendation  that  classes 
should  be  made  for  each  breed ;  that  they  would 
not  allow  the  Hereford  to  compete,  but  rec- 
ommended a  special  premium  to  the  Hereford 


ROYAL    GROVE     (9137)     21500. 

Bred   by   P.    Turner,    Herefordshire.     Sensational   bull,   ex- 
hibited  at   Chicago  Fat   Stock   Show,   1875. 

cow  Matchless,  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Corning 
&  Sotham;  and  in  looking  over  the  names  of 
the  officers  of  the  Society  and  the  names  of 
exhibitors,  that  they  are  in  many  instances  the 
same;  among  them,  Mr.  H.  S.  Randall,  who 
took  so  prominent  a  position  in  opposition  to 
Mr.  Sotham  and  the  Herefords. 

We  are  not  disposed  to  charge- fraud  on  these 
managers,  but  we  have  the  right  to  .show,  as 
we  have  done  in  the  Sotham-Randall  contro- 
versy and  the  Youatt-Berry  History  of  British 
Cattle,  that  these  parties  were  in  the  interest 
of  Shorthorns,  and  if  Randall,  Prentice,  Allen, 
etc.,  as  Shorthorn  men,  took  the  control  of  the 
New  York  State  Fair,  they  would,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  give  the  preference  to  that  breed  of 
cattle. 

This  was  manifest  in  the  Rust  ox,  which  took 
the  first  premium  as  best  fat  ox.  While  they 
gave  him  the  premium,  they  claimed  him  as 
a  Shorthorn,  and  gave  that  breed  the  credit, 
whereas  he  undoubtedly  owed  what  quality  he 
had  to  the  Hereford. 

THE   ILLINOIS     STATE     BOARD    OF     AGRICULTURE 
RECORD. 

From  the  published  records  of  the  Board, 
we  have  taken  pains  to  get  together  the  names 
of  the  important  officers  and  of  the  judges  on 
Herds  and  Sweepstakes  in  the  cattle  depart- 
ments. Leaving  nothing  to  memory,  we  sub- 
mit here  the  names  of  these  judges  and  their 
residences  so  far  as  the  reports  of  the  society 
give  them.  It  will  be  remembered  that  these 


judges  passed  upon  the  merits  of  cattle  of  dif- 
ferent breeds,  competing  against  each  other. 
In  1872  John  P.  Reynolds  was  superintendent, 
and  the  Judges  on  Herds  were  as  follows : 
John  M.  Milliken,  Ohio;  John  H.  Bacon,  Iowa; 
M.  Smith,  McLean  Co.,  111.;  J.  Reecft,  Warren 
Co.,  111.;  W.  H.  Russell,  Marion  Co.,  111. 
Judges  on  Herds  got  by  one  Bull :  J.  R.  Miller, 
Caseyville,  111.;  John  Kelly,  Heyworth,  111.; 
John  H.  Potts,  Jacksonville,  111.;  J.  W.  Hop- 
kins, Granville,  111. ;  J.  F.  Coe,  Sterling,  111. 

1873:  John  P.  Reynolds,  President;  Emory 
Cobb,  W.  H.  Russell,  Superintendents.  Judges 
on  Herds:  G.  Barnes,  Canton;  D.  Rankin, 
Biggsville;  J.  C.  Mosier,  Kankakee;  H.  C. 
Reed,  Princeton;  E.  F.  Smith,  Morning  SUE, 
la.  Judges  on  Herds  from  one  Bull:  M.  W. 
Robinson,  Des  Moines,  la. ;  W.  W.  Parish,  Mo- 
mence;  J.  R.  Skelton,  Skelton;  Jos.  Kelso, 
Tazewell  Co.;  H.  J.  France,  Woodford  Co. 

1874:  John  P.  Reynolds,  President;  Emory 
Cobb  and  W.  H.  Russell,  Superintendents. 
Names  of  Judges  not  given. 

1875:  D.  B.  Gillham,  President;  W.  J. 
Neely,  Superintendent.  Herds — Judges :  P.  A. 
Coen,  Washburn;  A.  Kershaw,  Wayne;  W. 
Noel,  Paxton;  M.  Sumner,  Warren;  W.  Ful- 
ler, Clinton. 

Herds  from  one  Bull — Judges:  Hugh  N. 
Cross,  Jersey ville;  J.  H.  Potts,  Jacksonville; 
H.  Burruss,  Carrollton;  H.  K.  Parr,  Seneca; 
W.  Noel,  Paxton.  Sweepstakes — Judges:  J. 
S.  Overholt,  Streator;  C.  L.  Hostetter,  Mt. 
Carroll;  J.  Barnes,  Ottawa,  111.;  C.  R.  Wood, 
Yorkville ;  W.  H.  H.  Holdridge,  Tonica. 

1876:  D.  B.  Gillham,  President;  W.  J. 
Neely,  Superintendent;  J.  W.  Judy,  Marshal. 
Herds  from  one  Bull — Judges:  J.  D.  Van 
Doven,  Fisks  Corner,  Wis. ;  J.  H.  Spear,  Tal- 
lula;  H.  E.  Williams,  Dixon;  A.  Herford, 
Perona;  J.  W.  Hundey,  Champaign.  Herds — 
Judges:  James  Mix,  Kankakee,  111.;  J.  R. 
Shaver,  Ottawa ;  J.  Brown,  Galena ;  J.  L. 
Moore,  Polo;  H.  M.  Winslow,  Kankakee. 

1877  at  Freeport:  D.  B.  Gillham,  President; 
Samuel  Dysart,  Superintendent,  J.  W.  Judy, 
Marshal.  " Herds — Judges:  S.  Riegle,  D.  C. 
May,  A.  Jeffry,  N.  Hawks,  A.  J.  Wilbeck.  Herd 
from  one  Bull — Judges:  Edward  Isett,  W. 
Stocking,  Simon  Sheaf,  J.  M.  Swancy,  F.  T. 
Seward.  Judges  of  Sweepstakes:  W.  Rathje, 
John  Gosling,  Lewis  Steward,  W.  Moffatt,  C. 
D.  Hart. 

1878:  Judges  on  Herds:  D.  Gore,  Carlin- 
ville;  Thomas  Murray,  Polo;  Simon  Sheaf; 
W.  W.  Riggs,  Riggston.  Judges  Herds  from 
one  Bull :  E.  H.  Stewart,  Marengo ;  T.  C.  Ster- 
rett,  Warrensburg;  H.  Tennison;  W.  Vorhies, 


9>  K 


*  as 

2,8 


§2 

x  K 


§•2 

3  X 


HIS  T  0  K  Y     0  F     R  E  K  K  F  0  R  I)     C  A  T  T  L  E 


Vorhies;  T.  W.  Shelton.  Judges  Breeders' 
Young  Herd :  L.  W.  Sheldon,  Union ;  W.  Vor- 
hies, Vorhies;  T.  C.  Sterrett,  Warrensburg ; 
H.  Tennison,  White  Hall.  Judges  Sweepstakes: 
George  Reed,  Belvidere;  David  Shaff,  Hol- 
eomb;  J.  E.  Cronk,  Belvidere;  Win.  Stocking, 
Kochelle;  Chas.  M.  Saxby,  Freeport. 

It  will  be  found,  after  careful  examination, 
that  a  large  majority  of  these  judges  were  in 
the  interest  of  the  Shorthorn  breed  of  cattle. 
It  was  claimed  that  it  was  difficult  to  get  judges 
that  were  not  interested  and  partial  to  special 
breeds  or  interests;  and,  admitting  this,  we 
then  urged  the  necessity  of  slaughtering,  to  test 
the  award,  and  to  our  insistence  on  disinterested 
and  impartial  judging  by  men  not  interested 
in  any  breed  can  be  traced  the  incipiency  of  the 
Fat  Stock  Show  in  America. 

We  hoped  that  "breed  prejudice  might  disap- 
pear when  competition  was  limited  to  steer  and 
fat  cattle  destined  for  slaughter,  and  that  at  a 
Fat  Stock  Show,  "individual  merit  and  prime 
qualities  of  meat"  might  be  discussed,  weighed 
and  fairly  judged.  We  hailed,  therefore,  the 
advent  of  the  American  Fat  Stock  Show  with 
comfort,  even  though  we  knew  it  must  be  con- 


ducted under  the  same  Illinois  Board.  We 
were  destined  to  learn,  however,  that  country 
butchers  selected  by  Shorthorn  breeders  and 
their  friends  were  liable  to  be,  as  we  have  felt, 
too  loyal  to  the  appointing  power;  nevertheless, 
to  the  establishment  of  the  Fat  Stock  Show 
may  be  ascribed  the  commencement  of  Hereford 
supremacy. 

In  1875  we  appealed  to  the  Illinois  State 
Board  of  Agriculture  for  equal  and  even- 
handed  justice  at  their  hands.  We  were  told 
"you  are  doing  well;  you  are  making  head- 
way as  fast  as  you  ought  to  expect;  time  will 
cure  all  your  complaints."  We  replied  by  giv- 
ing figures  to  show  that  the  Herefords  had  a  rec- 
ord that  entitled  them  to  an  even  classification 
and  that  we  had  a  right  to  claim  that  the  State 
Board  of  Illinois  should  not  discriminate 
against  them,  but  promised  that,  with  or  With- 
out the  aid  of  this  Board,  the  Hereford  should 
go  to  the  front.  We  said  then,  "They  are  reach- 
ing it;  they  will  attain  it;  they  will  hold  it." 
To  prove  to  the  Board  that  our  claim  to  equal 
recognition  of  the  Herefords  with  the  Short- 
horns was  well  founded,  we  prepared  and  pre- 
sented to  the  Board  the  accompanying  table,: 


GRADE    STEER   "REGULUS,"    AT   3   YEARS,    WEIGHT   2,345   LBS. 

Champion  over  all  breeds,  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show,  1885.     Bred  and  exhibited  by  Fowler  &  Van  Natta, 

Fowler,    Ind. 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


425 


Tabular  Statement,  Showing  the  Number  of  Prizes  and  Amoun-t  of  Money  won  by  each  Breed 
0f  Cattle,  during  the  period  that  all  Breeds  competed  together,  from  the  year  1799 
up  to  1851 ;  after  1851  the  Classification  of  Breeds  took  place.  Excepting  the  years  1799, 
1801,  1802,  1804,  and  1806 ;  the  records  being  incomplete  are  omitted  in  all  Breeds. 


SHORT-H'NS.  HEREF'DS.          DEVONS.          L'G-HORNS.      SUSSEX.          SCOTCH,  etc.  CROSS-BR'D. 

OO  OO                OOOOOO                OO  OO 

X                 o  x                 o                  x                 o                 x                                 ^                ^                  x                o  w                 o 

ft<J                                                jJtfD^I^^toifDil  4 

H  >-t                                                         !-(                                                                                    rn                                                    r«                             M  i-<                           "^ 


2O2IO       2JO2O2O2OZO2O 


179!)    .  . 

p 

0 

—  j 

3 

re 

B 

uineas  

p 
a 

n 
jj 

uineas  

uineas  
o.  of  Prizes.  . 

p 

0 
—  1 

^ 
N' 
a 

uineas  

p 

0 

u 

N 

A 

g    °  g    a  I  a  I  a  I  a  | 

Oi           +Q        CD           I^OlhgWh^WI-gai 

•        "*              2.     •       2.     •       2.     •       2     • 

<r>!           &.9«M*9< 
I           OT                    K.         «••••. 

o.  of  Prizes.  . 
uineas  
o.  of  Prizes.  . 

S    a  S    g,  S 
P    "•  p    "•  p 

01             M        »           M        S 

•         2.     •        "*     • 

'.               N          I              N          I 

'        oi     ;       ui     '. 

1800    

4  52 

1      8      1    10      2      20 

1801 

1802    !                '            

1803   

1 

15 

4  80 

2 

25      1      10    

1804   

1805    

2  40 

1 

10 

1 

10       .     .         ... 

1      10    .. 

1      10 

1806    

1807    

2  30 
3  40 
2  40 
3  50 
1  10 
2  -40 
2  40 
2  45 
4  90 
2  40 
1  25 
3  50 
2  40 
4  55 
3  45 
2  '  25 
4  55 
1  15 
2  25 
3  45 
3  45 
4  £65 
4  45 
3  30 
4  50 
4  55 
5  55 
3  30 
5  60 
3  45 
6  95 
5  85 
8  100 
5  50 
6  100 
7  100 
6  70 
8  95 
5  65 
8  120 
2  30 
4  85 
5  50 
5  65 
9  140 

21  there 

1      10    . 
1      10 

1      20 

1MIS     . 

1 

10 

2 
2 
2 
1 
1 

40                                                   1    20     . 

1809   

30            .          1    20     

1      10 

1810    

1 

1 

20 
20 

1 

10 

30     1    20     

1811   

20       1    20     

1      10 

1812   

1 

10 

20     1    20     

1      10    .. 

1813 

1 
2 
1 

1 

20 
40 
20 
20 

1 

1 

10 
10 

1    20     .... 

1      10 

1814  

.     ...      2    45     ..     ..       1    20     

1      10    .. 

18ir,    

1 

1 

10 
10 

1 
1 

20     1    20     .  .     .  .       1    20     

1      10    .. 

1816  

20                     1    20     

2      35     .. 
1      25     .. 

1      25 

1817    

1818 

2      35 

1819 

1 
3 

25 
60 

1 

10            

2      25 

1820 

1 

10 

1      10 

*1821     .       .    . 

1      25 

1822   .. 

1 
1 
1 

10 
10 
15 

1 

15       

1      10 

1823 

1 
2 
3 

2 
1 
1 
2 
3 
3 
1 
2 
3 
2 
1 
1 
1 
2 
3 
5 
3 
3 
3 
2 
1 
g 
6 
1 
8 
1 

20 
40 
50 
80 
20 
£10 
40 
55 
40 
20 
35 
50 
30 
20 
15 
10 
35 
70 
45 
45 
60 
60 
25 
15 
86 
70 
85 
80 
15 

BRE1 

2      30     .. 

1      15 

1824   

'i 

'io 

1 

10            

1826 

1      10     . 

1      10 

1      15 

1826 

1 

15 

1    10     

1827 

1       10 
1    £10 
1      10 
1      10 
2      25 
2      15 
3      25 
2      30 
2      30 
3      35 
4      40 
2      30 
3      35 
3      45 
4      50 
4      45 
7      80 
6      75 
4      40 
7      85' 
3      35 
4      70 

6     sr, 

7      95 
6      75 

*  In   18 

^ns. 

1      10     .. 

1    £10 

1      10 

1828   .. 

1 
1 

1    £15 

1829       

£15 
15 

1830  

1       5    .. 

1831   

1832 

1      10 

1833   

1834 

1835   .. 

1836 

1      10 

1837 

1 
1 

10 

1        5 

1838   

1 

5 

15      i        5    

.  .     Sp    .  . 

1839  

1    20    

..    Cs    .. 

1840     . 

1      5    . 

2      20    .. 
4      30 

2    £15 

1841     . 

1842     . 

1 

10 

1      5     

2      20     .. 

1    £20 

1843 

2 

25            

1844     . 

1 
2 

5 
25 

isir, 

4 
1 
5 
3 
5 
9 

65      1      15     

1846  . 

10            

1      10     . 
1      10     .. 
1      10 

1      10 

1847   

1 
3 

5 
25 

45     1    15     
40            

1      15      2      30 

1848   

isr.i    

60      1      10     

1      10     .. 

1850  

50     

1      10     .. 

1851 

3 
is  a  Prize 

40            .         .       .  .            

1      10     .. 
recorded, 
or  Heifers. 

£    s    d 
231    0    0 
1132  15    0 
40  10    0 

"36  '6    6 
63  18    0 
101  10    0 

1      20 

Totals. 
No.  of 
Prizes.          £    s    d 
207           2989    2    0 
174           2532    0    0 
48            663    0    0 
43             50015    0 
12             214  10    0 
10             153    3    0 
14             209  15    0 

Herefords    .  .  . 

of  £10  adjudged  to  a  Cow,  but  no  breed 

Oxen   or  Steers.           Cows 
No.  of                            No.  of 
Prizes.       £    s    d        Prizes. 
185            2758    20           22 

Short-horns   . 

82            1399    59           92 

nevons 

.      44             662  10    0             4 

Scotch    

.     .     .       .          43             500  15    0 

Sussex   or   Kent 
Lonsj-horus    .... 

9             178  10    0             3 

4               89    5    0             6 

Cross-breeds 

8             108    5    0             6 

426 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


We  expressly  called  the  attention  of  the  Board 
to  the  following  table  as  proving  the  standing 
of  the  Herefords  at  Smithfield  from  the  time 
Youatt's  dishonest  history  appeared  till  Short- 
horn control  abolished  the  competition  between 
breeds. 

Winnings  before  the  Smithfield  Club  from 
date  of  Youatt's  history  to  1851 : 


Year. 
1836  

No.  Of 
Prizes 
Herefor 
Breed. 

.  3 

Guin- 
d  eas. 

45 
95 
85 
100 
50 
100 
100 
70 
95 
65 
120 
30 
85 
50 
65 
140 

No.  of 
Dol-   Prizes  Guin- 
lars.  Shorth'ii  eas. 
Breed. 

225     1     20 
475     1     15 
425     1     10 
500     2     35 
250     3     70 
500     5     45 
500     3     45 
350     3     60 
475     3     60 
325     2     25 
600     1     15 
150     3     65 
425     6     70 
250     4     85 
325     6     80 
700     1     15 

Dol- 
lars. 

100 
75 
50 
175 
350 
225 
225 
300 
300 
125 
75 
325 
350 
425 
400 
75 

1837  

6 

1838  

5 

1839  

8 

1840  

5 

1841  

6 

1842  

7 

1843  

6 

1844  

8 

1845  

5 

1846  

8 

1847  

2 

1848  

4 

1849  

5 

1850  

5 

1851    .... 

9 

16   ys. 


92        1295 


6475 


45 


715 


3575 


Every  cattle  superintendent  at  the  Illinois 
State  Fairs  from  1871  to  1874,  inclusive,  except 
Mr.  Reynolds,  was  a  Shorthorn  breeder  at  the 
time  of  holding  the  position.  At  Peoria  in  1874 
there  was  a  vacancy  in  the  Committee  of  Judges 
on  Herds,  all  breeds  showing,  when  an  outside 
man  was  called  in.  This  man  was  the  only  one 
that  examined  the  Hereford  herd,  and  he 
said  afterward  that  the  other  members  of 
the  Committee  would  not  look  at  the 
Herefords.  At  Ottawa,  in  1876,  the  Here- 
ford exhibitors  made  a  special  appeal  to_ 
the  president,  D.  B.  Gillham,  to  the  superintend- 
ent, and  other  members  of  the  Board,  that  the 
judges  on  herds  be  selected  from  men  that  were 
not  Shorthorn  breeders — men  that  should  be 
impartial  in  their  judging.  The  superintend- 
ent was  active  to  get  such  a  committee,  and 
secured  the  assistance  of  the  marshal  of  the 
ring  (both  Shorthorn  breeders)  in  making  the 
selection.  They  said  to  the  Hereford  exhibitors 
that  they  had  taken  special  pains  to  get  an  im- 
partial committee  and  that  they  had  found  a 
referee  from  the  central  part  of  the  state. 

Who?    Why, ,  the  noted  Shorthorn 

breeder,  to  pass  upon  the  merits  of  the  Short- 
horns and  Herefords.  There  were  probably  no 
men  in  the  state  of  Illinois  more  unsuited  to 
occupy  the  place  of  a  judge,  or  to  select  impar- 
tial judges  when  the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns 
came  into  competition.  The  referee  was  the 
head  of  the  Shorthorn  interest  in  Illinois;  the 
marshal  was  the  hand;  the  superintendent  in 


his  fealty  to  the  Shorthorns,  was  all  the  Short- 
horn men  could  desire  in  managing  the  Cattle 
Department  to  secure  them  in  their  position. 

Now,  if  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture intended  to  be  impartial,  we  submit  that 
it  was  not  in  good  taste  to  place  Shorthorn 
breeders  in  absolute  charge  of  the  cattle  de- 
partment, and  that  they  ought  to  have  known 
that  Shorthorn  breeders  alone  were  not  compe- 
tent to  act  as  judges  when  Shorthorns  competed 
with  other  breeds.  Men  who  have  been  men- 
tioned advocated  special  legislation  in  the  board 
in  favor  of  Shorthorns  and  against  all  others; 
while  the  Illinois  State  Board  so  organized 
their  committees  that  control  of  the  awards — at 
least  a  majority  of  them — was  in  the  hands  of 
Shorthorn  breeders. 

The  Herefords  were,  therefore,  forced  to  ap- 
peal from  prejudiced  societies,  run  by  self- 
seekers,  to  that  higher  tribunal,  the  public.  In 
voicing  this  appeal  to  the  public,  we  became  the 
target  for  ridicule.  When  we  voiced  the  com- 
plaint of  the  Hereford  men  to  the  Agricultural 
Societies,  we  were  called  a  "chronic  kieker," 
and  "anything  to  beat  Miller"  became  an  axiom 
of  the  opposition.  When  we  saw  certain  con- 
temporary Hereford  breeders  using  this  "any- 
thing to  beat  Miller"  crusade,  to  further  their 
own  immediate  ends,  we  abandoned  the  show 
ring  and  worked  the  more  zealously  through  our 
"Breeders'  Journal." 

Not  being  able  to  prevent  the  publication  of 
the  "Breeders'  Journal,"  our  opponents  at- 
tempted to  lessen 
its  influence  b  y 
calling  it  a  "trade 
circular"  and  heap- 
ing abuse  upon  its 
editor,  and  by  sub- 
tly currying  favor 
with  other  Here- 
ford breeders  in  an 
attempt  to  have  our 
work  discredited  in 
the  Hereford  camp. 
But  they  were  un- 
successful, for  al- 
though some  so- 
called  Hereford 
breeders  allowed 
their  temporary  sel- 
fish interests  to  be- 
little them  into  a 

jealousy,  for  what  they  conceived  to  be  their 
own  position  as  Hereford  men,  the  great  and 
overwhelming  majority  have  ever  conceded  us 
that  recognition  that  has  so  gratified  us, 


j.  j.  HILL, 

St.  Paul,  Minn.    Celebrated  rail- 
way   magnate    and    lover    of 
fine  stock. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


427 


No  honest,  earnest,  inspiring  advocate  of  a 
cause  can  hope  to  present  its  merits  without 
encountering  opposition;  an  intelligent  advo- 
cate will  expect  opposition.  Honest  opposition, 
from  those  representing  a  conflicting  interest,  is 
commendable;  but  underhanded  opposition 
from  within  one's  own  camp  is  treason,  despic- 
able treason,  that  will  be  found  born  of  jealousy. 
We  would  caution  future  generations  of  Here- 
ford breeders  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  such 
contemptible  evil.  If  there  spring  up  Hereford 


new  superintendent  entered  upon  his  duties 
here  with  the  determination  to  give  to  all  ex- 
hibitors a  fair  show,  and  selected  committees 
with  this  in  view.  We  were  enabled  to  take 
on  herds  open  to  all  breeds,  the  second  premium 
for  the  best  bull  and  five  cows;  and  first  pre- 
mium for  the  best  five  cattle,  male  or  female, 
the  get  of  one  bull ;  the  second  for  the  best  cow 
or  heifer  of  any  age.  During  this  exhibition, 
in  competition  for  herds  and  sweepstakes  pre- 
miums, a  prominent  Shorthorn  breeder  of  Mis- 


GRADE   HEREFORD   STEER  "DYSART,"   AT   3   YEARS.     WEIGHT   1,890   LBS. 

Exhibited    by    C.    M.    Culbertson,    winner    of    the    Breeders'    Gazette   gold    challenge   shield    for   best   beast   in   the   show 

bred   and    fed    by    exhibitor,    Chicago,    1895. 


advocates  (as  there  have  and  will)  willing  to 
devote  their  time,  talents  and  money  to  spread- 
ing the  Hereford  gospel,  all  that  he  may  do  or 
say  may  not  be  pleasing  to  each  individual 
Hereford  man;  but  take  care  that  the  overbal- 
ancing good  be  weighed  against  the  objection- 
able little,  and,  above  all,  sink  your  jealousy  and 
encourage  such  a  man,  for  "appreciation  is  all 
there  is  in  life." 

The  fair  in  1877  was  held  at  Freeport;   a 


souri  had  an  animated  conversation  with  the 
superintendent,  the  drift  of  which  I  did  not 
hear,  but  to  which  the  superintendent  replied: 
"Jim,  Miller  is  going  to  have  a  fair  show."  In 
1878  the  State  Fair  was  again  held  at  Free- 
port,  the  regular  superintendent  being  in 
France.  At  that  show  I  said  to  the  Vice-Pres- 
ident: "I  am  entitled  to  have  a  fair  show, 
and  should  like  to  have  it  without  quarrels, 
and  I  am  willing  to  submit  to  any  committee 


428 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


of  judges  that  President  G-illham  and  ex-Presi- 
dent Reynolds  may  select."  Says  he,  "That  is 
fair,  and  I  will  see  that  it  is  carried  out." 

He  went  to  Gillham  and  Reynolds,  and  they 
made  a  selection  of  a  committee  under  which 
were  shown  herds,  open  to  all  breeds,  five  cattle, 
male  or  female,  the  get  of  one  bull.  I  took, 
with  Success  and  his  get,  the  first  premium. 
This  raised  a  row  among  the  Shorthorn  exhib- 
itors. They  took  their  complaints  to  the  mar- 
shal of  the  ring,  refusing  to.  submit  to  the  action 
of  this  committee,  and  for  the  competition  for 
the  balance  of  the  herd  and  sweepstakes  pre- 
miums,* the  Shorthorn  representative  made  the 
selection  of  the  judges  and  ran  them  entirely 
in  the  interest  of  the  Shorthorns.  Failing  to 
get  a  hearing,  I  withdrew  my  cattle  from  the 
competition.  The  result  of  the  Shorthorn 
men's  action  at  this  show  I  suppose  to  have 
been  the  means  of  changing  the  policy  of  the 
Board  for  the  Fair  of  1879,  held  at  Springfield. 
They  selected  with  care  competent  and  impar- 
tial judges,  whose  services  were  paid  for,  and 
against  whom  no  protests  were  to  be  heard.  The 
Shorthorn  exhibitors  felt  themselves  at  a  dis- 
advantage under  this  policy,  and  endeavored  to 
break  it  up  and  select  judges  on  the  ground,  but 
did  not  succeed  in  their  scheme.  They  sub- 
mitted, the  Board  refusing  to  change  their 
plans. 

It  was  not  only  known  to  me,  but  it  was 
known  to  the  Board,  and  it  was  known  to  the 
exhibitors  who  have  met  on  the  grounds,  that, 
as  far  as  the  cattle  department  at  the  Illinois 
State  Fair  was  concerned,  the  Shorthorn  men 
undertook  to  control  the  judges  so  as  to  secure 
the  awards  themselves.  They  were  in  a  great 
measure  enabled  to  do  so  by  their  knowledge  of 
men,  by  their  associates,  not  exhibitors,  and  \)j 
members  of  the  Board  in  their  interest;  and 
against  these  odds  the  Herefords  had  to  contend 
for  ten  years. 

The  plan  of  the  Shorthorn  men  during  these 
years  made  the  competition  over  the  compara- 
tive merits  of  the  two  breeds  a  warm  and 
exciting  contest;  and  to  avoid  this,  instead  of 
following  out  the  plan  adopted  for  the  judging 
at  Springfield  in  1879,  by  carefully  selecting 
judges  before  coming  upon  the  ground,  they 
have  withdrawn  the  competition  as  between 
breeds,  thus  shirking  responsibilities  that  prop- 
erly belong  to  them  to  meet. 

What  breeders  and  feeders  want  to  know  is 
this  very  thing,  to-wit,  the  best  breed.  This 
test  the  Shorthorn  men  do  not  intend  shall  be 
made,  unless  they  can  make  the  judges.  To  this 
demand  of  the  Shorthorn  breeders,  the  State 
Board  of  Illinois,  the  State  Board  of  Michigan, 


the  St.  Louis  Fair  Association,  the  Northern 
Ohio  Fair  Association  and  others  have  all  sur- 
rendered, and  discontinued  the  practice  of 
bringing  the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns  in  com- 
petition. They  demand  the  right  to  name  the 
judges,  and  if  not  conceded,  that  the  competi- 
tion between  breeds  shall  not  be  continued. 

1879.  The  American  Fat  Stock  Show  was 
inaugurated  by  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Ag- 
riculture in  1879.    We  hailed  it  as  the  opportu- 
nity of  the  Herefords  to  exhibit  their  inherent 
thrift  in  a  more  practical  way.  The  character  of 
the  awards  at  this  show  was  the  subject  of  com- 
ment by  the  press  of  the  country.     We  have 
had  something  to  say  of  them  in  Chapter  XVII. 

1880.  The  Herefords  made  a  large  show  at 
the  fairs  of  America  in  1880.     While  most  of 
the  societies  prohibited  the  competition  of  breed 
against  breed,  and  thus  lessened  the  interest  in 
the  shows,  still  the  Hereford  made  rapid  strides 
in  numbers  and  qualities.     At  the  NEW  ENG- 
LAND   FAIR   held   at   Worcester,   Mass.,   J.    S. 
Hawes,  of  South  Vassalborough,  Maine,  exhib- 
ited sixteen  head,  and  Burleigh  &  Bodwell,  of 
Fairfield   Center,  Maine,  exhibited  twenty-six 
head.     Both  herds  made  an  excellent  show  for 
the  breed,  Messrs.  Burleigh  &  Bodwell  taking 
the    herd    premiums.      At    the    NEW    YORK- 
STATE   FAIR    held  at    Albany,    the    Hereford 
exhibitors   were   Messrs.    Burleigh   &   Bodwell, 
of  Maine,  and  Erastus  Corning,  of  Albany.   At 


HOTSPUR     (7028)     9355. 
Bred  by  J.   Price,  Herefordshire. 

the  PENNSYLVANIA  STATE  FAIR,  the  Hon.  John 
Merryman,  of  Maryland,  made  a  very  fine  ex- 
hibit from  his  herd.  At  Minneapolis,  Minn., 
Col.  W.  S.  King  brought  all  breeds  in 
competition.  The  leading  Shorthorn  herds  of 
the  Northwest  were  there.  One  of  these  had  a 
$4,000  Duke  bull  at  its  head.  The  Hereford 
exhibitors  here  were  C.  M.  Culbertson,  of  New- 
man, Douglas  Co.,  111.,  and  Shaw  &  Bullis,  of 
Minnesota.  The  exhibit  of  Herefords  was  re- 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


429 


markably  good,  Mr.  Culbertson  taking  the  herd 

In 

1881,  at 

the  Chicago 

Fat  Stock  Show, 

the 

premiums  over  all  breeds.     At  the 

NEBRASKA      following  Herefords 

were 

exhibited: 

STATE  FAIR  Mr.  G.  S.  Burleigh,  of  Mechan- 

icsville,   la.  ;    Messrs.  A.  A.   Crane 

&  Son,  of. 

PURE 

HEREFORD. 

Osco,  111.,  and   Messrs.  Swan  Bros. 

,  of  Chey- 

Av.  gain 

cnne,  \Yv<>.,  were  the  exhibitors.     This  show  of 

Name 
of 

Age       Wt.    per  "day 
in      Nov.  4.  in  Ibs. 

Name 
of 

II  ere  fords  was  remarkably  good,  both  in  num- 

Exhibitor. 

days. 

1881. 

since 

V*ii>fVi 

Animal. 

ber  and  quality.     The  "Nebraska  Farmer"  of-      T 

L. 

Miller   Co. 

1224 

1965 

Dll  111. 
1.60 

Will. 

fered  a  special  premium  for  the  best  cow,  steer      T. 
or  heifer  in  the  show  of  any  breed.     This  was      T.' 

L. 

L. 

E. 

Miller    Co. 
Miller  Co. 
Miller 

1242 
943 
2243 

1930 
1700 
1560 

1.55 
1.84 
0.69 

Washington. 
Crystal. 
M'd-olthe  Mist  1365. 

won  by  Mr.  G.  S:  Burleigh,  of  Mechanicsville 

T. 
'         T. 

E. 
Ch 

Miller 

1326 

1335 
1410 

1.00 
0.79 

Lady    Elliott    2150. 
May    Queen  llth. 

irk    

1777 

la.,  with   his  Hereford    Princess    B.    (fl265).      c. 
Thus  at  the  only  two  fairs  where  breed  was  per-      c.' 

K. 
K. 
K. 

Parmelee. 
Parmelee. 
Parmelee. 

1082 
365 
209 

1215 
880 
500 

1.12 
2.41 
2.39 

Roxana. 
Anxiety  4th. 
Manito. 

m  it  ted  to  compete  against  breed,  the 

Herefords     £• 

K. 
K. 

Parmelee. 
Parmelee. 

251- 
256 

520 
565 

2.07 
2.20 

Emeline   2d. 
Helena   6th. 

C. 

K. 

Parmelee. 

249 

610- 

2.44 

Calico. 

C. 

K. 

Parmelee. 

329 

745 

2.26 

Beatrice. 

C. 

K. 

Parmelee. 

199 

500 

2.51 

Magnet. 

c. 

K. 

Parmelee. 

193 

400 

2.07 

Lady   Tuscola. 

GRADE 

HEREFORD. 

T. 

L. 

Miller   Co. 

1190 

2145 

1.80 

Conqueror. 

<T^5i 

T. 

L. 

Miller    Co. 

1190 

2035 

1.71 

Bachelor. 

ISSjaL^vT™  f  -                           *j3 

T. 

L. 

Miller   Co. 

1054 

1925 

1.82 

Kansas. 

{f.JJjlgto  j         ''                        y^Sili^HB' 

T. 

L. 

Miller   Co. 

1145 

1700 

1.48 

Tom    Brown. 

'^iiHBiy  '  /** 

"--•...-  ... 

T. 

L. 

Miller   Co. 

1135 

1550 

1.36 

Oxford. 

1  '           ^^hrf  ••rrfav^**-"-'^™'^'***  F'^j 

C. 

M. 

Culbertson 

1039 

1485 

1.42 

Spot    Face. 

^fwHpuS^^^^^P^r^^^^E 

C. 

M. 

Culbertson 

685 

1025 

1.49 

Curley. 

••    ^BsSfiLgJ^^^^BlSL   ^V^B 

t*    '  *•  "• 

C. 

M. 

Culbertson 

1056 

1675 

1.58 

Left. 

l*B^^^^"^  "^Wlvi 

C. 

M. 

Culbertson 

1056 

1715 

1.62 

Right. 

'"               "                    ••'  "  •    iflu                                ^Pw 

C. 

M. 

Culbertson 

1291 

1835 

1.42 

Broad  Horns. 

s-V                               £/  -'" 

l&siMfr' 

C. 

M. 

Culbertson 

2059 

1925 

0.93 

Beefy    Back. 

1}                                                                 ft     •    '•'; 

G. 

S. 

Burleigh.. 

267 

725 

2.71 

Rose. 

'    .  'iJ  THBtT'T"'  jfl^J^^dp^fjul 

G. 

S. 

Burleigh.  . 

622 

1280 

2.05 

Bailey. 

/*"' 

G. 

S. 

Burleigh.. 

1065 

1675 

1.59 

Ab.  Piatt. 

^"T^SCMafifc?  ^ 

G. 

S. 

Burleigh.  . 

1694 

2600 

1.53 

Star. 

Ill 

In 

rt      TTniv 

1129 

1670 

1.47 

Burnham. 

qn->n 

111. 

Ind.    Univ 

806 

1335 

1.65 

Junior. 

A    TYPICAL    JERSEY. 

u-ere  the  winners.  At  the  IOWA  STATE 
FAIR  the  Herefords  were  in  strong  force,  but 
were  not  permitted  to  compete  with  Shorthorns. 
At  the  ILLINOIS  STATE  FAIR,  Mr.  C.  M. 
Culbertson  was  an  exhibitor,  as  was  Mr.  Thos. 
Clark,  of  Beecher,  and  Tom  C.  Ponting,  of 
Stonington,  Illinois.  The  show  was  very  good. 
At  the  ST.  Louis  FAIR,  the  exhibitors  were 
Culbertson  and  Clark. 

It  was  out  of  place,  when  the  stockmen  and 
farmers  of  the  country  were  making  earnest 
inquiry  for  the  best  breed,  that  the  Shorthorns 
should  be  drawn  off.  This  list  that  we  have 
given,  though  far  from  complete,  shows  how 
wide  the  range  the  Hereford  had  taken,  in 
1880.  From  Maine  to  Cheyenne  on  the  north, 
and  from  Maryland  to  St.  Louis  on  the  south. 
A  complete  account  would  have  carried  us  to 
Kansas  City  and  Central  Kansas,  and  when  we 
further  consider  the  fact  that  five  hundred 
Herefords  were  brought  from  England  that 
year  and  that  none  of  these  reached  the  show 
ground  except  the  herd  of  Messrs.  Burleigh  & 
Bodwell,  of  Maine,  the  Hereford  breeders  had 
a  right  to  feel  encouraged  by  the  progress  the 
breed  was  making. 


The  following  premiums  were  awarded: 
Lot  2 — Hereford,  Thoroughbred. 

Best  steer  3  and  under  4  years — First  pre- 
mium, Will;  second,  Washington;  both  exhib- 
ited by  T.  L.  Miller  Co.,  Beecher,  111. 

Best  cow  3  years  old  and  over — First  pre- 
mium, Maid  of  the  Mist,  exhibited  by  T.  E. 
Miller,  Beecher,  111.;  second,  May  Queen  II, 
Thomas  Clark,  Beecher,  111.;  third,  Lady  El- 
liott, T.  E.  Miller,  Beecher,  111. 

Lot  5 — Grades  and  Crosses. 

Best  steer  3  and  under  4  years — First  pre- 
mium, Hereford  steer  Conqueror,  bred  and  ex- 
hibited by  T.  L.  Miller  Co.,  Beecher,  111. 

Best  steer,  2  and  under  3  years — Third,  grade 
Hereford,  Kansas,  T.  L.  Miller,  Beecher,  111. 

Best  steer,  1  and  under  2  years — Third,  Bai- 
ley, grade  Hereford,  G.  S.  Burleigh,  Mechan- 
icsville, la. 

Best  cow,  3  years  old  and  over — Second, 
grade  Hereford,  Beefy  Back,  C.  M.  Culbertson, 
Chicago,  111. 

Lot  9 — Dressed  Bullocks. 
Best  carcass  of  steer,  3  and  under  4  years — 
First  premium,  grade  Hereford,  Broad  Horns, 
C.  M.  Culbertson,  Chicago,  111. 


430 


HIST  GEY  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


Best  carcass  of  steer,  2  and  under  3  years, 
grade  Hereford— Ab.  Piatt,  G.  S.  Burleigh. 

Best  carcass  of  steer,  1  and  under  2  years — 
Premium  to  Bailey,  grade  Hereford,  G.  S.  Bur- 
leigh, Mechanicsville,  Iowa. 

Lot  10 — Dressed  Bullocks,  Sweepstakes. 

Best  carcass  of  steer  of  any  age — Premium 
$75,  to  grade  Hereford  steer  Broad  Horns,  C. 
M.  Culbertscm,  Chicago,  111. 

Special  Premium. 

Marshall  Field,  Chicago,  $250,  for  best  five 
head  cattle,  any  age  or  breed,  awarded  to  T.  L. 
Miller  Co.,  Beecher,  111.,  for  five  Hereford 
steers — Conqueror,  Will,  Washington,  Bachelor 
and  Kansas. 

A  Chicago  daily  thus  comments  on  this  show : 
"The  event  of  this  show  was  the  contest  for  the 
prize  of  $250  offered  by  Marshall  Field,  of  Chi- 
cago, for  the  best  five  head  of  cattle,  of  any  age 
or  breed.  It  was  the  largest  prize  of  the  show  so 
far  as  value  was  concerned.  There  were  seven 
herds  entered  by  the  following  exhibitors: 
Shorthorns :  T.  W.  Hunt,  of  Ashton.  111. ;  John 
B.  Sherman,  of  Chicago;  John  D.  Gillette,  of 
Elkhart,  111.;  Luther  Rawson,  of  Oak  Creek, 
Wis. ;  Morrow  &  Muir,  of  Clintonville,  Ivy., 
and  H.  C.  Nelson,  of  Canton,  111. 

"The  T.  L.  Miller  Co.,  of  Beecher,  entered 
a  herd  of  five  Herefords.  The  ring  was  com- 
pletely filled,  with  the  finest  animals  of  the 
show,  and  the  judges  experienced  some  diffi- 
culty in  getting  about.  The  gentlemen  chosen 
to  decide  the  merits  of  this  grand  herd  ring 
were  James  Peltz,  of  Polo,  111.;  Frank  Gerpi- 
ser,  of  Springfield,  and  Edward  Leize,  of  Chi- 
cago. The  handling  qualities  of  every  animal 
was  determined  and  every  point  of  excellence 
thoroughly  discussed.  So  far  as  close  searching 
and  complete  work  was  concerned  no  set  of 
judges  ever  more  fully  satisfied  the  exhibitors 
or  the  public  of  their  desire  to  do  even  and 
exact  justice.  After  two  hours  of  conscientious 
work  the  unanimous  decision  was  in  favor  of 
the  Herefords,  to  whom  the  prize  was  awarded. 
It  was,  indeed,  a  glorious  and  crowning  victory, 
and  to  say  that  the  fortunate  winners  were  de- 
lighted but  feebly  expressed  the  state  of  their 
feelings.  The  aggregate  of  the  five  winning 
animals  was  exactly  10,000  pounds,  making  the 
average  2,000  pounds  to  the  ounce — a  showing 
that  speaks  volumes  for  the  'white-faced 
breed." — Chicago  Tribune. 

William  Houseman,  writing  from  England  in 
1882  to  the  "National  Live  Stock  Journal," 
Chicago,  said : 

"While  trade  in  pedigree  stock  is,  in  general, 


quite  at  a  standstill,  and  the  suspension  of  busi- 
ness, usual  at  this  time  of  year,  may  be  marked 
by  the  lack  of  those  advertisements  of  public 
sales,  and  of  cattle  to  be  disposed  of  by  private 
bargain  (which  crowd  the  columns  of  the  agri- 
cultural papers  during  'the  season')  an  uncom- 
mon commotion  has  been  raised  in  the  Hereford 
breeding  districts  by  the  presence  of  American 
Hereford  breeders,  who  are  buying  up  all  the 
best  Herefords  they  can  lay  hands  on  for  very 
large  shipments  in  the  spring. 

"In  favor  of  the  Hereford,  it  must  be  allowed, 
as  the  results  of  competition  with  other  breeds 
during  this  past  year,  this  breed  has  proved 
signally  successful;  at  the  Royal  Dublin 
Society's  show,  where  not  only  last  year  but  for 
two  years  consecutively,  a  Hereford  bull  has 
won  the  Chaloner  plate,  value  $775,  as  the  best 
of  any  breed;  at  the  Worcester  County  Show, 
where  a  Hereford  heifer  (Mr.  Carwardine's 
Pretty  Face),  since  exported  to  America  by 
Mr.  Culbertson,  won  the  championship  over 
Mr.  Acker's  famous  Lady  Carew  3d,  the  first 
prize  Shorthorn  cow  of  the  Royal  Agricultural 
Society  of  England,  and  at  some  other  shows. 

1882. — The  campaign  of  1882  was  a  memor- 
able one. 

The  Tippecanoe  County  Fair  at  Lafayette, 
Indiana,  for  1882,  offered  unusually  liberal 
premiums  for  the  beef  breeds,  consisting  of 
three  prizes  for  aged  herds  respectively  $500, 
$150,  and  $50.  They  also  offered  a  sweepstakes 
prize  for  the  best  herd  of  thoroughbred  beef- 
breeding  cattle,  one  bull,  and  four  heifers  under 
2  years  old,  $100,  $50,  and  $25.  Also  a  sweep- 


A    WEST    HIGHLAND    BULL. 

stakes  for  the  best  bull  of  any  age  or  breed,  the 
best  cow  of  any  age  or  breed,  and  the  best  steer 
of  any  age  or  breed. 

The  Hereford  exhibitors  consisted  of  Messrs. 
Earl  &  Stuart,  of  Lafayette;  C.  M.  Culbert- 
son, of  Chicago;  0.  Bush,  of  Sheldon,  111.;  C. 
K.  Parmelee,  of  Wolcott,  Ind. ;  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta,  of  Fowler,  Ind.;  William  Constable,  of 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


431 


Beeeher,  111.;  Thos.  Clark,  of  Beecher,  111.;  B. 
IliTshey,  of  Muscatine,  la. 

Mr.  Hershev's  herd  consisted  of  five  year- 
ling, four  heifers  and  one  bull,  which  were 
purchased  at  the  close  of  the  fair  by  C.  K. 
Parmelee  for  $3,000. 

The  Shorthorn  exhibitors  were  J.  H.  Potts 
&  Son,  of  Jacksonville,  111.;  Harvey  Sodowsky, 
of  Indianola,  111. ;  L.  Palmer,  of  Sturgeon,  Mo. ; 
Crofton  Bros.,  of  Winonar;  Thos.  Wilhoit,  of 
Middletown,  Ind. ;  Win.  Stephenson  &  Son,  of 
Little  Indian,  '  111. ;  Harper  &  Mason,  of 
Wabash,  Ind. 

The  great  interest  and  excitement  of  the 
whole  fair  was  in  the  sweepstakes  ring.  Here 


GROUP  OF  RED  POLL  CATTLE. 

on  Friday  morning  were  drawn  up  in  grand 
array  nine  aged  herds,  all  two  years  old  and  up- 
wards, to  compete  for  the  $500  prize.  Three  of 
these  herds  were  Herefords  and  six  Shorthorns. 
Each  herd  consisted  of  one  bull  and  four 
females.  The  committee  after  a  long  and  care- 
ful examination  gave  first  to  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son's 
herd  of  Shorthorns,  while  the  Hereford  herd 
of  Mr.  C.  M.  Culbertson,  although  considered 
by  many  to  be  the  best,  had  to  be  content  with 
second.  Mr.  Culbertson  certainly  exhibited  a 
grand  herd  and  if  his  cow,  Pretty  Face,  a  prize 
winner  in  England  before  she  was  imported  to 
this  country,  and  considered  an  extraordinary 
plum  there,  had  been  the  equal  in  size  with  the 
other  three  females  in  the  herd,  we  think  there 
would  have  been  no  doubt  of  his  carrying  off 
the  first  prize. 

Owing  to  the  time  consumed  in  awarding  the 
above  premiums,  it  was  now  after  one  o'clock 
on  the  last  day  of  the  fair,  so  the  committee 
that  made  the  above  awards  was  discharged  and 
a  fresh  committee  put  to  work  on  the  sweep- 
stakes for  the  best  young  herd  under  two  years 
old.  Here  the  Herefords  and  Shorthorns,  as 
to  number  of  herds,  were  equal,  six  competing, 
three  Shorthorn  and  three  Hereford.  The  su- 


periority of  the  Herefords  was  more  marked  in 
this  ring,  and  the  committee  were  unanimous 
in  placing  the  first  prize  on  the  Hereford  herd 
of  Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  the  second  going  to  the 
Shorthorn  herd  of  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son,  and  the 
third  to  the  Hereford  herd  of  C.  K.  Parmelee. 
The  young  herd  of  Fowler  &  Van  Natta  con- 
sisted of  entirely  American  bred  cattle.  The 
four  heifers  were  remarkably  even,  and  were 
universally  admired.  Two  of  them  were  bred 
by  T.  L.  Miller,  and  two  by  T.  E.  Miller.  The 
bull  was  a  very  blocky,  heavy-fleshed,  good- 
coated  animal,  bred  by  C.  M.  Culbertson. 

In  the  contest  for  the  best  bull  upon  the 
ground,  fifteen  animals  appeared  in  the  ring, 
seven  Herefords  and  eight  Shorthorns.  The 
display  of  Hereford  bulls  was  remarkably  fine, 
while  among  the  Shorthorns  there  were  only  two 
that  approached  goodness.  The  prize  was  car- 
ried off  by  Messrs.  Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  with 
their  bull  Tregrehan,  a  very  smooth,  even, 
short-legged  bull.  Mr.  Constable's  bull  Hero, 
which  won  the  sweepstakes  in  this  same  ring, 
the  previous  year,  was  shown  here  again,  but 
failed  to  win,  although  he  was  in  far  better 
form  than  he  was  the  year  before. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  premiums 
awarded : 

THOROUGHBRED    HEREFORDS. 

Bull  three  years  old  and  over,  1st,  Hero, 
(1J267)  W.  Constable,  Beecher,  111.;  2d, 
Anxiety  3d,  (fl  268)  Thomas  Clark,  Beecher, 
111. 

Bull  two  years  old  and  under  three,  1st, 
Royal  16th,  (1J269)  Earl  &  Stuart,  Lafayette, 
Ind.;  2d,  Romeo,  Earl  &  Stuart. 

Bull  one  year  old  and  under  two,  1st,  Prince 
Edward,  (fi270)  Earl  &  Stuart;  3d,  Anxiety 
5th,  Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Fowler,  Ind. 

Bull  calf  under  one  year  old,  1st,  Jumbo, 
Earl  &  Stuart;  2d,  El  Paso  Boy,  W.  Constable. 

Cow  three  years  old  or  over,  1st,  Downton 
Rose,  (1f27l)  C.  M.  Culbertson,  Chicago,  111.; 
2d,  Lady  3d,  Earl  &  Stuart. 

Heifer  two  years  old  and  under  three,  1st, 
Peerless,  (If  272)  Thos.  Clark;  2d,  Venus, 
(ff  273)  Earl  &  Stuart. 

Heifer  one  year  old,  and  under  two,  1st,  Miss 
Broadgauge  2d,  Benj.  Hershey,  Muscatine,  la. ; 
2d,  Prettymaid,  Earl  &  Stuart. 

Heifer  calf  under  one  year  old,  1st,  Rachel, 
C.  M.  Culbertson;  2d,  Crocus  3d,  Fowler  & 
Van  Natta. 

The  above  exhibit  of  Herefords  in  their  class 

'  was  a  beautiful  sight,  but  we  think  that  of  all 

the  classes  that  of  the  yearling  heifers  was  the 

finest.     Eighteen  of  these  choice  young  things 


432 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


were  brought  out  in  competition,  and  it  was  a 
difficult  matter  for  the  judges  to  select  the  best. 
The  first  prize  female,  Miss  Broadgauge  3d 
by  Horatius,  was  a  very  choice  animal,  with  a 
square,  massive  top  which  won  her,  probably, 
the  premium,  although  the  winning  heifer  the 
following  week  at  Crawfordsville  was  Viola, 
a  heifer  bred  by  T.  L.  Miller,  from  his  fine  old 
cow  Victoria.  (If  274) 

The  money  that  it  would  have  taken  to  have 
bought  this  string  of  heifers  would  have  been  a 
small  fortune  of  itself,  as  Messrs.  Fowler  & 
Van  Natta  were  said  to  have  refused  $5,000 
for  the  five  that  they  had  in  the  ring. 

The  following  week,  nearly  the  sanie  parties 
showed  at  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  with  the  follow- 
ing results.  The  breeders  of  Hereford  cattle, 
thinking  it  would  be  better  to  make  a  combined 
show  of  their  cattle,  resolved  after  their  exhibi- 
tion at  Lafayette  to  keep  together  during  the 
rest  of  the  fair  season  on  the  principle  that 
their  combined  forces  could  do  more  to  break  up 
the  Shorthorn  rings  than  they  could  if  they 
separated  and  exhibited  in  smaller  numbers 
over  the  entire  country.  In  pursuance  of  the 
above  resolution  ten  cars  were  ordered  and  the 
Herefords  swept  over  to  Crawfordsville  in  full 
force.  Such  an  exhibit  of  stock  had  been  un- 
known at  this  fair,  and  they  were  compelled  to 
erect  fifty  additional  stalls  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  Herefords.  They  met  here  many  of 
the  Shorthorns  with  which  they  had  competed 
the  week  before,  and  in  the  contest  for  the 
sweepstakes  prize  on  young  herds  under  two 
years  old,  the  Shorthorns  did  not  get  a  ribbon, 
the  first,  second  and  third  premiums  being  all 
awarded  to  Hereford  cattle. 

The  attendance  at  this  fair  was  very  large, 
and  the  weather  being  good  was  a  great  success. 
The  prizes  to  Herefords  in  their  class  were  as 
follows : 

Thoroughbred  Herefords:  Bull  three  years 
old  and  over,  1st  premium,  Hero,  Wm.  Con- 
stable, Beecher,  111.;  2d,  Sir  Garnet,  (If  275) 
C.  M.  Culbertson,  Chicago,  111. 

Bull  two  years  old  and  under  three,  1st, 
Tregrehan,  (ff276)  Fowler  &  Van  Natta, 
Fowler,  Ind.;  2d,  Royal  16th,  Earl  &  Stuart, 
Lafayette,  Ind. 

Bull  one  year  old  and  under  two,  1st, 
Anxiety  4th,  C.  K.  Parmelee,  Wolcott,  Ind.; 
2d,  Prince  Edward,  Earl  &  Stuart. 

Bull  under  one  year  of  age,  1st,  El  Paso  Boy, 
W.  Constable ;  2d,  Jumbo,  Earl  &  Stuart. 

Cow  three  years  old  and  over,  1st,  Lady  3d, 
Earl  &  Stuart;  2d,  Cherry  24th,  (ff  277)  C.  M. 
Culbertson. 

Heifer  two  years  old  and  under  three,  1st, 


Venus,  Earl  &  Stuart;  2d,  Winnie  4th,  Earl 
&  Stuart. 

Heifer  one  year  old  and  under  two,  1st, 
Viola,  Fowler  &  Van  Natta;  2d,  Prettyniaid, 
Earl  &  Stuart. 

Heifer  under  one  year  old,  1st,  Crocus  3d, 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta;  2d  ,  C.  M. 

Culbertson. 

Sweepstakes  for  best  aged  beef  herd,  1st,  J. 
H.  Potts  &  Son,  Shorthorn;  2d,  H.  Sodowsky, 
Shorthorn;  3d,  C.  H.  Culbertson,  Hereford. 

Sweepstakes  for  young  herd  under  two  years 
old,  1st,  Earl  &  Stuart,  Hereford;  2d,  Fowler 
&  Van  Natta,  Hereford;  3d,  C.  K.  Parmelee, 
Hereford. 

Sweepstakes  for  best  bull,  any  age  or  breed, 
•11  entries,  six  Herefords  and  five  Shorthorns, 
1st  prize,  Tregrehan  (Hereford),  Fowler  & 
Van  Natta. 

Sweepstakes  on  cows,  Harvey  Sodowsky, 
Shorthorn,  Indianola,  111. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  awards  that  the 
premiums  were  changed  somewhat  from  the 
Lafayette  awards.  Sir  Garnet  is  given  here 
the  second  place,  where  he  was  overlooked  the 
preceding  week.  This  was  a  fine  large  bull,  by 
The  Grove  3d,  who  is  the  sire  of  some  remark- 
ably good  cattle. 

In  the  two-year-old  bull  class,  Tregrehan  is 
here  given  first  place,  while  at  Lafayette  in  his 
class,  he  was  overlooked,  while  winning  sweep- 


AN  ABERDEEN  ANGUS  CELEBRITY,  BLACK  PRINCE. 
Bred  in  Scotland,  exhibited  at  Chicago  and  Kansas  City 
Fat  Stock  Shows,  1883-4.  This  steer  did  more  to  bring 
the  Angus  breed  to  notice  in  America  than  any  other 
animal  of  the  breed. 

stakes  for  best  bull  upon  the  ground.  In  the 
yearling,  Anxiety  4th  is  here  given  first,  while 
at  Lafayette  he  was  overlooked  entirely. 

In  bull  calves,  the  position  of  the  winners  is 
reversed,  El  Paso  Boy  here  taking  the  first,  and 
Jumbo  the  second.  For  aged  cows,  Messrs. 
Earl  &  Stuart's  imported  prize  winner  Lady  3d, 


IS 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


435 


takes  first  here,  over  Cherry  24th,  who  did  not 
win  anything  at  Lafayette.  Lady  3d  had  seen 
her  best  days  as  a  show  animal,  breeding  as  she 
did  a  calf  every  year. 

In  heifers  one  year  old  and  under  two,  the 
heifer  Viola,  bred  by  T.  L.  Miller,  took  first 
here,  while  at  Lafayette  she  was  overlooked. 

FAIR  AT  SPRIXGFIELD,  ILL.,  1882. — Much  to 
the  disgust  of  the  Shorthorn  exhibitors,  the 
breeders  of  Hereford  cattle,  with  their  grand 
display  of  over  seventy  head  of  white-faced 
beauties,  loaded  their  cars  at  Crawfordsville, 
Ind.,  and  sped  away  to  the  home  of  the  Short- 
horns, and  pitched  their  tents  at  Springfield, 
111.  The  Shorthorn  men  wanted  to  know  what 
right  the  Hereford  men  had  to  come  out  in  such 
force,  and  fill  the  spectators  with  enthusiasm  at 
the  sight  of  such  mountains  of  beef  comprised  in 
such  compact  bodies,  mounted  on  short,  fine- 
boned  legs  and  covered  with  mellow  hides  and 
good  coats  of  hair.  These  Shorthorn  breeders 
felt  particularly  grieved  that  the  Hereford  men 
concluded  to  exhibit  their  cattle  in  mass,  and 
concentrating  their  forces,  thus  make  a  display 
that  the  Shorthorn  men  had  no  chance  of 
beating.  They  even  went  so  far  as  to  say  it 
was  a  bulldozing  movement,  inaugurated  to 
n\vc  the  different  fair  associations.  As  far  as 
we  heard  the  different  fair  managers  express 
an  opinion  they  were  anxious  to  have  this  grand 
display  come  ito  their  grounds,  as  it  attracted 
many  thousands  of  spectators,  who  liked  to  see 
improvement  and  did  not  want  to  be  compelled 
to  always  see  the  same  old  barren  Shorthorn 
cows  from  year  to  year. 

The  prizes  of  Herefords  in  their  classes  were 
as  follows  at  this  fair: 

Bull  three  years  old  and  over,  1st  premium, 
Hero,  Wm.  Constable,  Beecher,  III.;  2d, 
Anxiety  3d,  Thos.  Clark,  Beecher,  111. 

Bull  two  years  old  and  under  three,  1st, 
Royal  16th,  Earl  &  Stuart,  Lafayette,  Ind.;  2d, 
Tivgrehan,  Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Fowler,  Ind. 

Bull  one  year  old  and  under  two,  1st, 
Anxiety  5th,  Fowler  &  Van  Natta ;  2d,  Anxiety 
4th,  C.  K.  Parmelee. 

Bull  calf  under  one  year,  1st,  Jumbo,  Earl  & 
Stuart;  2d,  Exchange,  Earl  &  Stuart. 

Cow  three  years  old  and  over,  1st,  Cherry 
24th,  C.  M.  Culbertson,  Chicago,  111. ;  2d,  Lady 
3d,  Earl  &  Stuart. 

Heifer  two  years  old  and  under  three,  1st, 
Venus,  Earl  &  Stuart;  2d,  Peerless,  Thomas 
Clark. 

Heifer  one  year  old  and  under  two,  1st, 
Prettymaid,  Earl  &  Stuart;  2d,  Viola,  Fowler 
&  Van  Natta. 

Heifer  calf  under  one  year  old,  1st,  Crocus 


3d,  Fowler  &  Van  Natta ;  2d,  Rachel,  C.  M. 
Culbertson. 

Sweepstakes,  best  bull,  Hero,  Wm.  Constable. 

Sweepstakes,  best  cow,  Cherry  24th,  C.  M. 
Culbertson. 

Sweepstakes  for  best  aged  herd,  Earl  & 
Stuart  (Herefords)  1st;  C.  M.  Culbertson 
(Herefords)  2d. 

Sweepstakes  for  best  young  herd  under  two 
years  old,  J.  H.  Pickrell  (Shorthorns)  1st; 
Earl  &  Stuart  (Herefords)  2d. 

The  show  of  grade  Herefords  at  this  fair  was 
very  fine,  and  in  the  grade  classes  the  Here- 
fords of  Mr.  J.  R.  Price,  of  Williamsville,  111., 
won  all  he  showed  for,  over  all  competitors. 

Splendid  exhibits  were  made  at  Missouri, 
Kansas,  and  Nebraska  fairs  in  1882  by  F.  W. 
Smith,  and  Whaley  &  Young  of  Missouri,  and 
Fowler  Bros.,  J.  S.  Hawes,  and  W.  Morgan  & 
Son. 

BIRMINGHAM,  ENG.,  FAT  STOCK  SHOW, 
1882. — We  give  the  following  account  taken 
from  the  "Birmingham  Post"  of  the  winnings 
of  the  Hereford  cattle  at  this  English  Fat  Stock 
Show: 

"Herefords. — This  breed  is  not  so  strong  in 
point  of  number  as  it  was  last  year,  the  stalls 
being  24  against  31,  but  it  is  again  dis- 
tinguished above  all  other  competitors  by  con- 


WASHINGTON  (8152)  22615. 
Bred   by   A.   E.   Hughes,    Herefordshire. 

tributing  the  premier  animal  of  the  show,  Mr. 
John  Price,  (1[278)  of  Pembridge,  once  more 
beats  everything  with  his  grand  ox  by  Grand 
Duke — Satin.  The  bullock  has  added  about 
four  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  to  its  weight 
by  the  year's  additional  feeding,  and  has  de- 
veloped still  further  the  fine  qualities  which 
excited  so  much  admiration  at  its  previous 
exhibition.  At  the  age  of  three  years  it  now 
pulls  21  hundred  weight,  1  qr.,  14  Ib.  (2,394 
Ibs.),  and  every  ounce  of  its  meat  is  in  the 


436 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


proper  place.  As  it  is  bred  and  fed  by  the  ex- 
hibitor, it  carries  the  president's  £25  sterling 
cup,  as  well  as  the  £50  sterling,  as  best  Here- 
ford, and  the  Elkington  challenge  trophy,  of 
the  value  of  100  guineas.  As  this  last  prize  has 
been  won  by  Mr.  Price  two  years  successively, 
it  now  becomes  his  own  property.  It  is  to  be 
noticed  as  a  remarkable  and  unexpected  cir- 
cumstance that  this  repeated  victory  has  been 
gained  by  the  same  animal.  The  Queen's 
Shorthorn  heifer  was  the  most  dangerous  rival 
Mr.  Price  had  to  encounter  in  the  final  award, 
and  there  were  loud  shouts  of  applause  in  the 
hall  when  it -was  announced  that  the  subject 


with    bullocks    which    are  all  the    progeny  of 
Regulus." 

The  Elkington  challenge  cup,  of  the  value 
of  $500,  won  by  Mr.  John  Price  with  a  Here- 
ford bullock,  for  the  best  animal  in  the  show, 
was  first  placed  on  offer  in  1873,  and  to  be  the 
property  of  the  winner  must  be  won  two  years 
in  succession,  (fl  279)  We  copy  from  the  "Mark 
Lane  Express"  the  following  statement:  "The 
cup  was  won  in  1873  by  Mr.  E.  Wortley,  in  '74 
by  Mr.  Robert  Wright,  in  '75  by  Mr.  Richard 
Stratton,  in  '76  by  Mr.  Samuel  Kidner,  in  '77 
by  Mr.  Richard  Stratton,  (fl280)  in  '78  by 
Lord  Lovat,  in  '79  by  Mr.  H.  D.  Adamson,  in 


PURE-BRED    STEER,    RUDOLPH,    JR. 
Bred,  fed  and  exhibited  by  Geo.  F.  Morgan,  winner  of  grand  sweepstakes  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show  1886. 


had  defeated  his  sovereign — not  on  account  of 
that  feature  of  the  case,  for  a  royal  victory 
would  have  been  just  as  warmly  welcomed,  but 
as  expressing  the  congratulations  of  spectators 
on  an  exhibitor  having  at  length  scored  the 
double  event  required  by  the  conditions  of  the 
Elkington  Cup.  This  feat,  however,  is  not  the 
only  sign  which  the  show  affords  of  the  strength 
of  the  Pembridge  herd.  Mr.  Price  also  takes 
the  second  prize  for  oxen,  and  both  first  and 
second  in  the  younger  class  of  Hereford  steers, 


'80  by  Mr.  Peter  Dunn,  in  '81  and  '82  by  Mr. 
John  Price,  Court  House,  Pembridge,  Eng." 

1883. — THE  ILLINOIS  STATE  FAIK.— Here- 
ford class  awards  were  as  follows: 

Bull  three  years  old  or  over,  1st,  Wyoming 
Hereford  Association ;  3d,  G.  S.  Burleigh.  Bull 
two  years  old  and  under  three,  1st,  G.  S.  Bur- 
leigh ;  2d,  T.  M.  George.  Bull  one  year  old  and 
under  two,  1st,  George  Leigh;  2d,  Fowler  & 
Van  Natta.  Bull  under  one  year  old,  1st,  C. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


437 


M.  Culbertson ;  2d,  0.  Terrell.  Cow  4  years  old 
or  over,  1st,  C.  K.  Parmelee;  2d,  T.  M.  George. 
Cow  three  years  old  and  under  four,  1st,  and 
2d,  Thos.  Clark.  Heifer  two  years  old  and 
under  three,  1st,  Thos.  Clark;  2d,  C.  K.  Par- 
melee.  Heifer  one  year  old  and  under  two,  1st, 
Fowler  &  Van  Xatta ;  2d,  Thos.  Clark.  Heifer 
under  one  year  old,  1st  and  2nd,  C.  M.  Culbert- 
son. In  the  sweepstakes:  Hereford  herd  to 
consist  of  bull  two  years  old  or  over,  and  a 
three-year-old,  two-year-old,  one-year-old,  and 
under  one-year-old  female,  the  prize  went  to  the 
Wyoming  Hereford  Association,  of  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming.  At  the  head  of  this  herd  stood  the 
.remarkable  bull  Rudolph,  (ft  281)  a  grand 
animal,  which  combined  great  scale,  with  a 
smoothness  and  finish  unequalled  among  his 
competitors.  Best  bull  of  any  age,  1st, 
Wyoming  Hereford  Ass'n,  Rudolph.  Best 
female,  any  age,  1st,  C.  K.  Parmelee,  Princess. 
(H282)  Sweepstakes:  Herd,  all  breeds  compet- 
ing, 1st,  to  Fowler  &  Van  Natta's  Here  fords. 

NEW  YORK  STATE  FAIR,  1883. — In  the 
Hereford  class  the  herd  prize  was  awarded  to 
the  Hon.  E.  Corning,  of  Albany,  for  his  bull 
Comus,  and  cows  Filbert,  Edna,  Dorcas  5th, 
Duchess  8th,  and  Edna  2d.  On  aged  bulls, 
E.  Corning  took  first  with  Comus.  On  two- 
year-old  bulls,  J.  L.  ISTorthrup,  of  Westfield, 
took  first  with  Santa  Glaus.  In  bull  calves,  E. 
Coniing  took  first  with  Kenwood.  For  aged 
cows,  E.  Corning  took  first  and  second  with 
Filbert  and  Edna.  In  yearling  heifers,  E. 
Corning  took  first  with  Edna  2d.  J.  L.  North- 
rup  took  first  on  heifer  calves  with  Charmer 
3d.  On  fat  cattle  there  was  a  premium  for 
oxen  over  four  years  old  and  under  four  years 
old.  G.  Ayrault,  of  Poughkeepsie,  won  first  on 
the  former  and  first  and  second  in  the  latter; 
also  second  for  aged  fat  cows  and  first  for  fat 
heifers.  Hon.  Erastus  Corning,  of  Albany, 
took  first  for  fat  cow  over  four  years  old  with 
his  Hereford  cow,  Topsy  Turvy.  *  *  * 

In  1883  Mr.  W.  E.  Campbell,  an  extensive 
ranchman  and  cattle  raiser  of  Caldwell,  Kans., 
exhibited  at  the  Kansas  State  Fair  a  fine 
herd  of  Hereford  cattle  right  off  the  prairie, 
where  they  had  grazed  the  entire  season,  and 
had  had  no  other  feed  of  any  kind  whatever, 
this  fact  being  established  by  the  affidavit  of 
reliable  parties  posted  on  the  stalls  of  the  cattle. 
Notwithstanding  these  facts,  the  cattle  were  in 
excellent  condition,  and  proved  the  superiority 
of  the  Herefords  over  all  other  breeds  as  grass 
or  range  cattle.  The  Equinox  2758  (H283) 
standing  at  the  head  of  this  herd  had  proven 
an  excellent  stock  getter  as  well  as  invincible 
show  bull.  He  won  first  prize  in  the  grand 


sweepstakes  ring  open  to  bulls  of  any  age  or 
breed,  in  a  strong  field  of  eighteen  show 
bulls,  representing  the  best  Shorthorn,  Here- 
ford, Polled  Angus  and  Galloway  herds  of 
Iowa,  Illinois,  Missouri  and  Kansas.  He 
also  carried  off  the  first  prize  in  his  class,  and 
his  bull  calf  Jumbo  and  his  heifer  calf  Lady 
Maud  4th  each  won  first  honors  in  their  re- 
spective classes.  In  the  sweepstakes  ring  for 
the  best  bull  and  five  of  his  calves,  open  to  all 
breeds,  The  Equinox  again  came  to  the  front 
and  won  second  honors,  though  his  calves  were 
very  young  and  showed  to  bad  advantage  on 
that  account.  Queen  of  the  Lillies,  (fl  284)  out 
of  Jessamine  by  Winter  de  Cote,  that  was  first 
at  Bismarck,  was  assigned  a  second  place  here 
after  much  hesitation.  The  winnings  of  this 
herd  are  unprecedented.  It  was  a  trump  card 
for  the  Herefords  as  grass  cattle.  The  merits 
of  any  thoroughbred  race  are  best  demonstrated 
by  the  quality  of  their  progeny,  and  to  prac- 
tically demonstrate  the  superiority  and  potency 
of  the  Herefords  over  other  breeds,  Mr.  Camp- 


SAMUEL   WEAVER, 
Decatur,   111.,  America's  greatest  cattle  feeder. 

bell  exhibited  the  yearling  heifer  Texas  Jane. 
This  heifer  was  sired  by  a  thoroughbred  Here- 
ford, and  was  out  of  a  little  scrub  Texas  cow. 
She  weighed  about  900  pounds,  and  had  all  the 
character  and  markings  of  a  thoroughbred 
Hereford.  She  was  universally  admired  and 
attracted  much  attention  and  comment  from 


438 


HIST  OK Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


the  public,  to  whom  she  gave  the  following 
account  of  her  birth  and  breeding,  through  a 
placard  conspicuously  posted  over  her  stall : 

"I  was  bom  on  W.  E.  Campbell's  ranch,  Aug. 
19,  1882,  and  was  at  once  christened  Texas 
Jane. 

"My  father  was  a  Hereford  thoroughbred, 
My  mother  a  wild  'Texas  scrub.' 

The  cross  makes  me  easily  fed, 
And  I  am  able  to  rustle  for  grub. 

"Don't  stare  at  the  meat  on  my  back, 
Or  be  surprised  at  my  snow-white  face; 

For  it  was  all  the  work  of  papa, 
That  gave  me  this  Hereford  grace. 

The  Herefords  won  sweepstakes  on  bull  of 
any  age* or  breed;  first  and  second  sweepstakes 


Thomas  Clark  exhibited  Anxiety  3d,  a  son  of 
old  Anxiety;  and  Mr.  C.  K.  Parmelee  ex- 
hibited Sir  Garnet,  a  son  of  The  Grove  3d,  re- 
cently purchased  from  Mr.  Culbertson.  The 
result  was,  first  prize  to  Mr.  Thos.  Clark's 
Anxiety  3d,  and  the  second  to  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta  for  Tregrehan.  There  were  no  two- 
year-old  bulls  exhibited.  On  yearling  bulls 
Messrs.  Earl  &  Stuart  took  the  first  prize  with 
Jumbo,  and  the  second  with  Lord  Horace.  In 
bull  calves  the  first  prize  went  to  Emperor  3d, 
owned  by  Earl  &  Stuart,  and  the  second  to 
Beckjay  Hero,  owned  by  Thos.  Clark. 

Of  cows  three  years  old  and  upward  a 
splendid  exhibit  was  made.  The  first  prize 
went  to  Mr.  Thos.  Clark  for  his  cow  Peerless 


VIEW    ON    SAMUEL   WEAVER'S    FARM, 
Decatur,  111. 


on  bull  and  five  calves  and  second  in  sweep- 
stakes on  cow  of  any  age  or  breed. 

THE  LAFAYETTE  FAIR,  1883.— The  best 
Herefords  in  America  were  again  pitted 
against  each  other  at  the  Lafayette  fair.  In 
the  show  for  aged  bulls  there  was  Messrs. 
Fowler  &  Van  Natta's  Tregrehan  who  won  the 
sweepstakes  in  1882  as  the  best  bull  of  any  age 
or  breed  over  a  combined  show  of  seven  Here- 
fords and  eight  Shorthorns  of  the  year.  Mr. 


by  Lord  Wilton.  This  cow  took  the  sweep- 
stakes as  the  best  Hereford  female  of  any  age 
at  St.  Louis,  1882.  The  second  prize  went  to 
C.  K.  Parmelee,  of  Wolcott,  Ind.,  for  his  cow 
Silvia.  (fl  285)  In  the  two-year-old  class  the 
exhibit  was  an  extraordinary  one,  and  was  most 
hotly  contested,  as  there  is  seldom  seen  such  a 
grand  display  of  in-calf  heifers.  The  first 
prize  was  awarded  to  Princess,  a  prize  heifer, 
imported  and  owned  by  C.  K.  Parmelee.  The 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


second  prize  went  to  Duchess  12th,  also  an 
imported  heifer,  and  owned  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Clark.  In  the  yearling  class,  Messrs.  Fowler 
&  Van  Natta  took  first  prize  with  Crocus, 
Messrs.  Earl  &  Stuart  taking  second  with  Belle. 
For  heifer  calves  the  first  went  to  a  calf  by 
Tregrehan,  bred  and  owned  by  Messrs.  Fowler 
&  Van  Natta;  the  second  went  to  Earl  & 
Stuart  for  a  calf  by  Lord  Wilton. 

In  the  sweepstakes  ring  for  best  herd,  the 
Herefords  and  Shorthorns  competed  against 
each  other.  It  will  be  remembered  that  at 
previous  year's  show,  the  aged  herds  consisted 
of  one  bull  and  four  cows,  and  that  the  judges 
placed  the  first  prize  on  a  herd  of  Shorthorns, 
while  the  Herefords  were  forced  to  be  contented 
with  second  place.  This  year,  the  rule  was, 
herds  to  consist  of  one  bull  two  years  old  or 
over,  one  cow  three  years  old  or  over,  one 
heifer  two  years,  one  heifer  one  year,  and  one 
under  one  year  old.  This  year  the  fortunes 
were  reversed  and  the  first  prize  was  placed  on 
Fowler  &  Van  Natta's  herd  of  Herefords,  at 
the  head  of  which  stood  Tregrehan,  and  among 
the  females  were  Viola,  Crocus  and  Actress. 
The  second  place  went  to  Mr.  Wilhoit's  Short- 
horn herd.  The  third  prize  went  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Clark's  Hereford  herd,  at  the  head  of 
which  stood  Anxiety  3d,  and  the  females  of 
which  were  Peerless,  Duchess  12th,  Silver  and 
Flossie. 

In  the  young  beef  herds,  under  two  years  old, 
the  Shorthorns  did  not  draw  a  prize.  The 
first  prize  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Fowler  & 
Van  Natta's  young  herd  of  Herefords;  the 
second  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Earl  &  Stuart, 
who  had  a  choice  herd  of  young  things,  at  the 
head  of  which  stood  the  bull  Jumbo. 

NEW  ENGLAND  FAIR,  1883.— The  New  Eng- 
land Agricultural  Society,  which  held  its  an- 
nual meeting  at  Manchester,  N.  H.,  Septem- 
ber 4th  to  7th,  1883,  had  a  good  display  of 
stock.  In  the  Hereford  class  there  were 
awarded  to  J.  P.  Kimball,  of  Canterbury,  N. 
H.,  first  and  second  for  two-year-old  bulls, 
second  prize  for  yearling  bull,  first  for  bull 
calf,  first  and  second  for  aged  cows,  first  for 
two-year-old  heifer,  first  for  yearling  heifer, 
and  first  for  heifer  calf.  To  Seth  Quimby,  of 
Bow,  N.  H.,  first  prize  for  yearling  bull.  The 
sweepstakes  gold  medal  for  best  bull  was  given 
to  J.  P.  Kimball  for  his  bull  Major,  and  a 
silver  medal  for  his  cow  Mollie  Holmes.  Mr. 
Kimball  also  took  the  Hereford  herd  premium. 

Mr.  W.  P.  Small,  of  Canterbury,  N.  H.,  in 
the  grade  class  showed  Herefords  and  won  first 
and  second  prize  for  two-year-old  heifer  and 
first  for  heifer  calf,  against  other  breeds.  He 


also  took  first  and  second  prize  for  two-year- 
old  steers  broken  to  the  yoke,  and  first  prize  for 
yearling  steers  broken  to  the  yoke.  The 
"Country  Gentleman"  had  the  following  to 
say  of  this  fair: 

"The  'Herefords  attracted  great  attention. 
One  point  of  value  operating  to  make  this 
breed  and  the  Devons  popular  in  New  England 
is  the  beauty  and  usefulness  of  the  oxen.  The 
best  yokes  of  working  oxen  and  fat  cattle  at  this 
show  were  of  these  breeds.  W.  P.  Small,  of 
Canterbury,  and  J.  P.  Kimball,  of  the  same 
place,  showed  over  twenty  head  each,  and 
there  was  not  a  poor  Hereford  in  the  pens. 
The  New  England  Hereford  breeders  call  these 
cattle  excellent  in  the  dairy  as  well  as  for  work- 
ing and  the  shambles.  Judging  from  the  in- 
terest shown  at  this  fair  the  Hereford  is  gain- 
ing in  popular  favor  in  the  Eastern  States." 

AT  THE  IOWA  STATE  FAIR,  1883. — The 
Hereford  breeders  were:  Wyoming  Hereford 
Association,  of  Cheyenne;  Mr.  Ben.  Hershey, 
of  Muscatine,  la.,  Swan  Bros.  &  Kaufman,  of 
Indianola,  Iowa ;  G.  S.  Burleigh,  of  Mechanics- 
ville,  Iowa ;  W.  C.  McGavock,  of  Franklin,  Mo. 

Best  aged  bull,  first  prize,  Wyoming  Here- 
ford Association  (Rudolph)  ;  second,  G.  S. 
Burleigh.  Best  two-year-old  bull,  first  prize, 
G.  S.  Burleigh.  Best  one-year-old  bull,  first 


BURLEIGH'S   PRIDE. 

Cross-bred   from  Angus  sire   and  Hereford  dam  by  H.   G. 
Burleigh,    Vassalboro,    Me. 

and  second  prizes,  Wyoming  Hereford  Ass'n. 
Best  bull  calf,  first  prize,  Wyoming  Hereford 
Ass'n. 

Aged  cow,  first  prize,  G.  S.  Burleigh ;  second, 
Wyoming  Hereford  Ass'n.  Best  two-year-old 
female,  first  prize,  Swan  Bros.  &  Kaufman; 
second,  W.  C.  McGavock.  Best  one-year-old 
heifer,  first  prize,  Wyoming  Hereford  Ass'n ; 
second,  G.  S.  Burleigh.  Best  heifer  calf,  first 
and  second  prizes,  Wyoming  Hereford  Ass'n. 


440 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Sweepstakes:  All  breeds  competing.  Third 
prize,  Wyoming  Hereford  Ass'n. 

THE  PLATT  PRIZE  HEREFORD  STEER. — T"he 
champion  Hereford  steer  at  Smithfield,  1883, 
was  bred  by  Mr.  Frederick  Platt,  of  Upper 
Breinton,  Hereford,  England.  This  steer  was 
two  years,  four  months  and  two  weeks  and  four 
days  old,  and  was  bred  from  the  Hereford  stock 
of  Mr.  Aaron  Rogers  on  the  dam's  side.  His 
sire  was  Horace  2492  (3877).  (fl  286)  This 
bull  Horace  was  the  animal  that  Mr.  Platt  paid 
$2,500  for  when  he  was  ten  years  old.  He  had 


PLUSH. 

Grand  sweepstakes  carcass,  Chicago  Pat  Stock  Show,  1886. 
Fed  by  John  Gosling. 

been  the  stock  bull  in  Mr.  John  Price's  herd  at 
Court  House,  Pembridge,  Eng.  He  was  a  bull 
of  remarkable  substance,  and  covered  with  a 
curly  coat  of  hair  that  is  seldom  equaled.  He 
was  such  a  prepotent  sire  that  he  conveyed  his 
good  qualities  to  most  of  his  descendants,  and 
many  of  his  get  have  been  prize  winners  in  the 
show  ring. 

The  steer  weighed  1,680  pounds,  and  won  in 
a  ring  of  ten  competitors.  There  were  shown  in 
the  same  ring  a  steer  bred  by  Mr.  Thos.  Lewis, 
of  Woodhouse,  sired  by  Young  Sir  Frank  2669 
(4274) ;  two  more  steers  bred  by  Mr.  Lewis 
Lloyd,  of  Monks  Orchard,  sired  by  Lord  Wilton 
4057  (4740),  of  which  so  much  was  said  as  a 
stock  getter;  another,  bred  by  J.  R.  Hill,  by 
Commander  3209  (4452),  the  Mrs.  Edwards 
bull.  The  second  prize  in  the  ring,  however, 
went  to  a  second  steer  exhibited  by  Mr.  Platt, 
which  was  also  by  Horace.  The  third  prize 
went  to  a  steer  bred  by  the  late  Mr.  Morris,  of 
Weston. 

We  quote  the  following  from  the  "Breeders' 
Journal"  report  of  the  KANSAS  CITY  FAT 
STOCK  SHOW  FOR  1883 : 

The  two  important  exhibits  of  live  stock  in 
America  for  1883,  the  first  at  Kansas  City,  the 


second  at  Chicago,  have  made  a  long  stride 
toward  settling  the  merits  of  the  breeds. 

The  Kansas  City  Show  was  the  first  that  had 
been  held  there,  and  was  a  very  creditable  open- 
ing. The  Herefojxls  were  represented  by  W. 
E.  Campbell,  of  Caldwell,  Kansas,  with  a  year- 
ling heifer  and  steer  from  Texas  cows  and  a 
Hereford  bull  and  five  heifer  calves.  This 
exhibit  was  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  at- 
tractive of  the  show,  as  indicating  the  potency 
of  the  Herefords  and  their  ability  to  improve 
the  common  cattle  of  the  country.  They  were 
of  fine  quality,  and  would  have  passed  without 
many  doubts  for  thoroughbreds. 

Fielding  W.  Smith,  of  Woodlandville,  Mo., 
had  on  exhibition  five  yearling  steers,  the  get 
of  Dictator,  (1J287)  the  champion  bull  at  St. 
Louis  in  1881  and  1882.  These  were  out  of 
Shorthorn  cows,  and  were  of  great  substance ; 
one  of  them  was  as  perfect  a  beast  as  there  was 
in  the  show,  and  we  hope  to  see  him  and  his 
master  another  year,  the  steer  having  passed 
the  interim  in  the  hands  of  a  good  feeder. 

Messrs.  Scott  &  Broaders,  of  Leavenworth, 
Kansas,  exhibited  a  half-blood  Hereford  steer 
— a  very  smooth,  level  animal,  not  fat  enough 
to  win,  but  an  excellent  butcher's  beast. 
Messrs.  Gudgell  &  Simpson,  Independence, 
Mo.,  exhibited  a  very  good  pair  of  pure-bred 
Hereford  steers.  Messrs.  A.  A.  Crane  &  Sons, 
of  Osco,  111.,  exhibited  a  pair  of  thoroughbreds 
and  one  grade  Hereford  bullock.  T.  E.  Miller, 
of  Beecher,  111.,  exhibited  a  pure-bred,  fat 
Hereford  cow.  Messrs.  Seabury  &  Sample,  of 
Lafayette,  Ind.,  exhibited  a  yearling  grade 
Hereford  steer  of  good  quality.  Messrs. 
Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  of  Fowler,  Ind.,  made 
an  exhibit  of  the  grade  Hereford  steer  Benton's 
Champion.  Thomas  Clark,  of  Beecher,  111., 
exhibited  his  yearling  grade  Hereford  steers 
Nip  and  Tuck.  These  attracted  a  good  deal  of 
attention,  and  were  very  creditable  steers. 

The  Herefords  made  a  very  creditable  show, 
Adams  Earl  winning  on  Hereford  bullocks 
three  and  under  four  years  old,  with  Wabash 
(ff  288)  first  premium;  A.  A.  Crane  &  Sons 
taking  second.  A.  A.  Crane  &  Sons  also  took 
first  premium  on  Hereford  bullocks  two  and 
under  three  years  old.  (rudgell  &  Simpson 
took  first  and  second  on  Hereford  steers  one 
and  under  two  years.  T.  E.  Miller  took  first 
premium  on  Hereford  cow  three  years  old  and 
over;  Gudgell  &  Simpson  taking  second. 
Adams  Earl  took  special  premium,  a  farm 
wagon,  for  best  Hereford  animal  in  the  show, 
on  pure-bred  steer  Wabash.  W.  E.  Campbell 
took  special  premium  of  $25  on  Hereford  cow. 

The  Shorthorns  were  fairly  represented,  J. 


HISTOEY    OF    HEEEFQED    CATTLE 


441 


H.  Potts  &  Son  taking  the  champion  prize  for 
best  steer  in  the  show  with  the  three-year-old 
Shorthorn  steer  Starlight.  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta  took  champion  prize  over  all  breeds  for 
best  two-year-old  in  the  show  with  Benton's 
Champion.  Thos.  Clark  took  champion  prize 
for  best  yearling  beast  in  the  show  with  the 
steer  Tuck. 

With  the  figures  before  us,  it  is  well  to  make 
the  comparison  that  they  enable  us  to  do.  The 
champions  by  ages  for  the  highest  honors — the 
best  beasts  in  the  show — were  Starlight,  Ben- 
ton's  Champion,  and  Tuck.  Their  ages  and 
weights  were  as  follows : 

Age  in       G'n  p'r  Name  of 

days.  Wt.    day.  Exhibitor.  Breed.  Bullock. 

1382    2170    1.57    J.   H.    Potts    &    Son.  G.  S'horn.  Starlight. 

911    1885    2.06    Fowler    &   VanNatta.  G.  H'ford.  B.  Cham. 

526    1240    2.35    Thos.    Clark.  G.  H'ford.  Tuck. 

1408    2350    1.66    Adams  Earl.  T.  H'ford.  Wabash. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  Starlight  is  one  year 
three  and  one-half  months  older  than  Benton's 
Champion,  and  only  weighed  285  pounds  more. 
The  only  open  question  is  the  one  of  quality.  If 
Starlight  was  in  quality  much  better  'than 
Benton's  Champion,  it  might  be  an  excuse  .or 
reason  why  the  championship  should  have  been 
given  him,  but  we  think  that  the  steer  Benton's 
Champion  was  the  better  quality.  And  if  Tuck 
was  slaughtered  he  would  show  a  better  quality 
of  meat  than  either,  though  he  had  not  as  much 
weight  for  age  as  had  Benton's  Champion. 
There  is  a  tendency  with  judges  to  give  the 
awards  to  the  larger  bullock. 

It  is  perhaps  well  to  compare  the  merits  of 
Starlight  and  Wabash.  Wabash  is-  116  days 
or  nearly  four  months  older  than  Starlight,  and 
weighed  180  pounds  the  most.  Although  four 
months  older,  he  has  made  a  gain  per  day  of 
1.66,  while  Starlight  has  only  made  1.57. 

A  feature  at  this  show  was  the  sale  of  Here- 
fords  by  Mr.  Adams  Earl,  of  Lafayette,  Ind., 
making  an  average  of  nearly  $600 — nearly  or 
quite  $100  more  than  the  best  sale  of  Angus  or 
Galloways. 

THE  CHICAGO  FAT  STOCK  SHOW,  1883, 
opened  (to  quote  the  "Breeders'  Journal"  re- 
port), with  one  of  the  largest  exhibits  ever  made 
since  its  first  opening,  and  with  more  satis- 
factory financial  results.  We  have  no  need  to 
call  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  manage- 
ment of  the  show  held  a  year  ago ;  to  the  gross 
and  glaring  frauds  as  to  the  ages  of  steers  ex- 
hibited by  Shorthorn  exhibitors,  and  the  pro- 
tection which  they  had  from  the  president  of 
the  board  and  the  Shorthorn  element  in  and 
out  of  the  board. 

We  have  no  need  to  call  the  attention  of  our 
readeis  to  the  strenuous  efforts  made  by  the 


president  and  his  associates  to  defeat  the 
resolution  requiring  all  animals  that  should  be 
exhibited  at  future  shows  to  undergo  a  critical 
examination  by  a  competent  veterinary  surgeon 
and  two  competent  and  experienced  breeders 
of  cattle,  to  determine  their  ages  by  the  denti- 
tion of  teeth,  being  able  to  defeat  the  resolu- 
tion at  the  January  meeting,  but  were  not  able 
to  defeat  it  at  the  February  meeting. 

The  show  opened  on  the  14th  ult.  with  the 
following  entries:  95  Herefords  or  their 
grades;  about  300  Shorthorns  or  their  grades; 
a  few  Scots  and  Holsteins.  In  the  classes 
where  all  breeds  competed,  the  premiums 
awarded  to  Herefords  were  as  follows: 

Grades  or  crosses:  Best  steer  or  spayed 
heifer  three  and  under  four  years,  1st,  C.  M. 
Culbertson,  Roan  Boy,  grade  Hereford.  Best 
steer  or  spayed  heifer  two  and  under  three 
years,  1st,  Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Benton's 
Champion,  grade  Hereford.  Best  steer  one 
and  under  two  years,  2d,  Thomas  Clark,  Tuck, 
grade  Hereford.  Sweepstakes:  Best  steer 
or  cow  in  this  class,  C.  M.  Culbertson,  Roan 
Boy,  grade  Hereford.  Sweepstakes:  Best  steer 
or  spayed  heifer  three  years  and  under  four, 
judged  by  feeders,  Mr.  Culbertson's  Roan  Boy. 


HENRY   F.   RUSSELL. 
Westonbury,  Herefordshire. 

Grand  Sweepstakes:  Best  steer  or  heifer  any 
age  or  breed,  awarded  to  Mr.  Culbertson's  Roan 
Boy. 

Best  lot  of  eight  cattle  three  years  and  under 
four,  all  breeds  competing,  1st,  John  B.  Sher- 
man, Hereford  and  Shorthorn. 


442 


HISTOEY     OF     HEREFOKD     CATTLE 


Best  twelve  cattle  one  year  and  under  two, 
all  breeds,  1st,  Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Here- 
fords;  2d,  C.  M.  Culbertson. 

In  the  competition  for  cost  of  production, 
the  Hercfords  won  in  the  class  for  steer  or 
spayed  heifer  two  and  under  three  years,  first 
premium  on  spayed  heifer  Hattie,  exhibited  by 
G.  S.  Burleigh,  Mechanicsville,  la. 

And  again  in  the  class  for  steer  or  spayed 
heifer  one  and  under  two  years,  first  premium 
to  steer  Stonington,  exhibited  by  R.  J.  Stone, 
Stonington,  111. 

A  large  amount  of  cash  in  special  premiums 
given  at  this  show  from  fund  collected  by  the 


WESTONBURY,  PEMBRIDGE. 
Home   of   Mr.    H.    F.    Russell. 

American  Hereford  Breeders'  Association  was 
won  by  the  following  exhibitors :  Adams  Earl, 
A.  A.  Crane  &  Son,  C.  B.  Stuart,  C.  M.  Cul- 
bertson, Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  B.  Hershey, 
John  B.  Sherman,  Thomas  Clark,  F.  W.  Smith, 
Tom  C.  Ponting,  H.  Norris  &  Son. 

The  special  premium  offered  by  McCormick 
Harvesting  Machine  Company,  for  best  five  cat- 
tle, was  won  by  John  B.  Sherman,  with  grade 
Herefords. 

There  were  a  large  number  of  beasts  slaugh- 
tered. For  the  best  three-year-old  carcass  we 
think  the  Herefords  improperly  beaten,  the  first 
premium  being  given  to  the  Shorthorns,  and 
also  for  the  best  carcass;  and  we  believe  the 
Culbertson  steer,  Roan  Boy,  was  the  best  bul- 
lock, the  most  level,  and  of  the  best  quality. 
The  Potts  steer  was  uneven.  If  the  judges  gave 
the  award  for  the  greatest  amount  of  o.utside 
fat,  then  perhaps  there  was  less  room  for  criti- 
cism. 

THE  SHOWS  OF   1884. 

A  good  showing  of  Herefords  was  made  in 
1884  at  the  leading  shows.  At  the  ILLINOIS 
STATE  FAIR  by  Thomas  Clark,  Geo.  Leigh  & 
Co.,  E.  Esson  and  Jas.  Caldwell. 


At  t  e  ST.  Louis  (Mo.)  FAIR  the  Hereford 
prizes  v  ere  divided  between  Messrs.  C.  M.  Cul- 
bertson, Earl  &  Stuart,  Wm.  Constable,  and 
F.  W.  Smith. 

A  determined  effort  was  made  this  year  by 
the  Hereford  herds  of  MICHIGAN,  marshaled  by 
the  veteran  Hereford  advocate,  Wm.  H. 
Sotham.  The  leading  herds,  those  of  Thomas 
Foster  and  Wm.  Hamilton,  of  Flint,  were 
placed  in  preparation  under  the  management 
of  T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  who  was  given  an  interest 
in  their  winnings.  These  and  other  Michigan 
herds  made  the  rounds  of  the  leading  County 
and  District  fairs,  and  at  the  State  Fair  made 
the  greatest  Hereford  show  ever  seen  on  its 
grounds.  Mr.  R.  G.  Hart,  of  Lapeer,  and 
Edwin  Phelps,  of  Pontiac,  adding  their  herds 
to  those  above  mentioned. 

A  special  fund  of  $2,000  was  raised  among 
the  Hereford  breeders  for  Herefords  at  the 
AMERICAN  FAT  STOCK  SHOW,  and  much  good 
work  was  done  by  enthusiastic  effort. 

The  Herefords  at  the  ROYAL  AGRICULTURAL 
SHOW  at  Shrewsbury  (1884)  scored  an  unpar- 
alleled success ;  the  number  of  Hereford  entries 
largely  exceeded  those  of  any  other  breed  of 
cattle,  and  the  quality  throughout  was  so 
marked  that  they  monopolized  the  attention. of 
visitors.  There  were  144  entries,  but  though 
they  have  no  class  for  family  groups,  there  were 
classes  for  pairs  of  bulls,  classes  for  pairs  of 
heifers,  and  classes  for  four  heifers,  so  that  the 
number  of  animals  exhibited  was  much  larger 
than  that. 

The  first  prize  for  old  bulls  fell  to  Mr.  Aaron 
Roger's  Archibald  (ft  289),  the  second  to  Lord 
Coventry's  Fisherman  (fl290). 

The  first  prize  for  cows  in  milk  or  in  calf 
was  awarded  to  Lord  Coventry's  Golden  Treas- 
ure. 

The  first  prize  for  cow  and  two  offspring  was 
awarded  to  Mr.  H.  W.  Taylor  for  the  cow  Ros- 
amond and  her  produce. 

The  first  prize  for  four  heifers  went  to  the 
executors  of  Mr.  T.  J.  Carwardine,  and  the  first 
for  pairs  of  heifers  was  awarded  to  Mr.  John 
Price  (H  291). 

There  was  never  such  a  show  of  Herefords 
made  in  the  world  before. 

1885.— AT    THE    FAIRS    (1(292.) 

The  ILLINOIS  STATE  FAIR  was  held  at  Chi- 
cago, on  the  grounds  of  the  Driving  Park,  near 
Douglas  Park,  in  the  western  part  of  the  city. 
A  Hereford  exhibit  creditable  to  the  breed  was 
made  by  Messrs.  Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  of  Fow- 
ler, Ind. ;  Iowa  Hereford  Cattle  Co.,  of  Indian- 
ola,  la.;  J.  C.  Bertram,  of  Aurora,  111.;  C.  M. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Culbcrtson,  of  Chicago;  A.  C.  Reed  (fl293), 
of  Goodenow,  111.;  E.  E.  Esson  (ft  294),  of 
Peotone,  111.;  Jas.  H.  McEldowney  (fl295), 
of  Illinois,  showing  about  60  head  all  told. 

At  the  Fair  at  Bismarck,  Kansas,  the  Here- 
ford exhibit  was  by  J.  S.  Hawes,  Shockey  & 
(Jibb  (If  29(5,  11297),  Lueien  Scott,  G.  A.  Fow- 
ler, all  of  Kansas  (*[f  298). 

At  the  Iowa  State  Fair,  for  the  sweepstakes 
for  the  best  herd,  there  were  ten  herds  shown 
of  the  different  breeds.  Third  premium  was 
<.>;rincd  for  the  Herefords  by  the  Iowa  Here- 
ford Cattle  Co.  (1j  299).  A.  A.  Crane,  of  Illi- 
nois, and  Ford  &  Drummic,  of  Iowa,  made  up  a 
fine  exhibit  (fl300). 

The  Michigan  State  Fair  witnessed  another 
splendid  show  of  Herefords.  This  year  the  ex- 
hibit came  from  the  herds  of  William  Hamil- 
ton, Thos.  Foster,  Foster  &  Pearsall,  Edwin 
IMu-lps,  R.  G.  Hart  (If  301),  of  Michigan,  and 
F.  H.  Johnson  &  Co.  (ff302),  of  Indiana, 
There  was  as  usual  in  Michigan  no  competition 
between  breeds. 

At  the  Indiana  State  Fair,  the  Herefords 
were  represented  by  the  Indiana  herds,  F.  H. 
Johnson  &  Co.,  of  South  Bend,  and  the  Indiana 
Blooded  Stock  Co.,  of  Indianapolis,  making  a 
most  creditable  show. 

The  Herefords  were  exhibited  at  Nebraska 
State  Fair  1885,  by  J.  S.  Hawes  (fl  303),  Kan- 
sas, his  herd  being  headed  by  Sir  Evelyn 
(ff  304).  The  rest  of  the  exhibits  were  made  by 
Chas.  M.  Sears,  of  Aurora,  Neb.;  E.  E.  Day, 
of  South  Bend,  Neb.;  A.  A.  Crane,  of  Osco, 
111.,  the  latter  herd  headed  by  Equinox  2d,  a 
'.'-year-old  weighing  1,700  pounds.  There  was 
no  sweepstakes  between  breeds  (fl  305,  fl306). 

At  the  English  Royal  Show,  1885,  there  was 
no  competition  between  breeds.  The  Here- 
fords were  well  represented.  Exhibitors  were : 
J.  Price,  Earl  of  Coventry,  H.  R.  Hall  (fl  307), 
H.  W.  Taylor  (If  308),  J.  Rankin,  M.  P.;  W. 
•Pudge,  C.  Knott,  T.  S.  Minton  (fl309),  J.  H. 
Arkwright,  A.  Hughes  (ff310),  F.  J.  Gough, 
S.  Miller,  A.  P.  Turner  (ff311),  J.  Naylor,  J. 
R.  Hill,  S.  Robinson  (ff312). 

The  Show  was  a  very  creditable  one  to  the 
Hereford  cattle. 

At  the  GLOUCESTER  AGRICULTURAL  SHOW, 
among  the  Shorthorn  exhibitors  were  some  of 
the  best  of  the  Shorthorn  breeders.  "Bell's 
\\Vekly  Messenger"  says  of  the  Herefords: 
"They  made  a  magnificent  display."  The  aged 
bulls  were  H.  W.  Taylor's  Maidstone  (ff313), 
Lord  Coventry's  Good  Boy,  H.  R.  Hall's  Hot- 
spur (|[314).  They  stood  first,  second  and 
third  in  the  order  named.  Mr.  Taylor's  Maid- 
stone  took  the  champion  prize  for  the  best  male 


animal  of  any  breed  in  the  show,  and  his  Van- 
ity 7th  likewise  for  the  best  female  in  the 
show.  "If  these  honors  had  not  been  repeated 
so  often  in  England  this  year,"  says  the  "Mes- 
senger," "we  might  attempt  to  enlarge  upon 
these  awards."  An  interesting  fact  in  con- 
nection with  these  sweepstakes  awards  is  that 
of  the  three  judges,  two  were  Shorthorn 
breeders. 

At  the  Royal  Counties  Show,  1885,  at  South- 
ampton, all  breeds  in  competition,  Earl  Coven- 
try took  the  champion  prize  with  his  Hereford 
bull  Goodboy,  defeating  the  Shorthorn,  Sus- 
sex (1[316)  and  Devon  (TJ317)  breeds. 

Mr.  John  •  Price  took  champion  prize  for 
bull  and  offspring  at  BRIGHTON. 

At  the  Oxfordshire  Fair,  1885,  the  Earl  of 
Coventry  won  sweepstakes  with  Hereford  bull 
Goodboy  and  Hereford  cow  Golden  Treasure, 
in  competition  with  all  breeds.  Mr.  Joseph 
Darby,  writing  to  the  "Farmer,"  says:  "Mr. 
Handley's  Self  Esteem  2d  (If  318),  which  here 
came  into  collision  with  the  Earl  of  Coventry's 
Good  Boy,  had  for  the  past  two  seasons  been 
the  crack  Shorthorn  of  the  period." 

CHICAGO  FAT  STOCK  SHOW,  1885. — At 
the  American  Fat  Stock  Show,  1885,  the 
Herefords  scored  a  splendid  victory.  The  ex- 
hibit was  one  of  the  best  made  at  this  show, 
and  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agriculture  was 
entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  advancement 
they  had  made  in  the  selection  of  judges.  It 


PURE-BRED     STEER. 

Bred  by  F.  Platt,  Barnby  Manor,  Newark-on-Trent,  Cham- 
pion at  Smithfield,  1886. 


was  claimed  by  the  Shorthorn  men  that  they 
had  not  suitable  preparation  for  this  show. 
This  statement  was  made  by  them  to  account 
for  their  defeat,  but  they  proposed  to  come  the 
next  year  with  a  stronger  exhibit.  It  is  well 
to  consider  whether  this  claim  for  want  of  read- 
iness for  this  show  was  valid  or  not.  First  in 
their  three-year-old  class,  Messrs.  Morrow  & 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Renick  came  with  Schooler  (fl319),  Bedford 
4th,  Renick  Sharon,  and  Weathers,  the  pick  of 
the  Kentucky  herds,  and  high  up  in  the  best 
class,  and  they  ought  to  be  good  representatives 
of  the  best  Shorthorn  blood,  and  we  believe 
were  fully  up  to  anything  that  the  Shorthorn 
men  ever  exhibited  at  this  show,  having  indi- 
vidual and  uniform  merit.  Their  two-year-old 
exhibits  were  very  creditable  to  the  breed,  and 
in  their  one-year-old,  they  may  consider  them- 
selves fortunate  if  they  can  produce  another 
Cleveland  (fl320).  Under  one-year-old  they 

were  certainly  very 
weak.  In  grades 
and  crosses  they 
were  represented  by 
such  breeders  as 
George  Elliott,  of 
Harristown,  111. ; 
J.  H.  Potts  &  Son, 
Jacksonville,  111. ; 
B.  Waddell,  Ma- 
rion, Iowa ;  John 
B.  Sherman,  Chi- 
cago, 111.;  C.  S. 
Barclay,  W.  Lib- 
erty, la.;  J.  R. 
Peak,  Winchester, 

Barnby  Manor,  -  Nottinghamshire.    1U..J      x  OrbeS    BrOS. 

(If  322  and  323), 

Henry,  111.;  T.  W.  Hunt,  Ashton,  111.,  and 
John  D.  Gillette.  Our  readers  will  recognize 
among  these  some  of  the  leading  Shorthorn 
breeders  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Gillette,  especially,  came  with  a  world- 
wide reputation  as  a  bullock  breeder,  and  is 
supposed  to  have  done  more  to  give  reputation 
to  the  Shorthorn  breed  of  cattle  than  any  other 
living  man,  and  while  his  cattle  rank  high  as 
grades  and  crosses,  the  fact  still  remains  that 
Mr.  Gillette  gave  his  life  work  to  developing 
the  Shorthorn  as  a  butcher's  beast,  having  all 
this  time  selected  the  best  sires  from  among 
the  Shorthorn  families. 

The  Polled  Angus  breeds  were  represented 
by  six  thoroughbreds  and  fifteen  grades  or  cross 
breeds". 

The  Holsteins  had  a  small  representation  in 
thoroughbreds  and  grades. 

The  Hereford  exhibits  were  creditable  to  the 
breeders  (ft  321,  1J324),  both  in  thoroughbreds 
and  grades.  For  the  winnings  we  refer  to  our 
account  in  the  different  classes.  The  judging 
for  the  different  breeds  in  their  purity  was  com- 
paratively a  tame  affair. 

The  interest  culminated  when  the  three- 
year-old  grades  and  crosses  were  brought  into 
competition,  and  the  exhibits  were  as  follows: 


Exhibitor   and    animal.                             Weight.  Blood. 

C.    M.    Culbertson,    Scott 2140  G.  Hd. 

C.   M.   Culbertson,   Schuttler 2106  G.  Hd. 

C.    M.   Culbertson,   Reynolds 2055  G.  Hd. 

C.   M.  Culbertson,  Dysart 1890  G.  Hd. 

C.   M.   Culbertson,  Pearce 1945  G.  Hd. 

J.  B.   Sherman,  Albright 2220  G.  Hd. 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,    McGregor 2345  G.  Hd. 

Fowler   &   Van    Natta,    Regulus 2345  G.  Hd. 

Adams   Earl,   Dick 2160  G.  Hd. 

Adams    Earl,    Excelsior 2070  G.  Hd. 

Lucien    Scott,   Jersey 1460       Hd   &  J'rs'y 

Ind.    Bl'd    S.    Co.,    Stonington 1900  G.  Hd. 

J.    B.    Sherman,    Warfield 2125  S.  H.  G. 

J.    B.    Sherman,   Richland 2185  S.  H.  G. 

J.    B.   Sherman,   Longmore 2220  S.  H.  G. 

John   D.    Gillette,   J.    P.    Reynolds 2100  S.  H.  G. 

John   D.    Gillette,    Right-About 2050  S.  H.  G. 

John    D.    Gillette,    McCue 2015  S.  H.  G. 

George   Elliott,    Little    Britain 1765  S.  H.  G. 

J.   H.  Potts  &  Son,   Champion 1940  S.  H.  G. 

J.   H.  Potts   &   Son,   Surprise 1685  S.  H.  G. 

Swan   &    Bosler,   Jake 232(y  S.  H.  G. 

Morrow  &    Renick,    Bales 2320  S.  H.  G. 

John    D.    Gillette,    Barney 2245  S.  H.  G. 

John    D.    Gillette,    Cherry 1750  S.  H.  G. 

B.    Waddell,    Dan 2080  S.  H.  G. 

Lucien    Scott,    Boots 2050  H.  G. 

James  J.    Hill,    Hutcheon 2455  An.  G. 

James   J.    Hill,    Turiff 2140  An.  G. 

The  first  premium  went  to  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta,  and  the  second  and  third  to  Mr.  Cul- 
bertson. The  exhibit  of  two-year-old  grades 
and  crosses  was  large  and  as  follows : 


Weight. 
...  1900 
...  1500 
...  1705 
..  1905 


Exhibitor   and   animal. 

C.    S.   Barclay,   White  Cedar 

Charles  B.   Stuart,  Texas  Boy 

Seabury    &    Sample,    Joe 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Dandy  Boy. 

Fowler  &  Van   Natta,   Benton  Wi!l 1805 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,   Adams 1930 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Peter 1304 

B.    Hershey,    Prospect 1920 

J.   H.    Potts   &   Son,    Red   Cloud 1810 

J.  H.  Potts  &  Son,  Victor 1805 

J.   H.  Potts  &  Son,   Major  Taylor 1580 

J.   H.    Potts   &  Son,   Richmond 1545 

J.   H.   Potts  &  Son.   Billie  S 1640 

J.    H.    Potts   &   Son,    Mack 1610 

J.   R.  Peak  &  Son,  Roan  Boy 1685 

J.  R.  Peak  &  Son,  Wild  Bill 1580 

John  D.  Gillette,    Driver    1760 

John  D.  Gillette,   Rocket   1900 

John  D.  Gillette,  Victor   1775 

John  D.  Gillette,   Doc   Woods 1865 

John  D.  Gillette,  Col.   Mills 1595 

John  D.  Gillette,    Constance    1655 

John  D.  Gillette,    Red    Plum 1560 

John  D.  Gillette,   Cuba  1770 

John  D.  Gillette,    Cain    1730 

J.    B.    Sherman,   Gem 1840 

J.    B.    Sherman,    Turk 1620 

Forbes    Bros.,    R.    Brodus 1800 

Forbes    Bros.,   Varna 1690 

Lucien     Scott,     Captain 1920 


Blood. 
S.  H.  G. 
G.  Hd. 
G.  Hd. 
G.  Hd. 
G.  Hd. 
G.  Hd. 
G.  Hd. 
G.  Hd. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  S.  H. 
G.  Hoi. 


In  the  two-year-old  class  grades  and  crosses 
the  Herefords  found  their  weakest  place.  The 
first  premiums  went  to  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son,  the 
second  to  John  B.  Sherman,  both  first  and  sec- 
ond Shorthorn  grades,  the  third  to  Fowler  & 
Van  Natta's  grade  Hereford. 

The  yearlings  were  as  follows : 

Exhibitor  and  animal.                          .  Weight.  Blood. 

Adams  Earl,  Sir  Bartle  1st 1470  G.  Hd. 

Adams    Earl,    Sir   Bartle    2d 1515  G.  Hd. 

Adams  Earl,   Sir  Bartle  3d 1420  G.  Hd. 

Adams   Earl,    Sir    Bartle   4th 1295  G.  Hd. 

Adams  Earl,   Sir   Bartle  5th 1325  G.  Hd. 

Adams    Earl,    LaFayette 1220  G.  Hd. 

Swan   &  Bosler  Co.,    Roan  Dan 1155  G.  Hd. 

Fowler  &  Van   Natta,   Sam 1355  G.  Hd. 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Matthews 1280  G.  Hd. 

Ind.    Blooded   Stock   Co.,    Lindall 1555  G.  Hd. 

Ind.   Blooded  Stock  Co.,  Leland 1475  G.  Hd. 

Ind.   Blooded  Stock  Co.,  Photograph....  1290  G.  Hd. 


HISTORY     OF    HE HE FORD     CATTLE 


445 


Exhibitor   and    aaimal.  Weight.  Blood. 

Seabury   &   Sample,    Bob 1435  G.  Hd. 

Seabury    &    Sample,    Mort 1390  G.  Hd. 

Seabury    &    Sample,    Sam 1185  G.  Hd. 

Seabury  &   Sample,    Jack 1630  G.  Hd. 

J.   H.   Potts  &  Son,   Bob  Moore 1325  G.  S.  H. 

J.  R.  Peak  &   Son,  Tommylin 1140  G.  S.  H. 

J.   R.   Peak  &  Son,   Henry 1275  G.  S.  H. 

J.  R.  Peak  &  Son,  Marcus 1155  G.  S.  J. 

J.    R.   Peak  &  Son,    Richard 1170  G.  S.  H. 

J.  R.   Peak  &  Son,  Arch r 1290  G.  S.  H. 

J.    R.    Peak  &   Son,    Rover G.  S.  H. 

John    D.    Gillette,    Roy 1470  G.  S.  H. 

John   D.    Gillette,    Champion 1505  G.  S.  H. 

John    D.    Gillette,    Rob 1260  G.  S.  H. 

John  D.   Gillette,   Lightfoot 1280  G.  S.  H. 

B.    Waddell,    Philip 1065  G.  S.  H. 

T.  W.  Hunt,   Billy 1210  G.  S.  H. 

T.    W.    Hunt,    Reliance 1200  G.  S.  H. 

Lucien  Scott,   Last  Chance 1300  G.  Hoi. 

Wm.    R.    Estill,   Flash 1360  G.  An. 

The  first,  second  and  third  premiums  went 
to  Adams  Earl  for  Hereford  grades,  sired  by 
Sir  Bartle  Frere  (ff  325). 

The  foregoing  tables  are  interesting  as  com- 
paring the  weights  of  Herefords  with  other 
breeds  and  prove  that  by  the  scales  test  the 
average  for  Hereford  has  no  superior,  if  indeed 
they  are  equaled. 

The  show  of  calves  numbered  twenty-eight 
entries,  one-half  of  which  were  by  Hereford 
bulls.  The  first  and  second  premiums  went  to 
J.  R.  Price,  Williamsville,  111.,  on  Herefords. 

For  best  grades,  any  age,  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta's  Regulus  (fl  326)  was  winner.  In  sweep- 
stakes by  ages  the  show  was  confined  to  winning 
steers  in  the  different  classes,  and  in  the  three- 
ycar-old  class  the  competitors  were  the  pure- 
bred Shorthorn  Schooler,  and  the  pure-bred 
Hereford,  Suspense,  and  the  grade  Hereford 
Regulus.  The  Fowler  &  Van  Natta  steer  Reg- 
ulus took  the  champion  prize  as  the  best  three- 
year-old  in  the  show.  It  is  well  to  state  here 
that  Suspense,  the  pure-bred  Hereford,  would 
have  undoubtedly  taken  this  prize  but  for  the 
fact  that  he  was  somewhat  overdone. 

In  the  two-year-old  class,  Leigh  &  Crane's 
pure-bred  Hereford  steer  Sampson  took  the 
champion  honors.  In  the  yearling  class  the 
pure-bred  Shorthorn  steer  Cleveland  took  the 
champion  prize.  This  beautiful  Shorthorn  may 
truly  be  said  to  have  appropriated  the  Hereford 
type. 

In  the  calf  class  Mr.  J.  R.  Price's  grade 
Hereford  heifer  was  the  champion  winner. 
Thus,  in  four  classes,  three-year-olds,  two-year- 
olds,  yearlings  and  calves,  the  Herefords  took 
three  of  the  prizes  and  the  Shorthorns  one. 

There  was  considerable  complaint  among  the 
losing  Shorthorn  exhibitors  that  the  sweep- 
stakes should  be  confined  to  the  three  first  prize 
steers  in  the  different  classes;  hence  another 
ring  was  created  by  the  Board,  which  was 
termed  the  "consolation  sweepstakes  by  ages." 
It  is  quite  safe  to  say  that  no  amount  of  com- 


plaint by  Hereford  exhibitors  had  ever  brought 
about  such  a  concession. 

The  four  regular  winning  steers  above 
named,  not  being  admitted  to  this  ring,  enabled 
Schooler,  a  Shorthorn,  to  take  a  first  prize  as 
a  three-year-old;  Mr.  J.  J.  Hill's  (If  327)  Ben- 
holm  (Polled  Angus)  to  take  first  as  a  yearling, 
and  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son's  Diamond,  a  grade 
Shorthorn,  to  take  the  first  as  a  calf. 

Messrs.  Morrow  &  Renick  carried  off  the 
prize  for  the  best  pen  of  cattle  three  years  old 
and  under  four,  with  Shorthorns,  and  the  In- 
diana Blooded  Stock  Co.  the  second  with  Here- 
fords. For  the  best  two-year-old  under  three, 
Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  first  with  Herefords; 
John  B.  Sherman,  second  with  Shorthorns. 
For  the  best  pen  of  yearlings,  Adams  Earl, 
with  Herefords ;  second  to  the  Indiana  Blooded 
Stock  Co.,  with  Herefords.  The  best  pen  of 
calves,  J.  A.  Funkhouser  first,  and  the  Swan 
Live  Stock  Co.  second,  both  Herefords. 

The  Shorthorns  won  all  three  prizes  for  heav- 
iest fat  steers  with  overgrown  oxen  that  can 
only  be  produced  at  a  loss.  The  only  merit  in 
the  exhibit  for  heaviest  bullock  is,  that  it  grati- 
fies the  curiosity  of  a  good  many  city  visitors, 
there  being  no  merit  in  either  of  the  three  bul- 
locks. The  Board  later  abolished  this  class. 

For  the  greatest  gain  per  day  in  the  three- 
year-old  class,  Fowler  &  Van  Natta  won  both 
first     and     second 
with  Herefords.   In 
calves,    Mr.    Benj. 
Hershey    took    sec- 
ond  with   a   grade 
Hereford. 

For  the  grand 
sweepstakes  for  the 
best  beast  in  the 
show,  the  compe- 
tition was  between 
Elbert  &  Fall's 
Shorthorn  steer 
Cleveland;  the  In- 
diana Blooded 
Stock  Co.'s  thor- 
oughbred Hereford 
Suspense :  Mr.  J. 
J.  Hill's  'Benholm, 
Polled  Angus;  Messrs.  Fowler  &  Van  Natta's 
Regulus,  grade  Hereford,  and  a  group  of  cows 
not  eligible  elsewhere  in  the  show. 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta's  grade  Hereford  Reg- 
ulus was  awarded  the  honor  as  the  best  beast 
in  the  show.  The  "Breeders'  Gazette"  prize 
for  the  best  animal  in  the  show,  bred  and  raised 
by  the  exhibitor,  was  awarded  to  Mr.  C.  M. 
Culbertson,  on  Dysart  (1J328). 


REES    KEENE, 
Pencraig,    Careleon,    Mon- 
mouthshire. 


446 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


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HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


In  the  dressed  carcass  contest;  for  best  two- 
year-old  carcass,  Seabury  &  Sample's  Joe,  a 
grade  Hereford,  was  winner,  which  also  gained 
the  sweepstakes  for  the  best  carcass  of  any  age. 
For  carcass  showing  the  greatest  amount  of 
edible  beef,  Mr.  Hill's  Turiff  won.  The  carcass 
exhibit  was  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  the 
show.  With  very  few  exceptions  the  carcasses 
were  creditable.  The  weather  was  very  unfa- 
vorable for  the  best  appearance  of  the  meat, 
and  it  was  decided  that  for  future  shows  some 


KATHLEEN. 

Bred  by  A.   P.   Turner   (sire,   The  Grove  3d),  winner  of  15 
first  and  champion  prizes;  exported  to  Argentine,  S.  A. 


provision  should  be  made  by  which  meat  could 
be  cooled,  that  exhibitors  might  have  the  benefit 
of  the  best  appearance  the  different  carcasses 
might  make. 

Not  a  carcass  of  all  that  were  killed  was 
properly  cooled  or  set,  and  this  had  been  true 
up  to  this  time  in  the  majority  of  all  the 
slaughtering  tests.  A  table  of  results  is  in- 
cluded on  opposite  page. 

The  judgment  on  the  whole  was  fair,  impar- 
tial and  intelligent,  and  it  may  be  fairly  stated 
that  more  value  may  be  attached  to  the  awards 
made  at  this  show  than  at  any  former  show. 

At  the  KANSAS  CITY  FAT  STOCK  SHOW  in 
1885  (mentioned  also  in  chapter  38),  for  the 
best  three-year-old  dressed  carcass,  first  pre- 
mium was  gained  by  W.  E.  Campbell,  with 
grade  Hereford. 

The  Herefords  scored  again  for  best  two- 
year-old  carcass,  J.  S.  Hawes  taking  first  pre- 
mium. Mr.  Hawes  also  gained  the  champion- 
ship for  best  dressed  carcass  in  the  show  with 
the  same  two-year-old  Hereford. 

Although  in  competition  between  breeds,  on 
foot,  the  Hereford  took  only  one  premium, 
that  to  James  A.  Funkhouser  for  Challenge 
under  one  year  old,  for  carcasses  they  took  two 
out  of  three  sweepstakes. 

We  present  a  table  on  the  results  of  the 
slaughter  test: 


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Per  ct.  of  carcass.  ^  ^ 

C<1  l~- 

Net  to  live  weight .  §  S? 

Right  hindquarter.  »  « 

Left  hindquarter..  5  j? 

Right  forequarter..  f2  S 

Left  forequarter...  go  £3 

Hide  »  gg 

Tallow S  § 

Weight  of  head  ...  g>  55 

Wcifrht  Of  fppf  JooOlOtOrHOOOiOOtOCO 

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Weight  of  spleen..  ^  N   ^  M   N   ; 

Weight  of  liver....  n   «   J3   3   S   ; 

Weight  of  heart ...  Soosoit-tototot-Siioio 

Weight  of  tongue.  n^t.^.».£t»w&&^S 

Weight  of  lungs. ..  P-oooobosooSbot-     j 

Weight  of  blood...  SS£^55S^SS« 


Live   weight  time 
slaughter  ........ 


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448 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


C.   N.   COSGROVE. 
Le   Sueur,    Minn. 


THE  ENGLISH  SHOWS  FOR   1885. 

The  "Mark  Lane  Express"  said  of  the  Bath 
and  West  of  England  Show  at  Brighton : 

"There  was  one  feature  in  connection  with 
the  show  at  Brighton  which  did  not  appear  on 
the  surface,  but  when  culminated  proved  to  be 
of  a  very  important  and  striking  character. 
This  was  the  large  and  good  class  for  groups 
of  animals,  bull  and  two  of  his  get,  all  pure 
breeds  competing.  As  very  many  of  the  ani- 
mals which  formed  the  several  family  groups 

were  entered  in  the 
ordinary  breed  sec- 
tions, no  idea  of  the 
actual  scope  of  this 
class  could  be  formed 
until  the  several 
groups  had  been  made 
up  from  the  rank 
and  file  of  the  cattle 
and  marshaled  in  the 
ring;  then  it  formed 
the  finest  sight  of 
the  kind  which  any 
show  yard  in  the 
country  has  ever  af- 
forded. Those  who 
witnessed  the  judging 
of  this  remarkable 
competition  in  the  great  horse  ring  will  not  be 
likely  soon  to  forget  the  sight  of  the  twenty- 
one  different  lots,  comprising  groups  of  Here- 
fords,  Devons,  Sussex,  Shorthorns,  and  even 
of  the  Highland  breed.  But  of  this  more  in 
its  place.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  Royal  and 
other  leading  societies  will  do  more  to  encour- 
age similar  competitions,  as  they  are  of  great 
interest,  and  likely  to  prove  practically  useful. 
The  Royal  does  not  pit  breed  against  breed  in 
its  class  for  groups,  but  the  Essex  society  has 
been  doing  good  work  in  this  way.  A  prize  or 
prizes,  worth  winning,  and  open  to  all  comers 
— of  pure  blood — would  be  sure  to  make  breed- 
ers try  their  best  not  only  for  themselves  but 
also  for  the  prestige  of  the  particular  breed  in 
which  they  are  interested.  This  particular 
competition  will  be  something  by  which  to  re- 
member the  Brighton  meeting,  for  it  was  really 
a  show  in  itself. 

"Herefords  were  in  about  the  usual  numbers, 
all  very  select,  and  all  exceedingly  well  shown. 
In  the  small  classes  for  older  bulls,  Mr.  H.  R. 
Hall,  of  Holme  Lacy,  won  with  one  of  Lord 
Wilton's  get,  Hotspur  (7726),  bred  by  the 
late  T.  J.  Carwardine;  Mr.  John  Price's  Hot- 
spur (7028)  (1|  329),  by  Regulus  (4076),  came 
in  second,  so  that  the  position  of  these  two  ani- 


mals was  the  same  as  at  the  Essex  show.  Lord 
Coventry's  Good  boy  (7668)  was  entered  in  this 
class,  but  as  he  had  won  the  first  prize  in  it  last 
year  he  was  not  eligible  to  compete.  Mr.  H. 
W.  Taylor's  Maidstone  (8875),  winner  of  the 
champion  prize  at  Dublin  this  year,  had  really 
no  competition  at  Brighton,  as"  he  did  not  com- 
pete with  the  two  Hotspurs  as  at  Waltham 
Abbey.  In  the  younger  class  Mr.  J.  Price's 
Pembridge,  by  Hotspur  (7028),  was  first,  as  at 
Waltham  Abbey.  The  class  for  yearling  heifers 
was  commended  throughout  by  the  judges,  as  it 
deserved  to  be.  Hereford  breeders  will  be  not 
a  little  indebted  to  the  persistency  with  which 
the  Earl  of  Coventry  exhibits  his  stock;  the 
cattle  are  good,  he  is  always  ready  to  send  them 
far  and  near,  and  the  successes  he  has  met  with 
are  no  more  than  he  deserves. 

"The  competition  in  the  class  for  bulls  of 
any  pure  breed  with  two  of  their  offspring,  to 
which  reference  has  already  been  made,  really 
demands  more  space  than  we  can  devote  to  it. 
The  scope  of  a  competition  of  this  sort  is  really 
greater  than  appears  at  first  sight,  because  the 
whole  of  the  cattle  sections  can  be  drawn  upon. 
As  we  have  said  before,  the  object  of  it  is  pri- 
marily to  show  the  character  of  the  bull's  stock, 
and  also  to  create  a  wholesome  rivalry  between 
the  several  breeds.  At  the  recent  Essex  show 
there  was  a  precisely  similar  class,  and  two  of 
the  groups  competed  again  at  Brighton,  with  a 
different  result,  as  will  be  presently  seen.  The 
competition,  which  was  under  the  head  of  'any 
breed/  comprised  20  entries  of  family  groups, 
namely,  five  families  of  Jerseys  (ft  330),  four 
of  Herefords,  four  of  Sussex,  two  Devons,  two 
Shorthorns,  two  Guernseys,  and  one  Highland 
Scotch  (^[331).  We  are  not  in  a  position  to 
say  positively  that  all  these  groups  were  in 
their  places  before  the  judges,  because  of  the 
difficulty  of  making  a  complete  examination 
whilst  they  were  in  the  ring,  and  many  of  them 
had  elsewhere  no  locus  standi  as  a  group.  It 
will  suffice  to  say,  however,  that  they  not  only 
'filled  the  eye,'  but  they  filled  the  great  horse 
ring — the  only  decent  ring  there  was  on  the 
ground.  As  an  educational  institution  it  far 
and  away  exceeded  anything  else  at  Brighton, 
and  we  take  it  that  it  was  the  best  competition 
of  its  kind  which  has  ever  been  before  the  Brit- 
ish public.  The  Hereford  groups  were  from 
the  herds  of  Mr.  John  Price,  Mr.  S.  Robinson, 
Lord  Coventry,  and  Mr.  T.  Duckham,  M.  P. 
Mr.  Price's  group  won  the  chief  prizes,  which 
consisted  of  a  first  prize  in  the  class,  value  30 
pounds  sterling  ($150),  and  a  silver  cup  offered 
by  the  Marquis  of  Bristol ;  they  were  the  four- 
year-old  bull  Hotspur  (7028),  the.  two-year-old 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


449 


heifer  Dowager,  dam  by  Horace  (3877),  and 
the  yearling  heifer  Venus,  dam  by  Theodore 
3d  (5707).  This  group  was  in  competition 
with  Mr.  Handley's  Shorthorns  at  the  Essex 
show  the  other  day,  namely,  the  white  bull 
Hovingham  (43363),  now  nearly  six  years  old, 
sire  Sir  Arthur  Ingram  (32490)  ;  the  noted 
bull  Self  Esteem  2d,  dam  by  Sir  Robin 
(40720),  and  the  bull  calf  Royal  Hovingham, 
dam  by  Alfred  the  Great,  Self  Esteem  being 
probably  the  best  Shorthorn  bull  of  the  day. 

"At  the  Essex  show  the  Shorthorn  group  was 
placed  before  the  Hereford  group,  but  a  protest 
has  been  lodged  against  the  award  on  the 
ground  of  an  informal  appointment  of  judges. 
At  Brighton  this  Shorthorn  group  was  simply 
'not  in  it/  and  it  is  worth  bearing  in  mind  that 
the  bull  Hotspur  (7028),  which  headed  the 
winning  group  of  Herefords,  was  second  in 
the  older  bulls'  class  at  Brighton  to  Mr.  H.  R. 
Hall's  Hotspur  (7726).  The  second  place  was 
awarded  to  Messrs.  E.  and  A.  Stanford,  of  The 
Batons,  Ashurst,  Steyning,  Sussex,  for  the  Sus- 
sex bull  Goldsmith  (391),  coming  eight  years 
old,  the  bull  Reading  (516),  over  four  years 
old,  dam  by  Clayton  (319),  and  the  cow  Dorset 
8th  (2365),  over  five  years  old,  dam  by  Dor- 
chester (325).  All  the  cattle  comprising  this 
group  were  excellent,  and  whilst  the  win  of  the 
Herefords  was  unquestionably  just,  the  sec- 
ond place  given  to  the  Sussex  breed  was  a  very 
popular  award." 

One  of  the  leading  English  journals  said  of 
this  award :  "All  this  goes  to  show  that  when 
the  Shorthorns  are  not  made  secure  by  pre-. 
ponderance  of  influence  among  the  judges,  as 
they  have  been  in  the  main  for  years  past,  they 
do  not  win  every  time  when  they  come  in  com- 
petition with  other  breeds." 

The  "Hereford  Times"  said: 

"Breeders  of  Herefords,  and  people  of  the 
country  generally,  will  be  much  gratified  to 
hear  that  the  famous  'whitefaces'  have  again  as- 
serted their  splendid  qualities  in  a  striking 
manner,  the  Earl  of  Coventry  having  carried  off 
the  champion  bull  prize  at  the  ROYAL  COUN- 
TIES Snow  at  Southampton,  on  Tuesday,  with 
his  wonderful  Goodboy,  defeating  the  Short- 
horn, Sussex  and  Devon  breeds.  The  Royal 
Counties  Society  is,  after  the  national  society, 
one  of  the  most  important  in  the  country,  and 
this  fact  makes  Lord  Coventry's  success  all  the 
more  creditable.  That  it  should  not  be  said  we 
are  unduly  lauding  the  breed,  or  too  highly  ap- 
praising its  future,  we  will  let  an  impartial 
critic  speak.  The  'London  Times/  in  its  notice 
of  the  Show,  says:  'In  all  the  51  entries  of 
Shorthorns,  48  of  the  Sussex  breed,  26  Devons 


and  six  Herefords,  there  is  nothing  that  is  not 
of  a  high  order.  In  the  interesting  competi- 
tion for  the  ten-guinea  prize,  given  by  Mr.  Wal- 
ter, M.  P.,  for  the  best  bull  in  these  four  breeds, 
the  champion  is  the  Earl  of  Coventry's  Here- 
ford bull  Goodboy,  a  surprisingly  good  animal 
both  in  front,  along  his  level  and  broad  back, 
and  his  hindquarters,  more  particularly  his  re- 
markable rounds  and  flank/ >: 

THE  FAIRS  OF  1886. 

At  the  Minnesota  State  Fair,  1886,  in  the 
sweepstakes  ring,  six  herds  contested  for  the 
honors;  two  herds  of  Shorthorns,  three  herds 
of  Whitefaces  and  one  of  Devons.  The  judges 
in  this  class  were  Mr.  R.  H.  Bullis,  of  Winne- 
bago  City;  Mr.  J.  T.  Mather,  of  Illinois,  and 
Mr.  Baker,  of  Hustisford,  Wis.  The  Herefords 
took  all  the  honors  in  this  contest.  J.  0.  Curry, 
Aurora,  111.,  took  sweepstakes  for  the  best  herd ; 
Iowa  Hereford  Cattle  Co.  second. 

At  the  NEBRASKA  STATE  FAIR  IN  1886,  Here- 
fords made  a  grand  show  in  their  classes  and  in 
the  grand  sweepstakes  for  the  best  herd  of  any 


GEO.  W.   HENRY. 
Goodenow,  111. 

breed;  Shockey  &  Gibb  took  first  sweepstakes 
premium  for  their  Hereford  herd,  consisting  of 
Beau  Real,  Lady  Wilton,  Downton  Ringdove, 
by  Auctioneer;  Pinktie,  by  Remus,  and  Sarah 
Miller,  by  Success. 

The  FAIR  AT  LAWRENCE,  Kansas,  in  1886, 
was  in  all  respects  a  creditable  show.      The 


450 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Herefords  were  from  the  herds  of  Shockey  & 
Gibb,  Lucien  Scott,  Walter  Morgan  &  Son, 
and  George  W.  West. 

BANGOR,  MAINE,  FAIR,  1886. — This  great  ex- 
hibition of  agriculture  and  domestic  industry 
at  Bangor  proved  to  be  throughout  the  greatest 
success  of  its  kind  ever  recorded  in  New  Eng- 
land. It  was  successful  at  all  points,  in  the 
list  of  fine  cattle  and  horses  shown,  in  the  ex- 
tensive collection  of  farm  implements  and  ma- 
chinery, in  the  multitudes  it  drew  from  all 
parts  of  New  England  and  beyond,  and  finan- 
cially. The  two  agricultural  societies  whose 


FORTUNE  (5922)  2080. 
Bred  by  J.  S.  Hawes,  Colony,  Kan. 


joint  efforts,  directed  by  experienced  manage- 
iment,  secured  this  triumph  and  presented  the 
interests  of  farming  in  so  attractive  a  light  be- 
fore the  public,  had  the  most  substantial  rea- 
sons to  be  satisfied  with  the.ir  work,  which  has 
received  such  endorsement  from  the  people. 

We  noticed  in  the  awards  rnade,  Burleigh  & 
Bodwell,  of  Vassalboro,  took '  15  first  and  7 
second  prizes  with  first  for  best  herd  of  Here- 
fords,  and  first  and  second,  for  best  Hereford 
bull  three  years  and  over. 

The  working  oxen  and  steers,  the  town  teams, 
the  trained  steers,  matched  oxen,  and  pulling 
oxen,  with  the  rest,  filled  the  exhibition  park 
with  attractions  such  as  no  true  farmer  could 
but  be  pleased  with.  Such  a  display  of  fine 
stock  it  was  worth  the  trouble  to  cross  New 
England  to  inspect  and  admire.  The' equal  of 
it  had  not  been  seen  in  that,  if  indeed  in  any 
other,  section  of  the  country  before,  and  it  all 
imparted  a  solid  character  to  the  exhibition 
which  it  would  not  have  been  possible  to  supply 
by  an  indefinite  extent  of  exhibition  of  any 
other  kind. 

At  the  IOWA  STATE  FAIR,  1886,  all  the  de- 
partments were  well  filled,  and  the  cattle  ex- 
hibits were  especially  fine,  consisting  of  five 


herds  of  Herefords,  twelve  herds  of  Shorthorns, 
seven  herds  of  Holsteins,  five  herds  of  Jerseys, 
one  herd  of  Red  Polled  (fl332),  and  one  herd 
of  Aberdeen  Angus  (fl332A).  For  the  best 
sweepstake  show,  all  breeds,  Swan  &  Bosler  Co. 
took  first  premium  for  grade  steer  calf,  with  a 
Hereford.  In  Hereford  sweepstakes,  the  Iowa 
Hereford  Cattle  Co.  took  first  for  best  bull  of 
any  age  and  best  cow  of  any  age.  For  grand 
herd  premiums,  all  breeds  competing,  the  Iowa 
Hereford  Cattle  Co.  took  second.  Best  herd  of 
three  fat  cows,  any  breed,  sweepstakes  to  Swan 
&  Bosler  on  Herefords. 

At  the  ILLINOIS  STATE  FAIR,  1886,  live  stock 
commission  firms  at  the  Union  Stock  Yards 
offered  grand  sweepstakes  prizes  for  the  best 
beef  herd;  first,  $500;  second,  $300;  third, 
$200.  The  Hereford  herd  of  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta,  of  Fowler,  Ind.  (fl333),  won  first  prize 
of  $500  over  a  ring  of  eleven  herds,  comprising 
three  Hereford  herds,  three  Black  Polled  herds 
and  five  Shorthorn  herds.  This  same  herd  took 
the  sweepstakes  at  Chicago  in  1885.  It  would 
be  difficult  for  the  Black  Polls  or  Shorthorns 
to  present  a  stronger  show  than  this  of  1886. 

To  describe  the  fever  heat  with  which  both 
exhibitors  and  audience  awaited  the  result  of 
this  award  would  be  a  difficult  undertaking. 
There  were  Fowler  &  Van  Natta  with  their 
Herefords,  Adams  Earl  with  his  Herefords 
(1J  334),  Thos.  Clark,  Herefords;  Billy  Potts 
with  his  Shorthorns;  Harvey  Sodowsky  with 
Shorthorns;  Walker  &  Son,  Shorthorns;  Olin 
&  Son,  Shorthorns;  Anderson  &  Findlay  with 
Polled  Angus;  the  Brookside  Farm  Co.  with 
their  Galloways,  and  J.  S.  Goodwin  of  Kan- 
sas, Polled  Angus. 

There  is  hardly  a  doubt  but  what  each  owner 
was  convinced  in  his  own  mind  that  he  had  the 
best  herd.  The  onlookers  took  pride  in  this 
show.  It  was  a  hardly  fought  battle,  but  the 
winners  deserved  the  honors.  When  the  blue 
ribbon  was  tied  on  the  Herefords,  the  excite- 
ment broke  out  in  cheers  and  throwing  up  of 
hats  by  the  appreciative  crowd.  The  second 
prize  of  $300  went  to  Harvey  Sodowsky's  herd 
of  Shorthorns,  and  the  third  prize  of  $200  to 
Walker  &  Son's  herd  of  Shorthorns. 

In  the  ring  for  young  beef  herds,  any  breed, 
the  Herefords  were  again  victorious  in  this 
show.  There  were  two  Hereford  herds  and  one 
Black  Polled  herd  comprising  the  competition. 
The  result  was  the  Hereford  herds  each  received 
a  vote,  and  the  casting  vote  was  placed  on 
Adams  Earl's  herd  of  Hereford  cattle,  making 
him  the  winner  of  the  young  herd  prize. 

The  sweepstakes  for  best  Hereford  bull,  any 
age,  was  awarded  to  Fowler  &  Van  Natta's 


HIST  OK Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


451 


bull  Fowler  12899.  The  sweepstakes  for  best 
Hereford  female,  any  age,  was  awarded  to 
Thos.  Clark's  Flossie  10915. 

INDIANA.  STATE  FAIR,  1886. — The  depart- 
ments were  all  well  filled,  and  there  was  an 
exceptionally  good  exhibit  of  cattle  in  both  beef 
and  dairy  breeds.  Herefords  were  represented 
by  Adams  Earl,  Tom  Clark,  the  Iowa  Hereford 
Cattle  Co.,  and  the  Indiana  Blooded  Stock  Co. 
Morrow  &  Renick,  of  Kentucky,  were  on  hand 
with  their  choice  herd  of  Shorthorns,  as  was 
also  Thos.  Wilhoit,  of  Middletown,  Ind.,  and 
Jacob  Henn,  of  Illinois.  R.  C.  Auld,  of  Mich- 
igan, was  on  hand  with  his  Aberdeen-Angus, 


After  a  long  and  tedious  examination  of 
the  different  herds,  Mr.  Adams  Earl  of  Lafay- 
ette, Ind.,  was  awarded  first  prize  on  his  grand 
herd  headed  by  Sir  Bartle  Frere.  This  is  an' 
honor  of  which  Mr.  Earl  has  a  right  to  be 
proud,  as  it  is  seldom  that  there  is  as  strong 
competition  as  there  was  in  this  ring.  In  the 
young  herds  the  contest  for  first  place  was  be- 
tween Tom  Clark,  of  Beecher,  and  Adams  Earl ; 
although  there  were  very  creditable  Shorthorns 
in  this  ring,  it  was  evident  from  the  commence- 
ment that  the  first  ribbon  would  go  to  the 
Whitefaces.  Mr.  Earl  was  again  successful 
with  as  even  a  herd  as  we  have  ever  had  the 


STRETTON  COURT.  HEREFORDSHIRE. 
Home  of  the  Yeomans  family. 


and  Judge  Goodwin,  of  Kansas,  also  showed  a 
fine  herd  of  "Doddies." 

In  the  beef  breeds  the  contest  was  for  grand 
sweepstakes.  This  was  a  grand  ring  of  cattle. 
The  judging  was  good  except  on  the  young 
herds,  where  we  were  of  the  opinion  Mr.  Clark's 
magnificent  young  herd  was  entitled  to  first 
honors.  In  the  ring  for  aged  herds  the  com- 
petition was  exceptionally  strong,  there  being 
no  less  than  four  herds  of  Herefords,  three 
herds  of  Shorthorns,  and  two  herds  of  Polled 
Aberdeen-Angus, 


pleasure  of  looking  at,  Morrow  &  Renick  tak- 
ing second;  how  the  judges  could  go  by  the 
herd  of  Tom  Clark  and  give  the  Renick  herd 
second  is  "one  of  those  things  no  fellow  can 
tell,"  as  every  individual  Hereford  was  far 
superior  to  the  Shorthorns.  Sweepstakes  for 
the  best  bull,  any  age  or  breed,  was  given  to 
Washington  (ft  335),  owned  by  the  Iowa  Here- 
ford Cattle  Co.  Sweepstakes  on  cows  was  cap- 
tured by  the  Shorthorns,  it  going  to  a  roan 
cow  owned  by  Thomas  Wilhoit. 
The  cattle  department  at  the  KANSAS  CITY 


452 


HIS  T  O  H  Y     0  F     H  E  11  E  F  0  11  D     C  A  T  T  L  E 


FAIR  OF  1886  was  the  feature  of  the  show.  The 
Shorthorns,  Angus,  and  Galloways  were  in 
large  force,  and  of  good  average  merit.  The 
Hereford  force  consisted  of  36  head;  F.  W. 
Smith,  Columhia,  Mo.,  had  11  head;  Iowa 
Hereford  Cattle  Co.,  7 ;  Lucien  Scott,  Leaven- 
worth,  Kansas,  9 ;  Walter  Morgan  &  Son,  Irv- 
ing, Kansas,  8;  Mr.  Gregory,  Missouri,  1. 

The  judges  were:  G.  W.  Henry,  Kansas 
City,  a  breeder  of  Angus  cattle ;  Mr.  Joe  Dun- 
can, Missouri,  a  Shorthorn  breeder,  and  Mr. 


THE    NINTH    ANNUAL    AMERICAN    FAT    STOCK 
SHOW,  1886. 

The  following  breeders  showed  Herefords: 
Adams  Earl,  Lafayette,  Ind. — One  yearling 
thoroughbred.  Grades:  Two  three-year-olds, 
two  two-year-olds,  one  yearling,  two  calves. 
Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Fowler,  Ind. — Crades: 
one  four-year-old,  two  three-year-olds,  one  two- 
year-old,  one  yearling,  two  calves,  one  three- 
year-old  Hereford  Jersey.  George  Leigh,  Au- 


MR.  GEO.  W.  HENRY'S  GREAT  STOCK   BULL,    PRINCE   EDWARD 
And  four  of  his  get. 


Newt.  Winn,  also  a  Shorthorn  breeder,  of  Mis- 
souri. 

The  Hereford  herd  sweepstakes  prize  was 
given  to  the  Iowa  Hereford  Cattle  Co.  Sweep- 
stakes for  best  Hereford  cow  went  to  W.  Mor- 
gan &  Son.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  interest 
throughout  the  entire  exhibition,  though  some  ' 
disappointment  manifested  among  the  exhib- 
itors not  winning.  The  exhibit  was  a  good  one, 
and  it  was  not  always  easy  to  draw  the  line. 
The  judging  was  according  to  the  best  judg- 
ment of  the  committees,  and  may  be  pro- 
nounced satisfactory  as  a  whole. 


rora,  111. — One  two-year-old  thoroughbred,  one 
three-year-old,  one  two-year-old,  one  yearling, 
and  one  calf;  grades.  Wyoming  Hereford  As- 
sociation, Cheyenne,  Wyo. — One  two-year-old 
thoroughbred,  one  two-year-old  Angus  Here- 
ford, one  two-year-old  Hereford  Angus.  J.  11. 
Price  &  Son,  Williamsville,  111. — Grades:  One 
two-year-old,  two  yearlings,  six  calves.  Iowa 
Hereford  Cattle  Co.,  Indianola,  la. — Two  two- 
year-old  thoroughbreds,  two  yearling  grades. 
C.  M.  Culbertson,  Newman,  111. — Grades:  One 
four-year-old,  one  two-year-old.  G.  W.  Henry, 
Ashkum,  111. — One  thoroughbred  calf,  two 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


453 


grade  calves.  Chas.  Saunders,  Greenfield,  111. 
—Five  yearling  grades.  Wallace  Libbey  &  Co., 
Ottawa,  111. — Two  three-year-old  grades.  Dut- 
ton  &  Wilkinson,  Maple  Park,  111. — Two  grade 
calves.  Swan  &  Bosler,  Indianola,  Iowa. — One 
two-year-old  grade.  Samuel  Weaver,  Forsyth, 
111. — One  thoroughbred  calf.  Number  of  ex- 
hibitors, 13 ;  number  of  thoroughbreds,  7 ; 
number  of  grades,  46;  total,  53.  There  were 
exhibited  71  Shorthorns,  31  pure-breds  and  40 
grades,  by  15  prominent  exhibitors.  The  seven 
Angus  exhibitors  included  Gudgell  &  Simpson, 
of  Independence,  Mo.,  who  at  the  same  time 
also  owned  some  Herefords,  which  we  predicted 
would  in  time  convert  them  from  their  error  in 
selecting  the  Black  breed,  this  prediction  being 
amply  fulfilled  at  this  writing.  There  were 
nine  pure  and  10  grade  Angus.  Four  Devon 
exhibitors  showed  13  pure  and  one  grade 
Devon.  There  was  also  one  Sussex  and  four 
Holsteins.  Shorthorns  were  judged  first. 

Herefords  came  next.  There  were  no  three- 
year-olds  shown.  In  the  two-year-old  class  the 
Wyoming  Hereford  Association  took  first  on 
Rudolph,  Jr.  (ft  336);  George  Leigh,  second 
on  Slasher ;  Iowa  Hereford  Cattle  Co.,  third  on 
Stars  and  Stripes.  In  the  yearling  class,  Adams 
Earl  took  first,  having  no  competition.  In  the 
calf  class  Samuel  Weaver  took  first  on  Christ- 
mas Gift;  G.  W.  Henry,  second  on  Rossland's 
Royalty. 

Probably  no  exhibitor  ever  entered  a  ring 
more  loyal  to  true  cattle  interests  or  with  more 
faith  in  the  Hereford  than  Samuel  Weaver 
(J[337),  of  Forsyth,  111.  (ff  338).  Mr.  Weaver 
had  attended  the  1885  Show  and  Hereford 
meeting  and  went  home  determined  to  try  his 
skill  on  a  pure-bred  Hereford  steer.  A  month 
later  an  extra  good  calf  was  dropped  on  Christ- 
mas day.  Mr.  Weaver  made  the  steer  Christ- 
mas Gift  of  it  and  brought  him  to  Chicago 
in  1886,  a  winner,  as  noted  above.  Mr. 
Weaver  is  an  unassuming  man  of  sterling  hon- 
esty and  wealth.  His-  wealth  then,  as  now, 
consisted  of  upwards  of  4,000  acres  of  the  best 
land  in  central  Illinois.  He  had  been  a  cat- 
tle feeder,  and  prepared  cattle  to  successfully 
top  the  market  at  Chicago  for  forty  years;  a 
thoroughly  practical  and  successful  man  in 
every  way.  He  looked  upon  the  ephemeral 
cattle  fanciers  who  had  made  their  money  in 
other  lines  as  men  who  should  be  willing  to 
learn  from,  rather  than  teach,  the  veterans: 
The  jealousy  of  exhibitors  disgusted  Mr. 
Weaver  and  when  the  President  of  the  Here- 
ford Society,  a  prominent  grain  dealer  and 
packer,  came  up  to  him  and  said  authoritatively, 


"You   must  not  expect  to  beat  Mr.   Lumber- 
man's calf,"  it  was  the  "last  straw." 

Mr.  Weaver  knew  he  had  the  best  calf,  the 
judges  sustained  his  judgment  in  their  awards, 
and,  believing  that  the  way  of  the  show  yard 
is  hard,  and  to  a  man  of  his  means  unneces- 
sary, he  quit,  showing  in  disgust,  selling  Christ- 
mas Gift  to  an  Ohio  feeder,  who  again  brought 
him  out  a  winner  in  1887. 

We  always  regretted  Mr.  Weaver's  action  in 
abandoning  the  show  ring,  though  in  our  own 
experience  we  could  sympathize  with  him,  and 
we  have  been  glad  to  see  that  he  kept  up  his 
interest  in  the  Herefords  and  that  his  herd  fell 
into  such  capable  hands  as  young  Mr.  Soth- 
am's,  and  we  have  had  great  satisfaction  in 
learning  from  Mr.  Sotham  that  he  owes  all 
his  present  standing  as  a  business  man  and 
breeder  to  Mr.  Weaver,  calling  his  farm  and 
herd  at  Chillicothe,  Mo.,  "The  Weavergrace 
Breeding  Establishment,"  because  of  the  gra- 
cious helping  hand  extended  to  him  unselfishly 
by  Mr.  Weaver,  when  help  was  sorely  needed. 
In  helping  Mr.  T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  Mr.  Weaver 
unwittingly  built  himself  another  monument 
and  at  the  same  time  proved  a  tower  of 
strength  to  the  Hereford  cause,  in  the  day  of 
their  need. 

In  closing  this  resume  of  the  shows  of  a 

vital  year  in  Here-     

ford  history,  we 
present  the  differ- 
ent classes  where 
all  breeds  competed 
together  at  Chicago 
Fat  Stock  Show, 
1886,  in  full.  The 
tables  will  be  found 
an  interesting 
study. 

Grades  and 
Crosses.  —  There 
was  a  good  show 
of  three-year-olds, 
but  the  contest  was 
narrowed  down  to 
J.  H.  Potts  & 
Son's  Champion,  Morrow  &  Renick's  Cyclone, 
and  George  Leigh's  roan  Hereford  steer.  The 
judges  disagreed  and  the  referee  was  called  in, 
who  gave  the  first  to  Morrow  &  Renick,  second 
to  Potts  &  Son,  and  third  to  George  Leigh.  The 
judging  was  criticised  and  the  correctness  of 
the  awards  called  in  question.  The  following  is 
the  list  of  three-year-old  grades  and  crosses 
exhibited,  together  with  their  age  in  days, 
weight,  and  average  gain  per  day,  since  birth: 


WILLIAM    A.    TADE, 
Bonaparte,   la. 


454 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Age  in 

Exhibitor  and  Name  of  Animal.         days. 
J.  H.  Potts  &  Son.  Champion,  Short'n.1252 

B.  Waddell,  Jumbo,  Shorthorn 1103 

Adams  Earl,  Hobson's  Choice,  Her'f'd.1303 

Adams  Earl,  Quality,   Hereford 1242 

F.   C.   Stevens,   Francis.   Holstein 1273 

F.  C.  Stevens,  Hiram,  Holstein 1267 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,   Peter,  Heref'd.  .1237 
Fowler    &    Van    Natta,   Benton    Will, 

Hereford   1409 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Jerry,  Heref'd.  .1353 

Morrow  &  Renick,  Gaines,   S.   H 1290 

Morrow    &  Renick,  Cyclone,   S.   H 1300 

Morrow     &     Renick,     Golden     Slipper, 

S.    H 1115 

Geo.   Leigh   &   Co.,   Tom,   Hereford 1265 

J.   Richardson,   Robertson,   S.    H 1278 

B.   F.  Waters,   Snowball,    S.   H 1237 

B.  F.  Waters,   Bob  Harrison,   S.  H..     1329 

B.  F.    Waters,    George,    S.    H 1155 

Wallace  Libbey  &  Co.,  Jerry,  Heref'd. 1261 
Wallace  Libbey  &  Co.,  Tom,  Heref'd.  .1263 

C.  C.  Blish  &  Son,  Bob,  S.  H 1288 


In  the  two-year-old  class  the  show  was  ex- 
cellent,   the    Wyoming    Hereford    Association 


Wt.  Av. 

gain 

per 

day. 

2055 

1.64 

1715 

1.55 

1970 

1.51 

1860 

1.50 

2140 

1.69 

2115 

1.67 

1620 

1.31 

2145 

1.52 

2240 

1.68 

1900 

1.47 

1933 

1.49 

1795 

1.52 

2190 

1.73 

2015 

1.58 

1900 

1.53 

2020   - 

1.52 

1745 

1.51 

1920 

1.52 

1775 

1.40 

2065 

1.60 

F.   A.    NAVE, 
Attica,  Ind. 

taking  first,  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son  second,  and  B. 
F.  Waters  third.  The  first  prize  steer,  Nigger 
(fl"339),  was  a  cross-bred  Polled  Angus  and 
Hereford,  and  well  entitled  to  the  place.  The 
following  animals  were  entered  in  the  two- 
year-old  class  for  grades  and  crosses,  their 
age  in  days,  weight  and  gain  per  day: 

Age  in  Wt.  Av.  gain 

Exhibitor  and  Name  of  Animal.         days.  per  day. 

J.  H.    Potts  &  Son,  Conqueror,  S.  H..  951  1790  1.88 

J.   H.  Potts  &  Son,   Snowflake,   S.  H..  968     .      1780  1.84 

B.    Waddel,    Whiteface,    S.    H 761  1485  1.95 

Adams  Earl,  Sir  Bartle  2d.  Heref'd....  955  1925       •  2.02 

Adams  Earl,   Sir  Bartle  4th,  Heref'd..  931  1760  1.90 

B.  C.  Rumsey,  Buffalo   Tom,  S.  H 1081  1950  1.68 

C.  M.   Culbertson,  Frost,  Hereford....  1066  1790  1.68 


992 

.1086 

.  932 

948 

943 


Wt.  Av. 

gain 

per 

day. 

1885 

2.03 

1735 

1.78 

1855 

1.85 

1605 

1.63 

1555 

1.43 

1550 

1.66 

1740 

1.84 

2045 

2.17 

2025 

1.85 

2010 

1.90 

1540 

1.96 

1730 

1.78 

1540 

1.68 

1820 

1.89 

694 
367 
696 
614 


Age  in 
Exhibitor  and  Name  of  Animal.         days. 

E.  T.    Doney,    Fashion,   Devon 927 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Matthew,  Heref'd  973 
Morrow  &  Renick,  Fred  Young,  S.  H..1002 
Morrow  &  Renick,   Barnaby,   S.    H... 
Morrow   &   Renick,    Overton,    S.    H... 
George  Leigh  &  Co.,  Norris,  Heref'd.. 

B.  F.  Waters,  Nip,  S.  H 

B.   F.  Waters,  Joe  McCarthy,  S.   H.... 

B.    F.  Waters,  John  Kincaid,   S.  H....1094 

B.   F.  Waters,  Washington,  S.   H 1043 

Swan  &  Bosler  L.  &  C.  Co..  Plush, 
Hereford  786 

Hugh  W.   Elliott,  Clarence,   P.   Angus.  971 

Wyoming  Hereford  Association,  Nig- 
ger, Hereford  914 

Wyoming  Hereford  Association,  Ran- 
ger, Hereford  963 

In  .the  yearling  class  J.  H.  Potts  &  Son  took 
first  on  Diamond,  grade  Shorthorn;  T.  W. 
Harvey  second  on  Robert  Peel,  Polled  Angus; 
J.  R.  Peak  &  Son  third  on  Frisk,  grade  Short- 
horn. The  following  animals  entered  the  year- 
ling ring : 

Age  In 

Exhibitor  and  Name  of  Animal.         days. 
M.  H.  Cochrane,  Dominionist,  Angus..  559 
J.   H.   Potts  &  Son,   Diamond.    S.    H...  661 
Adams  Earl,  Sir  Bartle  6th,   Heref'd.. 

F.  A.    Townley,    Pedro,    S.    H 

T.    W.    Harvey,    Robert   Peel,    Angus.. 
T.  W.  Harvey,   Duncan  Gray,  Angus.. 

Ned  Price,   Express,  Hereford 713 

Ned    Price,    Excelsior,    Hereford 681 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Jacko,  Hereford  606 
Morrow    &    Renick,    14th    Amendment, 

Short    Horn    567 

Geo.    Leigh    &    Co.,    Adams,    Heref'd..  558 

J.  R.   Peak  &  Son,  Ed.,   S.  H 726 

J.  R.  Peak  &  Son,  Crown  Prince,  S.  H.  703 
J.  R.  Peak  &  Son,  Lord  Thomas,  S.  H.  623 
J.  R.  Peak  &  Son,  Wm.Westley,  S.  H.  722 

J.   R.  Peak  &  Son,   Frisk,   S.    H 537 

Iowa  Hereford  Cattle  Co.,  Model,  Hfd.  708 
Iowa  Hereford  Cattle  Co.,  Shield,  Hfd.  683 

Chas.    Sanders,    Jack,    Hereford 601 

Chas.    Sanders,    Buster,    Hereford 626 

Chas.   Sanders,  Curly,  Hereford 582 

Chas.    Sanders,    Clipsy,    Hereford 572 

Chas.    Sanders,    Fred,    Hereford 569 

Swan  &  Bosler  Co.,   Scotch  Gray,  An.  599 

In  the  calf  class,  Fowler  &  Van  Natta  took 
first  on  Sam  Jones,  grade  Hereford;  Samuel 
Weaver,  third  on  Dandy,  grade  Angus;  J.  H. 
Potts  &  Son,  second  on  Captain,  grade  Short- 
horn. The  calf  class  consisted  of  the  follow- 
ing animals : 

Age  In 
Exhibitor  and  Name  of  Animal.         days. 

Overton    Lea,    George,    Sussex 345 

J.   H.    Potts   &  Son,   Captain,   S.   H 345 

Adams    Earl,    Eclipse,    Hereford 315 

Adams   Earl,    Exeter,    Hereford 264 

Ned    Price,    Bashful,    Hereford 350 

Ned    Price,    Bonanza,    Hereford 326 

Ned    Price,    Business,    Hereford 319 

Ned    Price,    Broncho,    Hereford 296 

Ned    Price,    Bruno,    Hereford 276 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Sam  Jones,  Hd.  338 
Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Sam  Small,  Hd.  338 
Morrow  &  Renick,  Bright  Light,  S.  H.  346 
George  Leigh  &  Co.,  Ancutt,  Heref'd.  256 
Samuel  Weaver,  Bald  Hornet,  Heref'd  307 
Samuel  Weaver,  Dandy,  Angus 355 

G.  W.    Henry,     Rossland's    Improve- 
ment,  Hereford   320 

G.  W.  Henry,  Bourbon  Prince,  Heref'd.  340 
Wilkinson    &    Dutton,    Alphonso,    Hfd.  280 
Wilkinson     &    Dutton,     Fanny    Field, 
Hereford     302 


Wt.  Av. 

gain 

per 

day. 

1200 

2.15 

1390 

2.10 

1565 

2.26 

1085 

2.96 

1465 

2.11 

1405 

2.29 

1470 

2.06 

1420  ' 

2.09 

1135 

1.87 

1180 

2.08 

1355 

2.42 

1450 

2.00 

1420 

2.02 

1425 

2.2$ 

1495 

2.07 

1305 

2.43 

1330 

1.88 

1335 

1.9fi 

1250 

2.08 

1220 

1.95 

1120 

1.92 

1175 

2.05 

1020 

1.79 

1195 

1.99 

Wt.  Av. 

gain 

per 

day. 

745 

2.16 

825 

2.40 

780 

2.47 

765 

2.96 

794 

2.27 

845 

2.59 

925 

2.90 

810 

2.73 

760 

2.75 

980 

2.90 

960 

2.84 

690 

1.99 

715 

2.79 

840 

2.74 

945 

2.66 

910 

2.84 

775 

2.28 

800 

2.86 

825 


2.73 


The   SWEEPSTAKES   for  best  grade  or  cross 
bred  was  given  to  the  Wyoming  Hereford  As- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


455 


sociation  s  Angus-Hereford  two-year-old,  Nig- 
ger, which  was  also  awarded  sweepstakes  for 
best  two-year-old,  any  breed.  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta  took  the  calf  sweepstakes  (all  breeds) 
on  the  grade  Hereford  calf  Sam  Jones.  THE 
GRAND  SWEEPSTAKES  for  best  beast  in 
the  show  was  awarded  the  thoroughbred  Here- 
ford steer  Rudolph  Jr.,  exhibited  by  the  Wyo- 
ming Hereford  Association. 

DRESSED  CARCASSES.  For  best  three-year- 
old,  the  sweepstakes  was  awarded  to  Wallace 
Libbey  &  Co.,  grade  Hereford  steer  Jerry,  sired 
by  Monitor  2848,  by  Illinois  920,  by  Success  2 ; 
his  dam  was  a  grade  Shorthorn  cow. 

For  best  two-year-old,  Swan  &  Bosler's  grade 
Hereford  steer  Plush  (fl  340)  (prepared  and 
exhibited  under  the  management  of  John  Gos- 
ling, the  veteran  and  expert)  was  awarded 
sweepstakes.  This  steer  was  sired  by  Cheyenne 
1912,  by  Eidgeville  Boy  1476,  and  his  dam 
was  a  grade  Devon  cow.  The  dam  of  Cheyenne 
was  Peerless  1157,  by  Success  2.  Plush  also 
won  the  grand  sweepstakes  for  best  dressed  car- 
cass in  the  show. 

This  finished  the  cattle  awards.  A  cross- 
bred Hereford  won  the  sweepstakes  as  best  two- 
year-old  in  the  show,  and  a  thoroughbred  Here- 
ford won  the  grand  sweepstakes  as  best  beast 
in  the  show.  On  the  block,  a  grade  Hereford 
won  sweepstakes  in  both  the  three-year-old  and 
two-year-old  classes,  and  a  two-year-old  grade 
Hereford  won  the  grand  sweepstakes  as  best 
carcass  in  the  show.  The  Hereford  breeders 
had  a  right  to  be  well  satisfied  with  results  of 
the  season  and  with  the  show. 

It  had  been  a  common  practice  for  years  for 
Shorthorn  men  and  others  to  charge  that  the 
forequarters  of  Herefords  are  heavier  than  the 
hindquarters  as  compared  with  Shorthorns. 
We  reprint  from  the  "Breeders'  Journal"  the 
following  figures  as  made  up  by  the  American 
Fat  Stock  Show,  1886.  Dressed  carcasses,  3 
years  and  under  4: 


SHORTHORNS. 


HEREFORDS. 


Adams  Earl Dick  778  720 

Adams  Earl Excelsior  753  664 

Lucien  Scott Jessie*  445  484 

Swan  &  Bosler Tim  618  581 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta. .  .Regulus  808  752 

Ind.  Blooded  Stock  Co.  .Suspense  789  730 


.08 
.13 


.06 
.07 


Total 4,191     3,931     260       .06% 

"This  animal's  hind-quarters  weighed  39 
pounds  more  than  the  forequarters.  Per  cent 
gain,  .08. 


J.  H.  Potts  &  Son. 
J.  D.  Gillette... 


.Surprise 
.  Lookout 


561 
699 


525        36 

598      101 


Total 1,260     1,123      137 

POLLED    ANGUS. 


.07 
.16 


.12 


J.  J.  Hill Hutcheon 

J.  J.  Hill Turriff 

J.  J.  Hill Kinloss 


857  757  100  .13 
767  637  130  .20 
740  667  73  .10 


Total 2,364     2,061      303        .14% 

In  dressed  carcasses,  2  years  and  under  3,  a 
similar  result  was  to  be  seen : 


HEREFORDS. 

Seabury  &  Sample Joe                       582  546  36 

Adams  Earl Elkington           550  505  45 

G.  Leigh  &  Co Bendigo               495  437  58 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta. .  .Dandy   Boy        635  580  55 

Lucien  Scott Faith                   517  453  64 

B.  Hershey Champion           540  483  57 

Total 3,319  3,004  315 

SHORTHORNS. 


C.  S.  Barclay  ...........  Snov/ball  587 

J.  R.  Peak  &  Co  .......  Roan    Boy  577 

J.  D.  Gillette  ...........  Driver  601 

W.  S.  White  ............  Roan   Twin  684 

Forbes  Bros  ............  Rub'nBro'dus  621 


Forbes  Bros  ............  Varna 

J.  D.  Gillette  ...........  Red  Plum 


580 
523 


493 
536 
553 
656 
532 
512 
462 


01 


.18 

.08 

.08 

.04 

.16% 

.13 

.13 


J.  J.  Hill 


Total  ........  4,173 

POLLED    ANGUS. 
Benholm  707 


3,744   429   .11% 


637   70 


.11 


It  was  publishing  such  disconcerting  facts  as 
these  that  made  the  opposition  dislike  T.  L. 
Miller.  It  is  not  pleasant  to  fight  battles ;  only 
the  sincere  belief  that  we  were  doing  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  America  and  of  the  world 
a  real  service  kept  us  firm  in  our  resolve  to 
have  the  Hereford  merits  fully  known.  We 
know  that  the  Hereford  needs  only  to  be  known 
to  be  appreciated,  and  we  have  fought  his  bat- 
tles, knowing  that  our  efforts  would  sooner  or 
later  be  appreciated.  The  Hereford  will  never 
lack  for  a  competent  advocate,  and  we  are  glad 
to  let  our  mantle  fall  upon  one  so  able  and 
well  equipped  as  young  Mr.  Sotham.  He  has 
been  doing  splendid  service  and  we  are  glad  to 
see  him  successful  and  well  supported.  We 
note  with  great  satisfaction  that  he  is  a  suc- 
cess as  a  breeder  of  Herefords  as  well  as  he  is 
as  an  advocate,  his  great  bull  Corrector  (ff341) 
having  already  proven  worthy  to  stand  in  the 
company  of  Success,  Horacej  Grove  3d,  Lord 
Wilton  and  other  great  epoch-marking  bulls. 
The  Hereford  breeders  would  make  a  serious 
mistake  were  they  not  to  rally  in  every  possible 
way  to  his  support. 


45G 


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HISTORY'    OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


457 


THE   ENGLISH    SHOWS    OF    1886. 

The  "Hereford  Times,''  in  speaking  of  the 
SMITIIFIELD  SHOW  OF  1886,  said:  Another 
great  distinction  has  this  week  fallen  to  the 
Hereford  cattle,  a  representative  of  the  white- 
faces  having  carried  off  the  championship  of  the 
Smithfield  Club  Cattle  Show  on  Monday.  The 
successful  animal  is  the  grand  ox  belonging  to 
F.  Platt,  of  Barnby  Manor,  Newark,  and  it 
made  a  clean  sweep  of  all  the  honors  within  its 
reach.  The  show  of  Herefords  was  the  best 
seen  at  Smithfield  since  1881.  The  entries  num- 
ber five  more  than  last  year,  and  among  them 
were  some  marvelous  specimens,  especially  in 
the  classes  for  young  steers  and  heifers!  In 
all  the  youngsters  numbered  a  baker's  dozen, 
the  winner  turning  up  in  a  charming  creature 
with  a  beautiful  head  and  splendid  body,  shown 
by  L.  Loyd,  West  Wickham,  Beckenham.  The 
animal  is  just  a  year  and  ten  months  old,  and 
weighs  just  over  12  cwt.  (1,350  Ibs.) ;  it  had 
very  little  difficulty,  however,  in  beating  a  two 
months  younger  beast,  the  property  of  H.  F. 
Russell  (1J342,  1J342A),  Westonbury,  Pern- 
bridge,  who  took  third  prize  at  Birmingham. 
The  first  prize  taker  last  week,  shown  by  A.  P. 
Turner,  Pembridge,  and  by  far  the  heaviest 
animal  in  the  class,  was  now  but  highly  coin- 
mended.  L.  Loyd  also  received  third  prize. 
The  Earl  of  Coventry  was  commended  in  this 
class.  The  steers  above  two  and  not  exceeding 
three  years  were  small  in  number,  the  prizes 
going  to  J.  F.  Hall,  Ripple,  Tewkesbury,  the 
third  prize  taker  in  Birmingham;  J.  Andrews, 
I  vingtonbury,  Leominster;  and  T.  Duckham, 
Baysham  Court,  Ross.  The  Queen  was  highly 
commended  in  this  class  at  Birmingham,  but 
this  time  her  representative  was  without  recog- 
nition. The  steers  above  three  and  not  exceed- 
ing four  years  were  a  very  fine  lot.  The  prin- 
cipal feature  was  the  first  prize  taker,  the 
three-asd-a-half-year-old  ox,  weighing  21  cwt. 
(2,350  Ibs.),  shown  by  Mr.  Platt.  This  was, 
as  we  have  already  indicated,  a  magnificent  ani- 
mal, of  perfect  shape  and  superlative  excellence 
in  respect  to  quality.  Not  a  fault  could  be 
found  with  it,  and  it  frequently  elicited  admira- 
tion as  it  was  paraded  before  the  judges.  It 
took  first  prize  in  its  class,  as  at  Birmingham, 
but  now  it  went  further,  and  not  only  received 
the  breed  cup  for  the  best  Hereford,  beating  Mr. 
Turner's  famous  Kathleen,  its  Birmingham 
conqueror,  but  also  won  the  silver  cup,  value 
50  pounds  sterling,  offered  for  the  best  steer, 
or  ox,  and,  further,  the  champion  plate  of  100 
guineas  for  being  the  best  beast  in  the  show. 
This  was  totally  different  from  Birmingham. 


Mr.  Platt's  representative  only  had  a  "look 
in"  at  Birmingham,  but  now  the  Bingley  Hall 
champion  was  just  as  much  out  of  the  run- 
ning. The  win,  however,  was  a  popular  one, 
loud  cheers  greeting  the  decision  of  the  judges. 
The  champion  animal  is  thus  described  in  the 
catalogue  (1[343):  "No.  57.  Frederick  Platt 
(ft  344),  of  Barnby  Manor,  Newark,  Notts,  3 
years  6  months  3  days,  bred  by  the  late  T. 
Oliver,  Hide  Field,  Weobly,  Hereford,  sire  San 
Juan  (616),  dam  Beauty.  Sire  of  dam,  Mansel 
(3240)."  The  full  details  of  its  winnings  on 
Monday  are  as  follows:  1st  prize  in  its  class, 
25  pounds  sterling  ($125)  ;  silver  cup  as  best 
of  its  breed,  30  pounds  sterling  ($150) ;  silver 
cup  as  best  steer  or  ox  in  the  classes,  50  pounds 
sterling  ($250)  ;  champion  plate,  as  best  beast 
in  the  show,  105  pounds  sterling  ($525)  ;  and  a 
gold  medal.  Total,  220  pounds  sterling 


CLEM  GRAVES, 
Bunker  Hill,   Ind. 

($1,100).  In  the  older  steers  the  class  prizes 
fell  to  the  same  animals  as  at  Birmingham, 
the  second  going  to  R.  Keene  (ff345),  Pen- 
craig,  Caerleon,  Mon. ;  and  the  third  to  W. 
Groves,  Baucott,  Wellington,  Salop,  with  two 


458 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


fine  animals.  The  heifers  under  four  years  old 
made  a  good  display,  Kathleen  (ff  346)  (weigh- 
ing 2,000  Ibs.),  a  much  older  beast  than  Mr. 
Platt's,  but  over  3  cwt.  lighter,  again  winning 
the  1st  prize.  Many  people  thought  Kathleen 
would  follow  up  her  victory,  as  at  Birmingham, 
but  it  was  not  to  be.  She  is  certainly  much 
superior  to  Vanity  VII,  a  slightly  older  heifer, 
belonging  to  H.  W.  Taylor,  Ledbury,  which 
took  second  prize.  The  Earl  of  Coventry,  who 
was  highly  commended  at  Birmingham  with 
Tunic,  was  now  placed  third;  but  the  second 
prize  taker  at  Birmingham,  shown  by  R.  Shir- 
ley, Baucott,  Salop,  was  not  on  this  occasion 


THE  SHOWS  OF  1887. 

Good  exhibits  were  again  made  of  the  Here- 
fords  at  the  MINNESOTA  STATE  FAIR.  The 
following  were  the  exhibitors:  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta,  of  Indiana;  the  Cosgrove  L.  S.  Co. 
(^347),  and  W.  G.  Sawyer,  of  Minnesota. 

The  creditable  exhibit  at  the  NEBRASKA 
STATE  FAIR  was  contributed  from  the  herds  of 
Shockey  &  Gibb  and  J.  S.  Hawes,  of  Kansas, 
C.  M.  Sears,  and  E.  E.  Day,  of  Nebraska. 

Messrs.  Fowler  &  Bassett,  G.  W.  Price,  Geo. 
W.  Henry  (fl  348),  (fl  351),  Thomas  Clark,  Tom 
C.  Pouting,  of  Illinois,  and  Fowler  &  Van 


SUCCESS   (5031)  2. 
Bred  by  J.  Morris,  Herefordshire.      Favorite  stock  bull  of  T.  L.  Miller. 


noticed.  A  very  good  class  of  cows  resulted  in 
J.  H.  Arkwright,  Hampton  Court,  Leominster, 
taking  first  prize,  and  H.  W.  Taylor  second; 
the  positions  being  the  same  as  in  Birmingham. 
J.  Watson,  M.  P.,  Berwick  Hall,  Shrewsbury, 
was  third — a  substantial  advance  on  the  Bing- 
ley  Hall  commendation. 

At  the  BATH  AND  WEST  OF  ENGLAND  Snow 
held  at  Bristol,  1886,  champion  prizes  were  as 
follows:  The  best  bull  in  the  show,  H.  W. 
Taylor,  for  Hereford  bull  Maidstone.  For  the 
best  cow  in  the  show  in  calf,  Hereford,  A.  E. 
Hughes;  reserve,  H.  W.  Taylor,  Hereford. 


Natta,  of  Indiana,  furnished  the  splendid  ex- 
hibit at  the  ILLINOIS  STATE  FAIR.  The  event 
of  this  show  was  the  contest  for  the  grand 
sweepstakes  prize  for  herd  of  beef  cattle,  any 
breed,  which  was  won  again  and  for  the  third 
year  in  succession  by  Fowler  &  Van  Natta  for 
the  Herefords.  Mr.  Thos.  Clark  had  in  his 
Hereford  cow  Peerless  2d  the  champion  female ; 
while  Messrs.  Fowler  &  Van  Natta's  great  bull 
Fowler  scored  again  for  the  Herefords  as  cham- 
pion bull  of  any  age  or  breed. 

At  the  KANSAS  STATE  FAIR  the    victorious 
Hereford  herd  of  Shockey  &  Gibb  headed  by 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


.4,59 


Beau  Real  was  reinforced  by  Mr.  J.  S.  Hawes' 
herd  headed  by  Fortune  (ff  349).  Mr.  Jackson 
and  Mr.  Miedlin  also  had  winning  Herefords, 
Shockey  &  Gibb's  young  herd  gaining  the 
sweepstakes  over  all  breeds. 

The  Iowa  Hereford  Cattle  Co.,  under  the 
management  of  Henry  Yeomans  (fl350), 
Shockey  &  Gibb,  of  Kansas,  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta  of  Indiana,  Moffatt  &  Sons  and  Wm.  A. 
Tade  (ft  352)  of  Iowa,  put  up  an  excellent  ex- 
hibit at  the  IOWA  STATE  FAIR. 

THE  TENTH  ANNUAL  AMERICAN  FAT  STOCK 
SHOW,  1887. 

In  the  three-year-old  ring,  grades  and  crosses, 
•^  entries,  third  prize  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Ned 
Price  (Hereford).  In  the  same  class  for 
yearlings  there  were  thirty-one  entries,  first 
sweepstake  premium  awarded  to  Fowler  &  Van 
Natta,  grade  Hereford.  In  the  calf  ring  of 
twelve  entries  Mr.  Price  taking  first,  second  to 
Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  and  Mr.  Funkhouser  the 
third  premium  (all  Herefords).  In  the 
dressed  carcasses  for  the  greatest  percentage  of 
profitable  meat,  premium  was  awarded  to  Here- 
fords. 

And  so  we  close  an  incomplete  but  repre- 
sentative resume  of  Hereford  winnings  at  the 
period  when  we  closed  out  our  Herefords,  retir- 
ing to  the  more  favorable  climate  of  Florida. 

We  had  made  a  good  fight,  the  merit  of  the 
Hereford  was  by  this  time  acknowledged  in 
every  part  of  our  country — not  only  to  equal 
the  Shorthorn  but  to  surpass  it.  The  Here- 
fords had  been  defrauded  of  their  birthright, 
but  we  had  forced  a  restoration.  About 
this  time  the  fight  had  been  Well  nigh 
whipped  out  of  the  opposition,  and  finding  they 
could  no  longer  control  the  agricultural  socie- 
ties, the  opposition  began  to  use  its  influence 
subtilely  to  do  away  with  the  contests  between 
breeds.  No  Hereford  man  ever  advocated  a 
cessation  of  the  contests  between  breeds  and  so 
long  as  their  opponents  could  fully  control  the 
judging  just  so  long  they  were  anxious  to  con- 
tinue these  contests.  It  was  not  until  the  Here- 
ford began  to  get  a  measure  of  justice  that  the 
Shorthorn  men  began  to  carp  of  the  fruitless- 
tress  of  such  contests.  Journals  that  were 
formerly  proud  to  proclaim  themselves  the 
official  exponents  of  Shorthorn  lore,  were  forced 
by  the  onward  march  of  the  Hereford  to  take 
on  the  semblance  of  neutrality,  but  it  cannot  be 
gainsaid  that  they  have  used  their  powerful 
influence  to  prevent  these  competitions  between 
1)  reeds  that  were  being  more  and  more  con- 
clusively settled  in  favor  of  the  Herefords. 


Some  weak-kneed  Hereford  men,  unhappily 
for  the  Hereford  breed,  will  get  seated  in  the 
powerful  and  controlling  positions  of.  the 
American  Hereford  Society.  They  are  willing 
to  take  every  advantage  of  the  work  of  more 
intelligent  and  aggressive  Hereford  advocates, 
and  at  the  same  time  covertly  belittle  the  work 
of  those  advocates  to  the  opposition,  while  suing 
to  meet  personal  ends,  for  the  opposition's 
influence  and  favor.  Such  treachery  is  sure  to 
react  on  politic  self-seekers  in  the  future,  just 
as  similar  double  dealing  has  reacted  on  their 
ilk  in  the  past. 

What  is  the  objection  to  the  competition  be- 
tween breeds  ?  We  reiterate  that  no  true  Here- 
ford man  desired  or  desires  to  abolish  these 
contests,  and  we  repeat  that  no  Shorthorn  man 
demanded  their  cessation  so  long  as  the  Short- 
horn interest  controlled  the  awarding  of  the 
premiums.  "A  fair  field  and  no  favors"  is  all 
the  Hereford  ever  asked,  and  when  at  last  it  be- 
gins to  come  within  his  reach  the  Shorthorn 
interest  interposes  its  power  and  stops  breed 
contests.  To  give  the  demands  for  a  cessation 
of  breed  contests  a  semblance  of  impartiality, 
they  must  chiefly  come  from  seemingly  neutral 
sources  and  so  the  subtle  methods  of  the  past 
are  not  abandoned,  but  having  proclaimed  itself 
neutral,  the  Shorthorn  press  that  wore  its  collar 
openly  in  days  past,  but  wearing  it  secretly  in 
the  heart  still,  comes  forth  with  the  trumped  up 
claim :  "Breed  contests  engender  ill  feeling, 
they  settle  nothing,  nor  prove  anything,  one 


PRAIRIE  FLOWER  1159. 
Bred  by  T.  L.  Miller. 

breed  wins  at  one  show  and  at  the  next  the 
award  is  reversed.  One  year  one  breed  wins 
most  and  the  next  year  favors  another  breed. 
And  so  it  proves  nothing  for  either  to  win.  Let 
us  have  peace  and  let  each  breed  develop 
within  itself/' 

Pretty  argument  this,  but  we  know  its  crafti- 
ness and  deceit.    What  does  it  prove  within  the 


460 


HISTORY     OF     HE RE FO ED     CATTLE 


Hereford  breed  when  one  year,  or  at  one  show, 
Mr.  Nave's  (1J.353)  herd  beats  Mr.  Sotham's 
and  at  the  next  the  awards  are  reversed  and  at 
still  the  next  Mr.  Clem  Graves  (f[  354)  comes  in 
first  best  over  them  both,  while  at  the  fourth 
show  honors  are  equally  divided? 

What  was  proven  by  our  herd  beating  the 
herd  of  Mr.  Culbertson  one  week  and  the  tables 
being  turned  the  next  week  and  our  mutual 
competitor,  Mr.  Earl,  beating  both  of  us  a  week 
later,  all  within  the  Hereford  camp  and  under 
honest  judges? 

This  is  proved:     All  parties  to  the  contest 


RED   CAP  4th,   3507. 
A  favorite  cow  of  T.  L.  Miller. 

had  good  cattle;  the  judgments  of  their  merits 
varied  with  different  judges.  Each  must  have 
been  good  or  it  could  not  have  been  at  any  time 
recognized  in  the  contest,  and  thus  so  far  as 
the  comparative  merits  of  these  Hereford  herds 
are  concerned  the  awards  have  proven  nothing 
else.  The  whole  contest  has  resulted  in  throw- 
ing the  struggle  to  that  only  safe  tribunal — the 
public,  an  infallible  tribunal  that  always  sooner 
or  later  rewards  true  merit  and  genius. 

So  it  has  been,  is,  and  ever  will  be  with  con- 
tests between  breeds.  The  Hereford  may  beat 
the  Shorthorn  at  one  show,  and  the  Shorthorn 
may  return  the  compliment  at  the  next  and  the 
Angus  may  then  come  in  and  down  them  both 
and  nothing  will  be  proven  conclusively  by  the 
awards  themselves,  but  the  open  competition 
has  afforded  an  interesting  and  instructive  ex- 
hibit, enjoyed  by  the  spectator  and  profitable 
to  exhibitor  and  exhibition.  The  agriculturist, 
for  whom  all  the  exhibitions  are  supposed  to 
be  held,  will  have  a  proper  and  deserved  op- 
portunity to  compare  and  form  his  own  con- 
clusions. 

Yea,  verily,  the  abolition  of  breed  contests  is 
born  of  deceit  and  selfishness,  The  Hereford 


and  Angus  have  ever  been  eager  for  it.  Trace 
the  origin  of  this  abolition  crusade  to  its  lair 
and  it  will  be  found  within  the  Shorthorn  camp 
or  its  followers.  They  would  pose  the  Short- 
horn as  the  old  "cosmopolitan"  breed,  the  "old 
stand-by/'  and  would  have  all  others  considered 
interlopers,  that  must  not  be  considered  as 
competitors. 

The  spirit  that  dictated  Youatt's  history  and 
controlled  the  agricultural  societies  and  press, 
dies  hard — but  die  it  must.  But  self-asserted 
neutrals,  who  declare  their  impartiality,  while 
working  night  and  day  to  rehabilitate  one  breed, 
and  at  the  same  time  by  every  possible  way  en- 
deavor to  make  themselves  indispensable  to 
that  one  breed  and  masters  of  its  lore,  to  the 
neglect  of  other  breeds,  must  not  feel  hurt  or 
slighted  if  the  advocates  of  other  breeds  ques- 
tion their  loyalty  to  them. 

We  have  grown  old  in  the  advocacy  of  Here- 
fords.  We  do  not  now,  and  have  not  for  many 
years  owned  a  "Whiteface,"  but  we  love  their 
merits  still  and  know  their  peerless  value  in  the 
upbuilding  of  the  world's  agriculture.  Let  the 
Hereford  breeders  and  all  intelligent  cattle- 
men take  an  octogenarian's  words  in  all  sober- 
ness, for  they  are  written  in  all  seriousness  and 
truth. 

T.  L.  MILLER'S  HEEEFOED  WINNINGS. 

It  is  fitting  to  here  record  the  following  list 
of  premiums  that  were  awarded  to  the  T.  L. 
Miller  Hereford  herd  at  the  Illinois  State 
Fairs  from  1875  to  1879  on  breeding  stock.  In 
the  year  1876  they  took  premiums  at  this  show 
in  their  classes  only;  but  going  from  Illinois 
State  Fak  to  the  Northern  Ohio  Fair,  they 
took  the  two  herd  premiums  over  one  of  the 
strongest  Shorthorn  shows,  David  Selsor,  of 
Ohio,  being  one  of  the  principal  exhibitors,  and 
from  there  to  the  Centennial  at  Philadelphia, 
where  they  won  the  first  honors  in  their  class. 

ILLINOIS    STATE    FAIR. 

1875. 

Bull  4  years  old  or  over — 1st  premium,  Sir 
Charles  543. 

Bull  2  years  old — 1st  premium,  Prince  861, 
by  Sir  Charles  543,  out  of  Beauty  2d;  second 
premium,  Success  2. 

Bull  1  year  old — 1st  premium  Royal  Briton 
882,  half  brother  to  Success;  second  premium 
Sir  Charles  2d  913. 

Bull  calf  over  6  and  under  12  months — sec- 
ond premium,  Parsons  857. 

Bull  calf  under  6  months — first  premium. 
Advance  1, 


H  1  S  T  0  R  V     OK     J I  K  U  ti  F  ()  1{  D     C  A  T  T  L  E 


4G1 


Cow  4  years  old  and  over — First  premium, 
Dolly  Varden  5. 

Cow  3  years  old — first  premium,  Laura  853 ; 
second  premium,  Katie  1139. 

Heifer  2  years  old — second  premium,  Grace 
1086. 

Heifer  1  year  old — 1st  premium,  Charlotte 
1102;  second  premium,  Victoria  1053. 

Heifer  calf — 1st  premium,  Prairie  Flower 
1159. 

1876. 

Bull  4  years  or  over — 1st  premium,  Sir 
Charles  543. 

Bull  3  years — 1st  premium,  Success  2. 

Bull  2  years — 1st  premium  Royal  Briton  882, 
half  brother  to  Success. 

Bull  calf,  over  6  months — 1st  premium,  Se- 
ward  906,  by  Success;  2d  premium,  Uncle 
Sam  934,  half  brother  to  Success. 

Bull  calf  under  6  months — 1st  premium, 
Dore;  2d  premium,  Prince  2d  862,  by  Success. 

Cow  4  years  or  over — 1st  premium,  Dolly 
Varden  5,  dam  of  Success;  2d  premium, 
Beauty. 

Cow  3  years — 1st  premium,  Grace  1086;  2d 
premium,  Katie  1139. 

Heifer  2  years — 1st  premium,  Victoria  1053 ; 
2d  premium,  Charlotte  1102. 

Heifer  1  year — 1st  premium,  Prairie  Flower 
1159,  by  Success;  2d  premium,  Mary  Hughes 
1149,  by  Success. 

Heifer  calf,  over  6  months — 1st  premium, 
Peerless  1157,  by  Success;  2d  premium  Eugenia 
1130,  by  Success. 

Heifer  calf  under  6  months — 1st  premium 
Maid  of  Honor  1145,  by  Success;  2d  premium, 
Miss  Humphries  1152,  by  Success. 

The  reports  of  the  Illinois  State  Board  for 
1877  and  1876  do  not  show  the  names  of  the 
winning  animals,  but  simply  credit  the  awards 
to  the  owner  of  the  cattle.  So  far  as  we  re- 
member the  animals,  we  have  put  them  down. 
It  is  true  of  the  awards  of  those  two  years 
that  they  were  largely  of  the  Success  (f[355) 
stock,  and  the  winnings  of  the  two  years  must 
have  been  at  least  three-fourths  on  Success  and 
his  get. 

1877. 

Bulls  4  years  old  or  over — 1st  premium,  T.  L. 
Miller,  Success ;  2d  premium,  T.  L.  Miller. 

Bull  1  year  old,  3  entries — 1st  premium,  T. 
L.  Miller. 

Bull  calf  under  6  months,  4  entries — 1st  and 
2d  premiums,  T.  L.  Miller. 

Bull  calf  under  6  months  old — 1st  and  2d 
premiums,  T.  L.  Miller. 


Cow  4  years  old,  7  entries — 1st  premium,  T. 
L.  Miller. 

Heifer  2  years,  4  entries — 1st  and  2d  pre- 
miums, T.  L.  Miller. 

Heifer  1  year,  4  entries — 1st  and  2d  pre- 
miums, T.  L.  Miller. 

Best  heifer  calf  over  6  months,  4  entries — 
1st  and  2d  premiums,  T.  L.  Miller. 

Best  bull,  any  age,  8  entries — sweepstakes  to 
Success. 

Best  cow  or  heifer,  any  age,  15  entries — 
sweepstakes  to  Dolly  Varden. 

Best  bull  and  five  cows  or  heifers,  1  year  old 
and  upwards,  and  owned  by  one  individual  or 
previously  existing  firm,  12  entries — 2d  pre- 
mium, T.  L.  Miller,  Success  and  five  cows  and 
heifers. 

Best  5  calves  of  any  breed,  male  or  female, 


JAMES    C.    WILLSON, 
Flint,  Mich. 

under  1  year  old,  and  owned  by  one  individual 
or  firm,  8  entries— 2d  premium,  T.  L.  Miller, 
Success  calves. 

Best  5  cattle,  male  or  female,  of  any  age, 
without  regard  to  ownership,  the  get  of  one 
bull,  the  sire  to  be  shown  with,  the  herd  and 


462 


HISTORY    OP    HEREF-ORD    CATTLE 


considered  in  making  the  award;  3  entries — 
1st  premium,  T.  L.  Miller,  Success  and  5  cows 
and  heifers. 

Best  cow  or  heifer  of  any  age  or  breed,  45 
entries — 2d  premium,  Dolly  Varden. 

1878. 

Bull  4  years  old,  2  entries — 1st  premium, 
T.  L.  Miller,  Success. 

Bull  2  years — 1st  premium,  T.  L.  Miller,  a 
son  of  Success. 

Bull  1  year,  6  entries — 2d  premium,  T.  L. 
Miller. 


NANNETTE  (V.  11,  p.  246)  4511. 
Bred  by  T.  Middleton. 

Bull  calf  over  6  months,  4  entries — 1st  and 
2d  premiums,  T.  L.  Miller. 

Bull  calf  under  6  months — 1st  premium,  T. 
L.  Miller. 

Cow  4  years  old — 1st  and  2d  premiums,  T.  L. 
Miller. 

Cow  3  years — 1st  and  2d  premiums,  T.  L, 
Miller. 

Heifer  2  years,  3  entries — 1st  and  2d  pre- 
miums, T.  L.  Miller. 

Heifer  1  year — 2d  premium,  T.  L.  Miller. 

Heifer  calf,  over  6  months,  3  entries — 1st 
and  2d  premiums,  T.  L.  Miller. 

Best  bull,  any  age,  5  entries — T.  L.  Miller, 
Success. 

Best  cow  or  heifer  of  any  age,  6  entries — T. 
L.  Miller. 

Best  5  cattle,  male  or  female,  of  any  age  or 
breed  without  regard  to  ownership,  the  get  of 
one  bull,  the  sire  to  be  shown  with  the  herd  and 
considered  in  making  up  the  award;  6  entries 
—1st  premium,  T.  L.  Miller,  Success,  and  5 
cows  or  heifers. 

1879. 

Bull  3  years  old  or  over,  4  entries — 1st  pre- 
mium, Success  2. 

Bull  calf  under  1  year  old  and  over  6  months, 
3  entries — 1st  premium,  Dictator  1989. 

Cow  4  years  old  or  over,  2  entries — 1st  pre- 
mium Prairie  Flower  1159  (fl  356),  by  Suc- 
cess; 2d  prize,  Victoria  1053. 


Heifer  2  years,  G  entries — 1st  premium, 
Highland  Queen  1141  (^357)  by  Success. 

Heifer  calf  over  6  months,  4  entries — 1st 
premium,  Miss  Filley  1899,  by  Success. 

Best  cow  or  heifer  of  any  age,  8  entries — 
premium,  Highland  Queen  1141,  by  Success. 

Bull  and  5  cows  or  heifers  1  year  old  or 
over,  owned  by  one  individual  or  previously  ex- 
isting firm;  2  entries — premium,  Seventy-six 
1093,  Victoria  1053,  Prairie  Flower  115!). 
Highland  Queen  1141,  Charity  708,  Maid  of 
Orleans  1146. 

Five  cattle,  male  or  female,  of  any  age  or 
breed,  without  regard  to  ownership,  the  get  of 
one  bull,  the  sire  to  be  shown  with  the  herd 
and  considered  in  making  the  awards ;  4  entries 
— 2d  premium,  Success  2,  Prairie  Flower  1159; 
Highland  Queen  1141,  Charity  708,  Beatrice 
742,  Maid  of  Orleans  1146. 

Five  cattle  of  one  breed  (all  breeds  com- 
peting), male  or  female,  over  1  year  old,  bred 
ajid  owned  by  the  exhibitor;  5  entries — 2d 
premium,  Victoria  1053,  Prairie  Flower  1159, 
Highland  Queen  1141,  Charity  708,  Maid  of 
Orleans  1146. 

WINNINGS  OF  THE  T.  L.  MILLER  HERD  OF  HERE- 
FORDS    AT    THE    AMERICAN    FAT    STOCK 
SHOW,    CHICAGO. 

1878. 

Hereford  steer  4  years  old  or  over — 1st  pre- 
mium, T.  L.  Miller. 

Hereford  steer  3  years  old  and  under  4,  3 
entries — 1st  premium,  Miller. 

Cow  3  years  old  or  over,  3  entries — 1st  pre- 
mium, Jennie. 

Sweepstakes  ring,  open  to  all  breeds,  for  best 
cow  three  years  old  or  over  in  the  show,  Jennie. 

1879. 

Hereford  steer  4  years  old  or  over,  4  entries — 
1st  premium 

Hereford  steer,  3  years,  2  entries — 1st  pre- 
mium— 

Hereford  steer,  2  years — 1st  premium — 

Hereford  steer,  1  year — 1st  premium — ; 
2d  premium,  Will,  sire  Success  2,  dam  Mollie. 

Hereford  cow  3  years  old  or  over — 1st 
premium. 

GRADES  OR  CROSSES,  OPEN  TO  ALL  BREEDS. 

Steer  4  years  old  or  over,  16  entries — 1st 
premium. 

Hereford  steer,  2  years,  3  entries — 1st  pre- 
mium, Will,  sire  Success,  dam  Mollie;  2d  pre- 
mium, Washington,  sire  Success,  dam  Miss 
Smith  1083. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


4G3 


Hereford  cow  3  years — 1st  premium,  Maid  of 
Orleans  1146,  sire  Success  2,  dam  Laura. 

Grades  or  crosses,  open  to  all  breeds. — Steer, 
1  year,  22  entries — 2d  premium,  Kansas. 

Sweepstakes — Steer  2  years,  any  breed,  Con- 
queror. 

Sweepstakes — Yearling  steer,  any  breed,  Kan- 
sas. 

Dressed  Carcass. — Steer  any  breed  3  years,  3 
entries — 1st  premium. 

Prize  for  early  maturity,  open  to  all  breeds. 
— Steer  2  and  under  3  years,  11  entries — pre- 
mium, Conqueror. 

1881. 
Hereford  steer  3  years — 1st  premium,  Will, 


1882. 

We-  believed  that  the  --condition  in  which 
breeding  stock  must  be  shown  at  the  pub- 
lic exhibitions  in  this  country  was  damaging  to 
the  stock  exhibited  and  discouraging  to  the 
average  farmer.  We  therefore  endeavored  to 
secure  a  class  for  grass-fed  cattle.  We  have, 
however,  failed  to  get  such  a  class,  managers 
of  fairs  alleging  that  such  an  exhibit  would 
not  interest  visitors  or  be  creditable  to  the 
management.  We  determined,  however,  that  we 
would  bring  some  of  our  stock  from  the  pas- 
tures and  exhibit  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  of 
1882.  We  reproduce  from  the  official  state- 
ment or  catalogue  of  the  show,  this  exhibit.  We 
headed  the  exhibit  with  our  breeding  stock,  giv- 
ing the  age  in  years  and  months  instead  of  days. 


Exhibit 
No.  Sex. 

67  Bull 

68  Bull 

69  Bull 
.     Cow 


T.    L.    MILLER   COMPANY'S    EXHIBIT,   CHICAGO    FAT  STOCK  SHOW,   1882. 


Name.  Weight.          Age. 

Dauphin   18th    2330  3  yrs.    8  mos. 

Winter  de  Cote   2060  3  yrs.    2  mos. 

Success     2030  9  yrs.    9  mos. 

Victoria    abt  1700  9  yrs.    0  mos. 

91  Cow      Highland    Queen    abt  1600  5  yrs.    7  mos. 

92  Cow      Charity     abt  1600  5  yrs.    6  mos. 

93  Cow      Beatrice     abt  1500  5  yrs.    0  mos. 

92    Cow      Nightingale    abt  1600  4  yrs.    9  mos. 

78  Steer    King  William   1655  2  yrs.    7  mos. 

79  Steer    Wallace     1720  2  yrs.    8  mos. 

80  Steer    Highland    Lad 1680  2  yrs.    8  mos. 

81  Steer    Beecher     1815  2  yrs.    7  mos. 

82  Steer    Conqueror    II 1705  2  yrs.  11  mos. 

77    Steer    Bertie     1310  2  yrs.    0  mos. 

77    Steer    Bachelor     1435  2  yrs.    0  mos. 

76    Steer    St.    Paul    1232  1  yr.      6  mos. 

76    Steer    Eighty-one     1155  1  yr.      5  mos. 

83  Steer    Pythias    1870  3  yrs.    9  mos. 

84  Steer    Damon     1990  3  yrs.    8  mos. 

85  Steer    Barnum    1980  3  yrs.    6  mos. 

86  Steer    Jumbo    1920  3  yrs.    6  mos. 

87  Steer    Abbey    ...' 1710  3  yrs.    6  mos. 

89    Steer    Buck    1450  3  yrs.    9  mos. 

89  Steer    Bright     ( 1600  3  yrs.    9  mos. 

90  Steer    Prince 1560  3  yrs.  10  mos. 

215  Steer    Napoleon     1475  2  yrs.  10  mos. 

216  Steer    Murat   1395  2  yrs.  10  mos. 

217  Steer    Key    1355  2  yrs.  10  |nos. 

218  Steer    Marion     1245  2  yrs.    7  mos. 

219  Steer    Ohio  Chief    1470  2  yrs.    6  mos. 

220  Steer    Douglas    1437  2  yrs.    6  mos. 

75    Cow      Princess    Alice    Maud 1800    10  yrs.  10  mos. 


Breed. 

Hereford. 

Hereford. 

Hereford. 

Hereford. 

Hereford. 

Hereford. 

Hereford. 

Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 

Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford.  J 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 
Grade  Hereford. 

Hereford. 


Remarks. 


From  the  pastures  to  the  show, 
each  cow  having  raised  a  calf 
during  the  season. 


Fed   for   exhibit. 


Grazed  on  grass  and  without 
other  food  until  Sept.,  when  they 
were  fed  cornstalks  and  light 
grain  feed. 


sire  Success  2,  dam  Mollie;  2d  premium,  Wash-'.. 
ington,  sire  Success  2,  dam  Miss  Smith. 

Grades  or  Crosses  open  to  all  Breeds. — Steer ^ 
3  years,  34  entries — 1st  premium,  Conqueror, 
sire  Hereford  bull,  dam  one-half  Hereford. 

Grade  or  cross-bred  steer  2  and  under  3  years, 
33  entries — 3d  premium,  Kansas,  sire  Hereford 
bull,  dam  native  cow. 

Steer  showing  the  greatest  average  gain  ger 
day -since  birth,  3  and  under  4  years,  10  en- 
tries— 2d  premium,  Conqueror,  sire  Hereford 
bull,  dam  one-half  grade  Hereford. 

The  Grand  Special  Premium,  offered  by 
Marshall  Field,  $250,  for  best  5  head  of  cattle 
any  age  or  breed,  was  given  to  T.  L.  Miller  for 
5  Hereford  steers — Conqueror,  Will,  Washing- 
ton, Bachelor  and  Kansas. 


.  i-This  table  shows  an  average  weight  on  five 
<  13-year-old  past  steers  of  1,715  pounds,  on  two 
"••  even  2-year-olds,  1,372  pounds,  and  three 
1-year-olds,  1,284  pounds.  These  steers  had  been 
stall  fed,  and  would,  but  for  the  burning  of  our 
barn,  have  made  100  pounds  more  weight  per 
headi,  Our  three-year-old  grass  steers  made 
an  average  3f  1,653  pounds,  our  2-year-old  grass 
steers  made  an  average  of  1,360  pounds".  These 
two  lots  may  be  taken  as  the  standard  weights 
for  the  ordinary  farm  management.  Such  an 
exhibit  is  of  value  and  perhaps  of  more  value 
than  our  stall  fed  steers  2-year-old  averaging 
1,7"50  pounds.  We  were  criticised  by  some  par- 
ties for  taking  our  grass  steers  to  the  show, 
"but  we  had  grown  used  to  criticism,  and  if  we 
had  heeded  it  we  should  not  have  been  breeders 


464 


II1S  T  0  U  Y     ()  F     1 1  K  LI  K  F  0  R  1)     C  A  T  T  L 


of  Herefords,  and  the  Herefords  would  not  have 
occupied  the  position  they  do  today.  We 
thought  if  we  could  show  that  with  ordinary 
methods  of  hay  and  grass  the  farmer  can  put 
his  three-year-old  steers  on  the  market  at  an 
average  weight  of  1,650  pounds,  and  his  two- 
year-olds  at  nearly  1,400  pounds,  he  would  rec- 
ognize the  Herefords  as  better  beef  animals 
than  he  has  been  in  the  habit  of  handling  from 
any  other  breed. 

We  called  attention  to  the  fat  cow  nearly  11 
years  old,  weight  1,800  pounds.  We  believed 
such  an  exhibit  a  credit  to  the  breed,  breeding 
for  more  than  the  average  life  of  the  Short- 
horn, and  then  going  to  the  butcher  as  first- 
class  beef,  weighing  1,800  pounds.  It  is  a 
credit  to  the  breed  that  it  can  fit  three-year-old 
heifers  to  1,750  pounds,  but  greater  credit  to 
take  an  aged  breeding  cow  and  make  1,800 
pounds  of  first-class  beef. 

In  this  exhibit  of  our  breeding  stock  we 
had  the  three-year-old  bull,  Dauphin  18th,  bred 
by  Mr.  J.  B.  Green,  Marlow,  England,  weigh- 
ing without  fitting  2,330  pounds,  and  Winter  de 
Cote,  a  brother  to  Mrs.  Edwards'  celebrated 
Leonora,  and  then  old  Success,  nearly  ten  years 
old,  with  all  the  vigor  of  a  two-year-old,  and  no 
sign  of  age  upon  him.  Also  four  of  his  heifers, 


and  the  nine-year-old  cow,  Victoria  (by  old  Sir 
Charles),  the  dam  of  Dictator,  owned  by  Mr. 
F.  W.  Smith,  of  Woodlandville,  Mo.,  who  won 
with  him  the  sweepstakes  of  the  best  Hereford 
bull  two  years  in  succession,  at  St.  Louis,  ever 
the  best  Hereford  bulls  of  England  and 
America. 

The  bulls  in  this  exhibit  were  from  ordinary 
stock  keep,  and  the  cows  from  pasture  only. 
We  expected  the  time  was  not  far  distant  when 
stock  from  the  pastures  would  form  an  im- 
portant part  of  the  live  stock  exhibits  of  our 
leading  shows,  and  if  this  exhibit  of  ours  would 
hasten  that  time,  we  would  have  accomplished 
what  we  intended  to  do.  The  advice  of  the  best 
and  most  experienced  breeders  is  to  never  buy 
fitted  stock,  and  whatever  may  be  the  breeder's 
reputation  in  the  show  ring,  his  home  exhibit 
must  support  it,  or  very  few  will  wish  to  choose 
from  his  herd.  The  five  cows  exhibited  dropped 
within  three  years,  including  the  year  they  were 
shown,  fourteen  calves. 

Whenever  the  time  shall  come  that  grass  fed 
cattle  and  cows  with  calves  at  foot  shall  be  a 
feature  at  our  leading  fairs,  the  Herefords  will 
show  character  to  which  no  other  breed  can 
attain. 


D.  p.  WILLIAMS, 

Guthrie   Center,   la. 


HIST OK Y     OF     HEKEFORD     CATTLE 


4G5 


CHAPTER  XL. 

LETTERS 


FROM  : 

T.  L.  MILLER,  1881. 
\V.  DANGER,  1879. 
8.  C.  SKIDMORE,  1880. 
GEO.  LEIGH,  1880. 

GEO.  T.  TURNER,  1880. 
THOS.  DUCKHAM,  1880. 

H.  M.  VAILE,  1881. 
J.  C.  WILSON,  1881. 
DAKOTA,  1881. 
JOHN  MERRYMAN,  1881. 
JAMES  FUNKHOUSER,  1884. 
HUGH  CRAIG,  1884. 
S.  D.  FISHER,  1884. 
THEODORE  WHYTE,  1884. 
C.  M.  CULBERTSON,  1885. 


MR.  MILLER'S  POSITION. 

The  following  is  an  open  letter  from  T.  L. 
Miller  to  the  "Farmer's  Magazine"  of  Ken- 
tucky (1881)  : 

It  is  satisfactory  'when  another  states  your 
position,  if  he  shall  do  it  correctly;  but  the 
editor  of  the  "Farmer's  Magazine/'  in  his  edi- 
torial entitled  "What  will  he  do  with  it  ?"  is  not 
exactly  fair  in  giving  me  a  position,  or  in  stat- 
ing that  position,  but  on  this  point  we  will  not 
quarrel. 

The  Hereford  breeders  have  not  been  block- 
heads. They  have  attended  to  the  breeding  of 
their  stock,  and  have  produced  a  race  of  cattle 
that  have  held  the  top  price,  both  with  the 
grazier  and  butcher.  The  breeding  intelligence 
and  practical  brains  have  not  been  with  the 
Shorthorns.  The  agricultural  societies  and 
press  have  been  controlled  in  the  interest  of  the 
Shorthorns,  and  that  control  has  not  been  fairly 
obtained,  because  they  have  been  organized  and 
managed,  as  stated  in  the  preamble,  for  the 
purpose  of  bringing  forth  the  best,  while  they 
have  been  worked  to  advance  the  Shorthorn  in- 
terest. 

"The  press  and  the  agricultural  societies  were 


FROM: 

D.  P.  WILLIAMS,  1886. 
W.  S.  IKARD,  1886-87. 
F.  0.  SKIDMORE,  1886. 
F.  W.  SMITH,  1882. 
W.  E.  CAMPBELL,  1882. 
HENRY  LANE,  1882. 

JAMES  W.  Cox,  1882. 
H.  BOWEN,  1882. 

KENNEDY  BROS.,  1882. 
CEPHALUS  BLACK,  1883. 
AMOS  BISSELL,  1883. 
H.  C.  BURLEIGH,  1886. 
P.  MEHAN,  1886. 
A.  M.  WHITE,  1886. 


taken  covertly  and  by  storm  in  the  interest  of 
Bates  or  Booth,  and  wrong  was  made  to  look 
right  and  right  wrong."  This  is  a  fair  state- 
ment of  my  position,  and  I  propose  to. prove  it 
by  the  record. 

Again  you  say:  "Those  who  have  observed 
Mr.  Miller  closely,  as  we  have  done,  must  be 
impressed  with  the  contempt  he  manifests  for 
all  those  who  think  differently  from  him." 

There  are  writers  in  the  interest  of  the  Short- 
horns who  are  forever  pointing  to  the  past  his- 
tory of  the  Shorthorns  as  an  evidence  of  merit, 
as  certain  persons  are  pointing  to  the  history 
of  their  parents  or  grandparents,  or  great- 
grandparents  as  an  evidence  of  their  ability. 
For  such  I  have  no  great  respect.  I  think  if 
you  will  go  back  in  the  Shorthorn  history  to 
1817,  that  time  of  the  Sanders  and  Clay  im- 
portations, and  follow  the  breeding  of  those 
cattle  through  their  crosses,  you  will  find  that 
the  Hereford  blood  in  that  importation  and 
their  produce,  went  a  long  way  towards  giving 
to  the  Kentucky  cattle  the  character  they  have 
had  in  the  past  times.  You  will  find  to  this 
time  those  markings  that  denote  Hereford 
blood ;  and  you  will  find  that  with  these  mark- 
ings there  is  a  quality  that  I  claim  belongs  to 
the  Herefords.  Now  there  is  no  question  but 


466 


HISTOKY     OF    HEBEFQBD     CATTLE 


W.    S.    IKARD, 
Henrietta,   Tex. 


that  the  Herefords  were  an  important  element 
in  the  eattle  interest  of  Kentucky  from  181?  to 
1840,  and  you  will  find  men  now  living  that 
will  recognize  this  fact.  You  will  find  another 
fact:  that  the  Kentucky  reputation  for  good 
cattle  is  based  more  upon  the  Seventeens  than 
upon  the  Bates,  Dukes  and  Duchesses,  and  when 
the  latter  are  forgotten  this  will  be  your  boast. 
One  of  your  prominent  breeders  told  me  in 
Kansas  City  several  years  ago  that  he  knew  the 
Duke  bulls  were  damaging  the  character  of  the 

Shorthorn       cattle, 

but  they  could  not 
sell  any  others  to  a 
profit.  Further- 
more, there  are 
none  of  your  best 
breeders  but  know 
that  Kentucky  cat- 
tle are  poorer  for 
having  used  this 
blood. 

What  you  say  of 
Mr.  Goddard  will 
be  said  of  many  of 
your  best  breeders. 
They  can  take  the 
Seventeens  and 
make  a  breed  or 
family  that  will  top  all  other  families  of  Short- 
horns in  the  state. 

After  you  have  investigated  the  cattle  his- 
tory of  Kentucky  from  1817  to  1840  turn  your 
attention  to  the  operations  of  the  breeders  in 
England,  at  the  time  they  took  possession  of 
the  machinery  of  the  Society  for  the  Diffusion 
of  Useful  Knowledge,  and  notice  with  what  tact 
they  obtained  the  endorsement  of  that  society 
for  their  breed.  Eev.  Mr.  Berry  might  have 
written  over  his  own  signature  and  in  his  own 
name  the  history  of  the  Shorthorns  and  the 
history  of  other  breeds  of  English  cattle  but 
that  would  not  have  appeared  well.  He  there- 
fore obtained  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Youatt, 
a  scholarly  gentleman  of  that  period,  to  write 
their  history  at  his  (Kev.  Henry  Berry's)  dicta- 
tion. 

Will  there  be  any  question  but  that  the  Eev. 
Henry  Berry  supervised  the  writing  of  the  his- 
tory of  other  breeds  of  English  cattle  that  ap- 
pear in  the  same  volume,  "Youatt  on  British 
Cattle"  ?  If  you  should  have  any  doubt  on  this 
point  after  a  careful  investigation  I  should  be 
pleased  to  enter  upon  this  study  with  you. 

After  a  careful  study  of  Youatt  and  his  his- 
tory, I  would  recommend  to  you  a  careful  ex- 
amination as  to  the  organization  of  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  of  England  in  1839.  You 


will  there  find  that  some  of  the  Shorthorn 
breeders  used  some  of  the  best  and  most  noble 
of  England's  nobility  and  gentry  for  the  en- 
dorsement of  that  breed,  known  then  by  the 
name  of  the  Shorthorn  or  Durham  breed  of  cat- 
tle; while  the  breeders  and  advocates  of  this 
breed  were  the  judges  and  committeemen  who 
managed  the  awards  and  you  will  find  that  the 
press  published  these  awards  on  the  report  of 
these  judges  and  of  these  committeemen. 

You  will  find  that  your  State  Societies  were 
under  the  same  sort  of  management,  and  you 
may  look  into  the  history  of  the  Herefords  and 
Shorthorns  in  1834,  at  which  time  Youatt 
wrote,  and  you  will  find  that  at  the  public  sales 
of  blooded  stock  and  butcher's  stock  in  Eng- 
land, the  Hereford  sold  at  longer  prices  usually 
than  the  Shorthorn. 

You  may  then  go  to  the  records  of  the  Smith- 
field  Society  and  you  will  find  on  the  records 
of  that  Society  that  the  Herefords  and  Short- 
horns were  competing,  and  that  up  to  1834  the 
Hereford  oxen  and  steers  had  taken  eighty- 
five  premiums  amounting  to  1,295  pounds 
sterling  ($6,475),  while  the  Shorthorns  had 
taken  thirty-two  premiums,  amounting  to  585 
pounds  sterling  ($2,925).  This  showing  was 
a  matter  of  record  in  London  at  the  time  Prof. 
Youatt  was  writing. 

In  the  history  of  the  Herefords  Prof.  Youatt 
gives  one  experiment  of  the  feeding  of  three 
Shorthorns  and  three  Herefords,  showing 
about  thirty  per  cent  in  favor  of  Herefords. 
He  gives  seven  pages  or  more  to  the  report  of 
sales  of  Shorthorns,  and  no  account  of  the 
sales  of  Herefords,  while  .he  might  have  had 
access  to  the  records  of  such  sales. 

He  gives  two  pages  (312-313)  to  quoting 
the  Duke  of  Bedford's  experiment  of  feeding 
different  breeds  of  cattle,  but  as  far  as  Here- 
fords or  Shorthorns  are  concerned,  he  says: 
"Although  the  Herefords  are  now  established 
at  Woburn  .  .  ."  and  in  a  foot  note  adds : 
"To  the  many  records  of  experiments  on  the 
comparative  fattening  qualities  of  the  Hereford 
and  Durham  cattle,  we  will  not  now  refer.  One, 
although  not  then  assigned  to  its  proper  author, 
the  present  Duke  of  Bedford,  was  detailed  on 
page  34  of  this  work.  We  will  content  our- 
selves with  referring  to  that.  The  patrons  of 
the  Shorthorns,  however,  have  not  considered  it 
altogether  satisfactory  in  its  details." 

This  is  disposing  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford's 
experiments  as  a  historian  has  no  right  to  do. 
Will  anyone  doubt  that  if  these  experiments 
had  resulted  in  favor  of  the  Durham,  they 
would  have  found  a  place  in  this  "History  of 
British  Cattle?" 


HISTORY   OF  H.ERFFORD   CATTLE 


Between  the  years  of  1834  and  1840,  covering 
the  time  when  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society 
of  England  and  New  York  State  Agricultural 
Society  established  their  fairs,  the  report  of 
the  Smithfield  Club  shows  that  the  Herefords 
took  thirty-five  premiums,  amounting  to  465 
pounds  sterling  ($2,325)  ;  the  Shorthorns  took 
fifteen  premiums,  amounting  to  230  pounds 
sterling  ($1,150). 

In  1839  Mr.  W.  H.  Sotham  brought  an  im- 
portation of  Herefords  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and 
ju'iirly  every  Shorthorn  breeder  in  New  York 
State  quoted  Youatt  against  him,  and  the  en- 
tire Shorthorn  interest  of  that  state  fought  Mr. 
Sotham  from  the  start,  compelling  him  to  ex- 
hibit with  discrimination  against  him  and  un- 
der Shorthorn  judges.  Mr.  Sotham  had  a  fight 
at  that  time,  with  justice  and  merit  with  him, 
but  was  overpowered  by  numbers  and  beaten 
by  such  men  as  H.  S.  Randall,  Lewis  F.  Allen, 
Ambrose  Stevens,  backed  by  such  men  as  E.  P. 
Prentice,  C.  M.  Bement,  Stephen  Van  Rensse- 
hier,  George  Vail,  J.  M.  Sherwood,  and  others, 
and  these  used  the  New  York  State  Agricul- 
tural Society  to  aid  in  this  defeat. 

If  my  success  with  the  Herefords  had  de- 
pended upon  the  introduction  of  them  among 
the  Shorthorn  men,  who  were  aided  by  the  Illi- 
nois State  Agricultural  Society,  I  would  have 
likely  found  the  same  result  that  Mr.  Sotham 
did.  I,  however,  took  my  field  among  the  breed- 
ers of  the  plains,  and  their  acceptance  of  the 
Herefords  secured  the  success  of  the  enterprise. 

The  Smithfield  continued  to  show  all  breeds 
in  competition  up  to  and  including  1851,  when 
the  Shorthorn  men  took  the  management  of 
the  society,  "covertly  and  by  storm,"  changed 
the  showing  from  the  old  plan  of  showing  all 
I) reeds  in  competition  to  class  showing.  From 
1840  to  1851,  the  Herefords  had  taken  sixty- 
five  premiums,  amounting  to  920  pounds  ster- 
ling ($4,600),  the  Shorthorns  had  taken  thirty- 
seven  premiums,  amounting  to  365  pounds 
sterling  ($1,825).  During  these  years,  say 
from  1800  to  1851,  Hereford  beef  had  sold  on 
the  London  market  at  a  higher  price  than 
Shorthorn  beef  by  one  or  two  cents  per  pound. 
And  during  all  this  time  the  results  of  careful 
trials  were  published  and  accessible,  showing 
that  Hereford  beef  could  be  made  at  from  15 
to  30  per  cent  cheaper  than  that  of  the  Short- 
horn. These  are  facts  accessible  to  Shorthorn 
breeders  and  editors,  and  still  they  make  claims 
that  ignore  them;  and  societies  that  are  sup- 
ported by  the  State  funds  give  special  encour- 
agement to  the  Shorthorns  and  discriminate 
against  other  breeds  Is  it  singular  that  I 
should  not  honor  men  that  will  put  forth  claims 
that  the  entire  record  will  condemn  ? 


Y"our  correspondent,  Mr.  T.  C.  Anderson, 
under  date  of  November  1,  1880,  in  an  article 
to  the  "Kansas  City  Indicator,"  says:  "What 
authority  has  Mr.  Miller  for  saying  that  the 
Hereford  will  graze  and  feed  at  less  cost  than 
the  Shorthorn,  and  when  fed  are  worth  more 
money  ?"  Any  breeder  having  been  engaged  in 
that  business  as  long  as  Mr.  Anderson  should 
understand  the  history  of  the  cattle  he  breeds, 
and  the  breeds  with  which  he  competes,  better 
than  to  put  such  questions — he  ought  to  be  bet- 
ter posted  in  cattle  history.  He  may  be  ex- 
cused, being  a  breeder,  for  making  the  best 
show  he  can  for  his  breed,  as  a  lawyer  may  be 
for  quoting  law  and  facts  that  will  favor  his 
client.  But  you  occupy  rather  the  position  of 
the  judge.  Your  position  may  be  termed  a 
judicial  one,  and  you  are  supposed  to  stand  as 
the  instructor,  and  not  as  the  advocate. 

You  should  know  the  history  as  the  judge 
should  know  the  law,  and  when  the  advocate 
presents  his  case  you  should  not  give  a  verdict 
by  silence  or  endorsement  that  will  work  an 
injury  to  your  readers.  I  am  aware  that  the 
position  I  have  taken  is  revolutionary.  I  pro- 


GEO.  w.  RUST. 

Eminent  Shorthorn  authority. 

pose  it  shall  be,  and  had  I  not  the  facts  to  sup- 
port my  position  I  might  be  written  down  a 
fool.  And  it  becomes  you  to  look  well  to 
precedent  before  you  commit  yourself  to  claims 
that  have  no  basis  in  equity. 

Very  truly,     T.  L.  MILLER, 


408 


HISTORY  OF  HEREFORD  <J  A  T  T  L  F! 


HEREFORDS  FOR  CROSSING. 

In  the  "Breeders'  Journal,"  Vol.  TT,  p.  3,  Mr. 
H.  M.  Vaile,  a  leading  Bates  Shorthorn  breeder, 
says: 

"While  they  (the  Herefords)  are  uniform  in 
color  and  markings,  they  are  not  uniform  in 
fattening  capacity,  and  it  is  the  experience  of 
unprejudiced  men,  that  they  are  a  failure  in 
crossing  upon  other  cattle,  or  comparatively  so." 
To  which  we  replied,  "I  would  credit  Mr.  V. 
with  an  honest  intention  of  stating  what  he 
believes  to  be  true.  But  this  statement  is  wide 
of  the  mark.  There  is  no  breed  that  carry  their 


been,  and  I  cannot  believe  they  will  ever  be  the 
equal  of  the  Shorthorns."  At  that  time  we 
said:  "I  would  advise  Mr.  Vaile  to  spend  some 
time  among  the  cattle  men  of  Kansas  City,  and 
talk  with  them  as  to  the  character  of  the  Here- 
ford and  Shorthorns.  The  Herefords  will  top 
all  other  cattle,  not  because  of  my  zeal,  but  of 
the  merits  of  the  cattle." 

In  reply  to  Mr.  Vaile  we  quote  Mr.  J.  C. 
Wilson,  as  follows: 

"  'Breeders'  Live  Stock  Journal' :  In  the  Jan- 
uary number  of  the  'Journal'  I  see  an  article 
headed  'Shorthorns  vs.  T.  L.  Miller/  in  which 


HEREFORD  BULLS  ON  THE  TEXAS  RANGE. 

Property  of  Mrs.  C.  Adair  (R.  Walsh,  manager),  Paloduro,  (From   a  photograph   taken  in   the  spring  after  win- 
tering without  feed  or  hay.) 


quality  so  uniformly  upon  their  produce  as  do 
the  Herefords,  and  I  should  be  glad  to  show 
Mr.  V.  the  produce  from  widely  differing 
dams." 

Mr.  Vaile  closes  by  saying,  "the  Hereford? 
have  been  in  the  hands  of  good  breeders ;  yet, 
for  one  hundred  years  they  have  not  extended 
their  limits,  and  scarce  increased  in  numbers, 
until  Mr.  Miller  became  their  champion.  He 
has  given  them  new  life  by  his  great  zeal,  and 
I  expect  this  will  continue  for  a  time,  for  they 
are  not  without  merit.  But  they  never  have 


Mr.  Vaile  is  quoted  as  saying :  'While  the  Here- 
fords are  uniform  in  color  and  markings,  they 
are  not  uniform  in  fattening  capacity,  and  it 
is  the  experience  of  unprejudiced  men  that  they 
are  a  failure  in  crossing  upon  other  cattle,  or 
comparatively  so.' 

"Now,  Mr.  Editor,  I  wish  to  say  that  Mr. 
Vaile  cannot  be  posted  in  either  particular  of 
which  he  speaks  regarding  Herefords,  when  he 
makes  such  a  statement  as  the  above.  It  is  not 
the  experience  of  men  who  breed  Herefords, 
that  they  fail  either  in  fattening  uniformly  or 


HISTORY     OF     HEliEFOllD     CATTLE 


469 


in  crossing  successfully  with  other  cattle.  We 
have  been  breeding  beef  cattle  for  profit  for 
twenty  years,  and  for  sixteen  years  we  have  bred 
and  fed  a  large  number  of  grade  Hereford 
cattle,  both  steers,  heifers  and  cows,  and  we  find 
them  more  profitable  than  either  Shorthorn  or 
Devons,  with  both  of  which  we  have  experi- 
mented. 

"In  the  winter  of  1878,  in  an  address  before 
the  Farmers'  Institute  of  Michigan,  held  in 
Flint,  I  had  the  honor,  and  pleasure  also,  of 
giving  these  experiments  in  detail ;  and  the  ad- 
dress has  been  published  in  full  in  the  Agri- 


cannot  say  we  were  unprejudiced  breeders  and 
feeders,  for  we  started  out  strongly  prejudiced 
in  favor  of  the  Shorthorns,  but  the  Herefords, 
on  their  merit  alone,  have  worked  themselves 
into  our  favor  so  far,  that  at  present  we  breed 
and  feed  none  but  the  white  faces.  We  have 
now  over  200  grades  of  this  breed  on  our  farm, 
and  we  are  satisfied  that  they  make  us  more 
dollars  and  cents  than  we  could  possibly  get 
out  of  Shorthorns.  They  will  produce  more 
beef  in  shorter  time  with  less  outlay  of  food 
and  less  care,  than  the  Shorthorns.  They  are 
a  hardier  race  of  animals,  stand  our  winters 


SHORTHORN   BULLS  ON   THE   TEXAS   RANGE. 
Property  of  the  Farwell  syndicate.     (From  a  photograph  taken  in  the  spring  after  wintering  on  hay  and  cotton  seed.) 


cultural  Eeport  of  Michigan  for  that  year,  to 
which  I  would  most  respectfully  refer  Mr. 
Yaile  for  proof  demonstrating  the  error  of  the 
position  he  assumes  with  regard  to  the  Here- 
fords,  both  as  regards  fattening  evenly  and 
crossing  successfully  with  other  cattle.  An 
application  to  Prof.  Baird,  at  the  Agricultural 
College  at  Lansing,  will  enable  anyone  wishing 
the  report  to  get  one. 

"Our  grade  Hereford  steers  have  always  sur- 
passed both  the  others  in  early  maturity,  in 
being  more  easily  and  cheaply  kept,  and  in 
market  value  when  ready  for  the  shambles.  I 


better,  and  are  less  liable  to  disease  than  the 
Shorthorns. 

"JAMES  C.  WILSON,  M.  D.  (fl  358) 

"Supt.  Crapo  Farm, 

"Flint,  Mich. 

"P.  S. — Our  experience  with  the  Herefords  is 
supplemented  by  that  of  our  neighbors.  Mr. 
Thomas  Foster,  a  celebrated  Devon  breeder  and 
feeder,  has  changed  to  the  Herefords,  and  finds 
them  more  profitable.  The  Hon.  Wm.  Hamil- 
ton, a  celebrated  Shorthorn  man  of  this  coun- 
try, and  also  the  Hon.  S.  Howard,  another 
Shorthorn  breeder  and  feeder,  have  become 


470 


HIS TOBY  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


converted  from  the  error  of  their  ways,  and 
gone  into  the  breeding  of  Hereford  grades  and 
full-bloods.  They  all  confirm  what  1  have  just 
said  about  the  Herefords.  W." 

AN  AUSTRALIAN'S  'EXPERIENCE. 

We  take  the  liberty  of  quoting  a  letter 
(1879),  from  W.  Danger,  Esq.,  of  Hunters 
River,  Australia,  to  the  Hon.  Thomas  Duck- 
ham,  England: 

"Previous  to  my  leaving  the  Colony  for  Eng- 
land, I  had  not  any  pure-bred  Herefords,  my 
importation  having  been  Shorthorns,  but  Mr. 
Hobler,  who  occupied  an  adjoining  station,  had 
Herefords,  and  his  bull  occasionally  strayed 
among  my  cows.  The  result  was,  I  had  a  good 
many  white-faced  cattle.  Thus  it  frequently 
happened  that  five  or  six  of  these  cross  breds 
were  among  a  draft  lot  of  probably  150  to  200, 
and  when  the  dealers  were  taken  to  them,  the 
white  faces  were  sure  to  be  pointed  out  as  the 
right  sort,  and  the  expression  made,  'I  wish  all 
of  the  lot  were  like  those  beasts.  Prime  beasts ! 
Real  plums!' 

"I  had  opportunities  of  seeing  them  when 
slaughtered  at  Sydney,  when  the  carcass  butch- 
ers told  me  their  quality  was  excellent;  that 
they  equalled  the  Shorthorns, in  their  rough  fat, 


and  that  they  preferred  the  white-faced  bullocks 
to  those  of  any  other  breed. 

"I  also  found  that  they  traveled  the  long  dis- 
tance from  the  station  to  Sydney— say  250  to 
300  miles — better  than  any  others ;  a  less  num- 
ber became  lame  on  the  journey,  which  is,  I 
consider,  very  greatly  in  their  favor. 

"For  what  1  have  seen  in  other  herds,  the 
Herefords  readily  became  acclimated  and  fully 
retain  their  general  character,  displaying  equal 
or  greater  aptitude  to  fatten  than  the  Short- 
horns. And  from  these  combined  advantages 
I  lost  no  time,  on  my  arrival  in  England,  in 
purchasing  and  exporting  bulls. 

"My  nephew  has  now  my  station,  and  he 
has  recently  purchased  a  three-year-old  bull, 
bred  by  Mr.  Reynolds,  of  Tocal,  Patterson, 
Maitland.  He  was  winner  of  the  first  prize  as 
a  yearling,  a  two-year-old,  and  a  three-year-old, 
successively.  The  Herefords  are  now  more  nu- 
merous than  the  Devons,  and  nearly  equal  the 
Shorthorns  in  number." 

EARLY   TEXAS  EXPERIENCE. 

Aransas,  Bee  Co.,  Texas. 
Dear  Sir:  Your  note  is  at  hand  and  contents 
noted.     You  wish   to  know  how  the  Herefords 
we  bought  of  you  the  winter  of  1876  are  getting 


HEREFORDS  ON  THE  RANGE  IN  TEXAS. 
(From  a  photograph  taken  in  the  spring  after  wintering  on    the  range  without  hay  or  feed.) 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


471 


MAJARIS«CANYON. 
Near  the  Canadian   River,   Panhandle  of  Texas. 


along.  My  son  and  I  only  kept  five  head,  Hope 
and  Venture,  the  largest  and  smallest  grade 
heifer  and  one  grade  bull.  All  five  are 
living  and  doing  well.  We  like  them  better 
than  Shorthorn  stock.  I  think  you  can  sell 
some  here  in  this  portion  of  the  country  as 
everybody  is  pleased  with  them.  They  can  live 
and  do  well  where  other  stock  will  die.  We 
have  some  beautiful  half-breeds  comirtg  on.  I 
would  like  if  you  would  bring  down  some  Here- 
fords  next  fall.  I  want  some  of  your  best  thor- 
oughbreds. Yours  truly, 

S.  C.  SKIDMORE. 

MORE  EARLY  TEXAS  EXPERIENCE. 

Tascosa,  Oldham  Co.,  Texas. 

October  17,  1880. 
Editor  "Texas  Live  Stock  Journal": 

I  am  on  the  ranch  of  Messrs.  Lee  and  Reyn- 
olds, and  thought  a  general  sketch  of  the  im- 
proved land  and  blooded  stock  owned  by  them 
might  perhaps  help  to  prove  the  value  of  such 
stock,  and  that  they  can  be  bred  and  raised 
with  less  expense  as  well  in  Texas  as  other 
states. 

These  gentlemen  have  for  the  last  few  years 
been  importing  thoroughbred  bulls  from  Can- 


ada and  the  Eastern  states,  and  now  they  have 
their  herd  graded  up  to  such  a  standard  of 
excellence,  that  it  has  no  equal  on  this  conti- 
nent. For  the  past  two  years  they  have  been 
unable  to  supply  the  demand  for  young  stock. 
To  meet  this  big  and  growing  demand,  they 
decided  last  year  to  make  a  specialty  and  breed 
with  the  express  view  of  supplying  Texas  ranch- 
men with  improved  and  thoroughbred  bulls. 
Being  thorough  and  practical  cattle  men,  well 
versed  in  the  wants'  and  requirements  of  the 
trade,  and  possessed  with  unlimited  means,  they 
have  and  will  make  the  venture  a  success. 
To  show  their  confidence  and  earnestness  in 
the  business,  I  would  state  that  for  the  ranch 
now  occupied  by  them,  they  paid  something 
over  $40,000,  which  is,  by  the  way,  the  best 
situated  and  adapted  for  business  of  any  I 
have  seen.  I  feel  my  inability  to  give  a  de- 
scription which  will  do  justice  to  either  ranch 
or  cattle. 

SHORTHORNS. — Among  their  first  importa- 
tions, besides  a  fine  lot  of  heifers,  were  twenty 
head  of  two  and  three-year-old  bulls,  bred  by 
Mr.  F.  W.  Stone,  of  Canada.  A  grander  and 
more  massive  set  of  fellows  it  has  never  been 
our  pleasure  to  see.  Next  in  order  are  a  lot 


472 


II  1  S  T  0  R  Y     OF     H  E  It  E  F  0  It  D     C  A  T  T  L  E 


bred  at  Bow  Park,  Canada,  the  first  of  which 
we  would  mention  is  the  Earl  of  Airdrie  3d,  out 
of  Rose  of  Kaeine,  by  Imported  4th  Duke  of 
Clarence,  the  latter  of  which  is  the  purest  bred 
Duchess  bull  in  existence  and  cost  in  England 
the  snug  little  sum  of  $13,000.  The  Earl  of 
Airdrie  is  a  solid  red,  unusually  large  for  his 
age,  and  of  great  bcne  and  substance.  Next 
comes  Gauntlet,  a  rich  roan-colored  yearling, 
sired  by  the  same  famous  animal,  out  of  San- 
pareil  12th.  Gauntlet  was  shown  when  a  calf, 
at  all  the  leading  fairs,  both  in  Canada  and 
the  United  States,  taking  the  silver  medal  at 


HEREFOKDS. — Now,  having  briefly  made  men- 
tion of  a  few  of  the  most  noted  Shorthorn 
males  in  use  on  this  ranch,  we  will  also  briefly 
notice  the  Hereford  part  of  the  herd,  and  in 
doing  so  think  it  sufficient  to  merely  mention 
that  they  are  the  best  that  money  would  buy, 
the  most  of  them  being  the  get  of  T.  L.  Miller's 
Imported  Success,  Seventy-six  and  other  im- 
ported bulls,  costing  way  up  in  the  hundreds 
per  head.  There  is  a  great  controversy  going 
on  between  cattle  men  as  to  the  relative  merits 
of  the  breeds,  and  having  handled  Shorthorns 
all  my  life,  I  am  naturally  prejudiced  against 


GRADE   YEARLING  HEIFERS   IN  THE  ADAIR  HERD. 
J.  A.  Brand,  Panhandle  of  Texas. 


Ottawa,  offered  by  the  Governor-General  for 
the  best  calf  of  any  kind  in  the  Dominion,  and 
has  also  taken  the  first  premium  wherever 
shown.  There  are  too  many  of  these  pure  and 
excellently  bred  Shorthorn  males  in  this  herd 
to  give  anything  like  a  minute  description  of 
all  of  them ;  we  will,  therefore,  merely  mention 
one  other,  and  pass  to  the  Herefords.  That 
one  is  Prince  Arthur,  which  is  in  all  probabil- 
ity the  purest  bred  animal  on  the  continent; 
resembling  in  form  a  huge  Berkshire  pig. 
Prince  Arthur  is  out  of  Princess  Royal,  Im- 
ported, by  Vanguard,  out  of  the  grand  Manta- 
line  tribe, 


Herefords  to  some  extent,  but  since  experiment- 
ing with  them  on  the  range  for  the  past  year 
I  must  admit  that  the  Herefords  are  unques- 
tionably the  best  "wrestlers."  We  are  now 
separating  the  males  and  cows,  and  I  only  wish 
the  editor  of  the  "Journal"  was  here  to  pass  his 
opinion  upon  the  relative  merits  of  each  breed. 
I  will  state,  however,  that  while  the  Durhams 
are  in  fair  flesh  the  Herefords  are  rolling  fat, 
and  that  each  have  had  the  same  opportunities 
and  facilities ;  except,  it  is  claimed  by  the  herd- 
ers, that  notwithstanding  the  better  condition 
of  the  Herefords  that  they  have  done  more 
service  during  the  season  than  have  the  Dur- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


473 


hams;  proving  very  conclusively  that  they  are 
the  thriftiest  and  best  cattle  for  Texas.  What 
Texas  ranchmen  want  is  a  blooded  bull  that 
will  take  his  place  by  the  side  of  the  Texan 
and  wrestle  throiigh  the  winter  in  good  flesh, 
and  consequently  be  in  good  condition  for  ren- 
dering valuable  services  early  in  the  spring, 
which  want  can  be  supplied  by  no  other  as 
satisfactorily  as  by  the  Herefords.  Parties 
wishing  to  purchase  fine  males  with  a  view  of 
improving  their  herds  cannot  do  better  than 
to  correspond  or  call  on  the  proprietors  of  this 
ranch.  GEO.  LEIGH. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  add  that  starting  in 
with  these  excellent  and  representative  stocks 
of  both  breeds,  the  Herefords  won  the  prefer- 
ence of  their  owners  and  the  Hereford  sup- 
planted the  Shorthorn  on  the  Reynolds  ranches 
and  are  still  (1898)  doing  so.  T.  L.  M. 

AN  ENGLISHMAN'S  TESTIMONY. 

We  give  below  an  extract  from  a  letter  of 
George  T.  Turner,  Knockhalt,  England,  to  the 
"National  Live  Stock  Journal" : 

"The  Carlisle  meeting  of  the  Royal  Agricul- 
tural Society  was  once  again  very  unfortunate 
on  the  score  of  weather,  but  the  north  country 
people,  who  do  not  mind  rain,  because  they  are 
used  to  it,  came  in  goodly  numbers  and  'did' 
the  show  as  thoroughly  as  though  the  sun  had 
been  shining  all  the  time.  They  came  on  pur- 
pose, and  the  mere  rain  and  mud  could  not  hin- 
der them  from  seeing  all  there  was  to  be  seen. 
In  spite  of  good  attendance,  however,  there  was 
a  loss  to  the  society  of  about  950  pounds  ster- 
ling. There  is  a  grim  sort  of  satisfaction  to  be 
derived  from  the  fact  of  fewer  hundreds  being 
lost  by  the  society  this  year  than  there  were 
thousands  last  year.  The  show  was  on  rather 
a  smaller  scale  than  usual,  but  it  was  very 
select.  Nearly  all  the  stock  was  good,  and  the 
Carlisle  meeting  does  not  rank  second  to  any 
former  show  held  in  connection  with  the  society 
in  point  of  interest  and  general  utility. 

"Herefords  were  a  long  way  from  home,  and 
were  consequently  small  in  numbers,  but  the 
classes  included  some  of  the  best  cattle  that  the 
county  of  Hereford  can,  at  the  present  time, 
produce.  At  the  head  of  the  list  of  bulls  was 
Mr.  Aaron  Rogers'  Grateful,  which  is,  without 
doubt,  the  best  showyard  Hereford  of  the  day, 
now  that  Mrs.  Sarah  Edwards  has  lost  the  in- 
comparable cow,  Leonora.  He  wears  well,  too, 
and  is  in  good  show  form  a  couple  of  seasons  af- 
ter the  famous  Shorthorn  show  bull  Sir  Arthur 
1  ngram  has  played  himself  out,  both  bulls  being 
of  the  same  age.  These  two  animals  contested 


the  open  championship  of  the  Oxford  meeting 
of  the  Bath  and  West  in  1878,  when  the  Here- 
ford won  easily,  and  at  the  same  time  and  place 
the  Hereford  cow  Leonora  won  the  open  cham- 
pionship prize  for  the  best  cow  or  heifer  in  the 
yard  quite  as  easily.  These  open  championships 
have  not  been  since  -offered,  nor  will  they  be, 
so  long  as  the  Shorthorn  men  retain  the  influ- 
ence they  now  command,  in  the  councils  of  the 
agricultural  societies.  Two  of  the  Hereford  fe- 
males which  took  first  prize  in  their  respective 
classes  have,  I  understand,  been  purchased  for 
the  United  States,  namely,  Mr.  T.  Middleton's 
cow,  Nannette  (ff  359) — a  winner  of  many 
prizes — and  Mr.  Thomas  Fenn's  heifer,  Down- 
ton  Rose,  also  a  very  successful  animal  in  the 
show  yard,  and  both  of  them  Herefords  of  the 
first  water.  They  should  prove  of  great  value 
to  their  new  owners.  Hereford  cattle  are  now 
being  sent  into  the  chief  show  yards  of  the 
kingdom  in  first  rate  form,  and  the  breed  has 
been  brought  to  a  very  high  state  of  excellence. 
The  different  strains  of  blood  have  been  fairly 
intermingled,  and  families  have  not  been  bred 
in-and-in,  as  the  so-called  fashionable  Short- 
horns have  been,  consequently  they  have  not 
lost  constitution.  I  shall  be  deceived  if  they  do 
not  work  themselves  into  greater  favor  than  the 
Shorthorns  in  the  great  breeding  districts  of 
the  United  States." 

MR.   DUCKHAM   COMMENDS   OUR  WORK. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "Hereford  Times" : 
Sir :    It  was  with  much  surprise  that  I  read  in 


A  MODEL  SURFACE  TANK  IN  A  TEXAS  PASTURE. 
(Capital  syndicate.) 

an  article  in  the  "Hereford  Times"  of  the  7th 
inst.,  under  the  heading  "Hereford  Cattle  in 
America,"  that  "the  numerous  breeders  of  pure 
Herefords  may  be  congratulated  on  the  new 
market  which  has  been  opened  to  them  by  the 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


enterprise,  judgment  and  business  tact  of  Mr. 
Morgan  and  Mr.  Thos.  Rogers."  Now,  sir,  I 
have  no  desire  to  detract  in  the  slightest  degree 
from  the  honors  really  due  to  those  gentlemen, 
but  quite  the  contrary,  as  I  know  full  well  the 
value  which  is  to  be  attached  to  the  judgment 
and  care  of  one  who  can  so  successfully  select 
and  make  up  animals  for  the  show  ring  as  Mr. 


W.    E.   CAMPBELL,  OF  WINCHESTER,  OKLA. 

(Nicknamed    "Shorthorn    Campbell,"    and    later    "Baldfaee 

Campbell.") 

Morgan,  as  also,  to  an  auctioneer,  who  so  perse- 
veringly  uses  his  best  efforts  in  the  discharge 
of  the  duties  he  undertakes,  as  Mr.  Rogers.  At 
the  same  time,  I  must  say  that  the  meed  of 
praise  so  profusely  given  in  that  article  is  due 
to  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  of  Beecher,  111.,  U.  S.  A., 
whose  untiring  perseverance  in  the  cause  mer- 
its every  feeling  of  gratitude  which  the  breeders 
of  Herefords  can  award  him. 

Not  only  has  Mr.  Miller  patronized  the  Here- 
fords  by  establishing  the  largest,  and  I  think 
I  may  add,  the  best  herd  of  Herefords  in  the 
United  States,  but  he  has  so  placed  them  before 
stock  owners  of  that  great  country  at  the  vari- 
ous exhibitions,  and  by  his  sound  judgment, 
untiring  perseverance,  great  talent  as  a  writer 
and  great  influence  as  a  gentleman  of  position, 
he  has  claimed  for  them  (and  to  a  certain  ex- 


tent successfully  so)  a  front  rank  in  the  great 
state  exhibitions  of  the  United  States.  It  was 
Mr.  Miller  who  protested  against  sending  his 
Herefords  to  the  International  Exhibition  at 
Philadelphia  in  1876,  unless  an  English  judge 
was  selected  to  aid  in  awarding  the  premiums, 
which  protest  resulted  in  my  being  sent  out  by 
the  British  Commission.  It  was  Mr.  Miller 
who  first  introduced  the  Herefords  into  the 
far  West  to  improve  the  vast  herds  in  the  west- 
ern states.  It  was  Mr.  Miller  who  resolved  to 
obtain  the  necessary  information  and  publish 
a  Herd  Book  for  Hereford  cattle  in  America. 
It  was  Mr.  Miller  who,  knowing  the  value  of 
the  press  in  the  promotion  of  any  great  object, 
established  an  agricultural  paper  in  the  in- 
terest of  Herefords. 

Knowing  all  this  from  many  years  of  cor- 
respondence with  that  gentleman,  I  feel  I 
should  be  wanting  in  the  proper  discharge  of 
a  duty  to  him  if  I  did  not  place  those  facts 
before  your  readers.  I  may  add  further,  that 
Mr.  Miller  was  here  in  June  last,  when  he  pur- 
chased about  100  of  our  far-famed  red  with 
white  faces  and,  although  far  past  the  meridian 
of  life,  he  hastened  back  to  use  his  best  en- 
deavors to  obtain  a  removal  of  the  restrictions 
of  a  ninety  days'  quarantine,  imposed  upon  that 
side  upon  animals  imported  from  this  country. 

I  fear  his  usual  success  has  not  attended  his 
efforts  in  that  direction  and  I  hear  he  is  now 
returning,  if  not  returned,  to  England  to  ar- 
range for  shipping  his  purchases. 

There  are  several  breeders  of  Herefords  in  the 
United  States  of  much  longer  standing  than 
Mr.  Miller,  but  it  was  left  to  him  to  bring  them 
to  the  front  in  the  manner  in  which  they  are 
now  brought.  Mr.  Miller  only  commenced  as 
a  Hereford  breeder  in  1871.  In  1872  his  then 
partner,  Mr.  Powell,  a  Herefordshire  man, 
came  to  England  and  purchased  a  few  Here- 
fords, among  them  the  handsome  young  cow 
Dolly  Varden,  bred  by  Mr.  Morris,  Town 
House,  Madley,  and  her  two  offspring.  Mr. 
Powell  soon  entered  upon  another  business  and 
Mr.  Miller  was  most  fortunate  in  securing  the 
assistance  of  one  so  thoroughly  conversant  with 
the  management  of  a  herd  as  Mr.  Morgan.  The 
excellence  of  Mr.  Miller's  herd  which  he  sent 
to  the  International  Exhibition,  and  the  manner 
in  which  Mr.  Morgan  brought  them  out  and 
placed  them  before  the  judges,  were  themes  of 
admiration  to  all  who  beheld  them.  After  I 
discharged  my  duties  at  that  exhibition,  I  vis- 
ited Mr.  Miller  and  numerous  other  Hereford 
breeders,  in  order  that  I  might  make  their  per- 
sonal acquaintance  and  see  how  the  various 
herds  acclimatized,  but  at  no  place  did  I  see 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


475 


them  so  admirably  managed  as  those  under 
Mr.  Morgan's  care. 

I  would  here  respectfully  suggest  that  the 
Hereford  breeders  pay  some  compliment  to  Mr. 
Miller  when  he  returns  to  this  country,  in  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  very  valuable  assistance 
he  has  rendered  to  them  in  creating  a  demand 
for  their  pedigree  animals,  which,  although  of 
great  and  unprecedented  proportions,  is  now 
only  in  its  infancy.  T.  DUCKHAM. 

Baygham  Court,  Ross,  Aug.  17,  1880. 


marbled  to  perfection,  after  one,  or  sometimes 
two  winters'  feeding  in  stalls,  with  ground  feed. 
I  have  in  mind  now,  one  pair  of  them  that  I 
slaughtered,  one  of  which  made  eighty  pounds 
and  the  other  eighty-one  pounds  of  dressed 
meat,  hide  and  tallow,  to  the  100  pounds  alive. 
Those  were  oxen  of  six  to  seven  years  old,  and 
had  been  worked  before  feeding.  I  notice,  how- 
ever, that  now-a-days  your  prize  steers  beat  it, 
but  for  that  day  I  considered  it  extra  fine.  So 
you  will  readily  see  that  twenty-five  years  ago 


SAMPLE  OF  A  MODEL  RANGE  HERD. 


A    HARTFORD     (CONN.)     BUTCHER'S    EXPERIENCE 
(1881). 

The  following  is  an  extract,  from  the  letter 
of  a  gentleman  in  Dakota,  and  it  will  be  no- 
ticed, that  from  cutting  and  marketing,  he  has 
had  an  experience  that  sustains  the  position  we 
have  taken  as  to  the  quality  of  Hereford  beef: 

"For  many  years  at  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
my  old  home  and  birthplace,  I  handled  very 
many  fine  cattle,  and  was  for  many  years  in  the 
marketing  business,  and  in  that  rich  city,  cut 
up  many  prize  cattle  and  always  cut  first-class 
beef.  But  in  those  days,  from  1852  to  1862, 
1  used  to  get  some  Hereford  cattle,  fed  by  Con- 
necticut valley  farmers,  and  they  were  always 
superior  beef  to  the  Durham s,  or  the  noted 
Connecticut  red  oxen  of  that  day.  Fat  and  lean 


'I  preferred  the  Herefords  to  anything  for  fine 
beef  animals.  But  enough.  I  am  now  up  here 
in  the  richest  valley  in  the  United  States,  which 
aside  from  wheat  is  to  be  a  great  stock  country 
in  the  future.  I  am  just  getting  a  stock  farm 
started  to  make  Hereford  beef." 

A    MARYLAND    BREEDER'S    EXPERIENCE. 

John  Merryman  was  one  of  the  oldest  breed- 
ers of  Hereford  cattle,  and  thus  stated  his  ex- 
perience : 

At  the  New  York  State  Fair,  held  at  Water- 
town,  in  1856,  I  purchased  from  Messrs.  A.  & 
H.  Bowen,  a  yearling  bull,  Catalpa,  and  a 
heifer,  Lilac.  My  next  purchase  was  from  Mr. 
Sotham,  and  consisted  of  thirteen  cows  and 
heifers,  and  two  bulls,  including  Blenheim,  1879. 

My  next  purchase  was  from  the  State  Board 


476 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


of  Massachusetts,  including  the  imported  cow 
Milton,  bred  by  John  Longmore,  of  Orleton, 
and  her  four-year-old  cow  and  heifer  Promise. 
Milton  was  brought  over  with  the  bull  Cronk- 
hill,  bred  by  Lord  Berwick,  and  he  was  sire  of 
Cora  and  Promise.  The  same  year,  1  purchased 
live  more  head  from  Mr.  Sotham.  Curly,  the 
Ashton  bull,  died  while  in  my  possession.  1 
had  given  Col.  Edward  Lloyd,  Blenheim  in  ex- 
change for  him.  He  got  out  of  Milton,  a  bull- 
calf,  Marion,  and  out  of  Miss  Tully,  also  an 
imported  cow,  a  heifer,  Hattie.  She  brought 
me  a  number  of  superior  calves  by  Sir  Richard 


A  SAMPLE  CASE  FROM  KANSAS   (1882). 

Mr.  Editor: 

Before  consenting  to  exhibit  my  Ilerefords  at 
Wichita  Fair,  I  saw  the  president — who  is  an 
honorable  gentleman — and  he  promised  me  that 
no  Shortborn  breeder  should  be  put  on  the 
sweepstakes  awarding  committee,  but  through 
the  intent  or  carelessness  of  some  subordinate 
officer,  three  Shorthorn  breeders  were  chosen 
as  judges  of  sweepstakes.  Two  of  them  were 
unknown  to  me;  the  other  was  the  Hon.  Wm. 
Ross,  an  old  acquaintance,  who  had  been  an 


SAMPLE   OF  SO-CALLED  HEREFORDS  TOO  OFTEN  FOUND  ON  THE  RANGE  AND  ELSEWHERE. 

(Every  whiteface  is  not  a  Hereford.) 


2d,  including  Belle  McAlpiii,  dam  of  Stonie 
"Williams.  I  have  had  two  bulls  from  Mr.  F. 
W.  Stone,  Admiral  and  Canadian;  also  im- 
ported Sir  Richard  2d,  who  was  bred  by  J.  H. 
Arkwright,  Esq.  I  afterwards  used  Illinois, 
son  of  Success,  bred  by  T.  L.  Miller,  and  now 
have  Prince  of  the  Wye,  bred  by  Mr.  T.  Duck- 
ham,  M.  P.  I  have  been  a  breeder  of  Herefords 
for  twenty-five  years,  and  am,  perhaps,  entitled 
to  the  position  as  the  oldest  breeder  now  in  the 
business.  Respectfully  yours, 

JOHN  MERRYMAN. 
Cockeysville,  Md.,  Aug.  9,  1881. 


exhibitor  of  Shorthorns  at  previous  fairs. 
From  such  a  personage  I  expected  even-handed 
justice.  My  bull  had  been  pronounced  the  best 
bull  in  the  show  by  quite  a  number  of  Short- 
horn breeders,  and  was  almost  the  universal 
choice  of  the  multitude.  They  were  so  out- 
spoken in  his  favor  that  I  thought  I  had  an 
easy  walk-away.  Imagine  my  surprise  when  I 
found  he  was  not  noticed  by  the  judges  any 
more  than  a  yellow  dog  would  have  been  outside 
the  ring,  and  the  1st  and  2d  ribbons  were  tied 
upon  Shorthorn  bulls. 

As  I'  led  my  bull  from  the  ring  a  prominent 


1 1  1  S  T  O  R  V     0  F     HER  E  F  OKI)     C'  A  T  T  L  E 


477 


Shorthorn  breeder  remarked:  "Well,  the  white- 
faced  bull  is  the  best  bull  on  the  grounds,  if  he 
did  not  get  a  ribbon."  "That's  what  I  say." 
"I  say  so  too,"  and  other  like  remarks  from 
the  bystanders,  caused  a  crowd  to  gather  around 
the  deeply-wronged  animal  and  he  was  viewed 
over  and  over  again,  and  in  ten  minutes  he  had 
as  many  friends  as  anybody.  I  felt  the  in- 
justice so  keenly  that  I  could  scarcely  conduct 
myself  with  proper  decorum,  and  when  the 
Honorable  Koss  came  round  to  see  what  the 
row  was  about,  I  addressed  him  thus:  "Well, 
Uncle  Billy,  I  would  like  you  ,to  take  a  look 


the  result  was  the  same  as  in  the  bull  ring  and 
the  crowd  became  so  outspoken  that  the  super- 
intendent announced,  that,  owing  to  the  dis- 
satisfaction among  the  "outsiders,"  he  would 
postpone  the  exhibit  of  herds  competing  for 
sweepstakes  honors  until  the  next  day  and  then 
he  would  try  and  secure  new  judges  to  pass 
upon  them. 

My  protest  was  substantially  as  follows: 
"To  the  Officers  and  Directors  of  the  Sedg- 
wick    County    Agricultural,    Mechanical    and 
Stock  Association : 

"Grounds  of  Protest:    1st.     That  the  Hon. 


A  MODEL  RANCH  HEADQUARTERS. 
Spring  Lake  Ranch  of  W.  E.  Halsell,  Bovina,  Tex. 


at  my  little  bull ;  I  don't  think  your  committee 
has  ever  seen  him.  I  would  have  felt  highly 
complimented  had  you  noticed  him  while  in  the 
ring."  This  was  more  than  his  Honor  could 
bear,  and  he  replied :  "The  Heref ords  have  no 
right  to  show  against  Shorthorns  anyhow."  To 
which  I  replied,  "If  that  is  the  case,  I  will  leave 
my  cows  in  their  stalls ;  the  public  will  give  the 
Herefords  justice  if  you  Shorthorn  judges  will 
not."  I  then  announced  that  I  would  protest 
the  awards.  The  crowd  then  shouted,  "Show 
your  cows;  you  shall  have  justice."  I  con- 
sented, and  did  show  them  under  protest.  But 


Win.  Eoss  is  now,  and  has  in  the  past  been  a 
breeder  and  exhibitor  of  Shorthorn  cattle  at 
our  annual  fairs,  and  that  he  is  interested  in 
the  success  of  the  Shorthorn  breed;  and  fur- 
ther, that  he  has  shown  great  prejudice  and 
bitterness  against  the  Hereford  breed  in  certain 
newspaper  articles  published  over  his  signature, 
in  the  papers  of  this  city,  and  in  our  belief, 
he  could  not  do  justice  to  any  animal  com- 
peting for  sweepstakes  honors  that  was  not  a 
Shorthorn. 

"2.     That  the  other  two  committeemen  are 
Shorthorn  breeders  and  interested  in  the  success 


HIST  OK Y  OF  HEBEFOKD  CATTLE 


of  the  Shorthorn  breed,  and  that  both  of  them 
have  acknowledged  that  they  knew  nothing  of 
the  Hereford  breed,  one  of  them  stating  to 
myself  that  he  did  not  know  anything  about 
Herefords,  whether  they  were  good  for  milk  or 
anything  else,  and  that  the  other  (Mr.  Eoberts) 
made  substantially  the  same  statement  to  Mr. 
K.  L.  Houston. 

"3.  That  the  Shorthorn  bull  that  said  com- 
mittee awarded  the  second  sweepstakes  pre- 
mium, entered  the  ring  displaying  a  blue  rib- 
bon in  token  of  a  first  premium  in  his  class, 
and,  although  his  attendant  was  requested  to 


my  business  and  paid  no  further  attention  to  it. 
But  the  Shorthorn  men  were  better  posted  than 
I  (this  being  my  first  experience,  I  admit  I 
was  not  prepared  to  meet  all  the  tricks),  and 
put  their  heads  together,  selected  Mr.  Koss  and 
Mr.  Blakeley  (my  competitor),  to  go  before  the 
Board  and  defeat  my  protest  at  all  hazards.  I 
had  left  the  grounds  when  the  Board  met  and 
the  Shorthorn  men  supposed  the  field  was  clear. 
But  as  I  could  not  be  found,  my  friend,  the 
Hon.  John  Kelley,  who  is  also  the  vice-president 
of  the  society,  took  notes,  and  after  the  objec- 
tions were  heard,  championed  the  white-face 


A  "ROUND-UP"  ON  THE  RANGE. 


remove  the  same,  said  display  was  continued 
throughout  the  entire  showing  for  sweepstakes 
honors,  contrary  to  all  rules,  regulations  and 
customs  governing  such  exhibitions  and  may 
have  had  an  influence  upon  the  aforesaid  sweep- 
stakes awarding  committee. 

"4.  That  Section  30,  of  Rules  and  Regula- 
tions, adopted  by  your  society  for  the  govern- 
ment of  sweepstakes,  was  wholly  ignored  and 
disregarded  by  the  aforesaid  awarding  commit- 
tee, which  is  evidence  of  their  incompetency 
to  act  as  judges  upon  sweepstakes,  or  of  doing 
willful  justice." 

After  filing  the  above  protest,  I  went  about 


cause.  The  protest  was  sustained,  and  a  new 
committee  ordered  to  be  chosen.  The  Short- 
horn exhibitors  ruled  off  quite  a  number  of 
committeemen,  but  finally  three  were  selected. 
Two  of  them  I  had  never  seen  before.  One 
was  a  city  butcher;  one  an  Englishman,  who 
had  extended  experience  in  England,  New  Zea- 
land and  this  country;  the  other  was  an  old 
feeder  and  shipper,  and  none  of  the  three  were 
interested  in  any  breed  of  cattle.  A  number 
of  the  Shorthorn  breeders  pledged  themselves 
not  to  bring  their  cattle  into  the  ring  again, 
which  caused  considerable  delay  and  excite- 
ment. But  the  superintendent  enforced  the 


HIST  OK Y  OF  HEKEFOKD  CATTLE 


479 


rules  and   they   were   compelled   to   bring   out 
their  stock  or  forfeit  their  class  premiums. 

When  the  bulls  were  led  out  a  dense  crowd 
gathered  around  them  and  it  was  with  diffi- 
culty that  the  police  cleared  the  way.  Hon. 
John  Kelley  and  a  number  of  prominent  cattle 
men  then  inspected  the  display  and  then  stepped 
aside  and  cast  a  vote  as  to  where  first  and 
second  premiums  should  go.  This  was  done 
secretly  before  the  judges  came  into  the  ring. 
Scarcely  any  time  was  taken  upon  the  first, 
and  the  committee  was  unanimous  in  favor  of 
my  bull.  The  second  went  to  Mr.  Blakeley's 


walked  off  without  any  interruption,  followed 
by  a  few  of  their  admirers,  whose  faces  looked 
fully  two  inches  longer  than  the  day  previous. 
I  am  free  to  acknowledge  that  this  was  one  of 
the  proudest  days  of  my  life.  Not  so  much  on 
account  of  this  victory,  but  because  I  had  re- 
sented the  insult  and  wrongs  done  the  dumb 
brute  and  had  secured  for  him  even-handed 
justice. 

Next  came  the  eows.  My  three-year-old  cow, 
Ella  3d,  with  a  good  strong  bull  calf  tugging  at 
her,  was  awarded  first;  and  last,  but  not  least, 
my  whitefaced  herd  was  declared  the  best  on 


FAMILIAR  SCENE  ON  THE  RANGE. 


Shorthorn,  and  the  bulls  that  got  first  and 
second  the  previous  day  got  nothing.  The 
action  of  the  committee  and  the  outside  judges 
were  precisely  the  same,  and  gave  general  satis- 
faction. I  was  completely  overwhelmed  with 
congratulations,  and  the  little  bull  was  patted 
and  stroked  by  many  a  man  that  had  never 
seen  a  Hereford  before.  "Ain't  he  a  good  one." 
"He  is  the  best  bull  I  ever  saw/'  "Just  look  at 
his  back."  "Yes,  and  his  quarters,  too.  He 
comes  out  behind  like  a  Berkshire  pig."  "If  it 
was  not  for  his  horns  he  would  be  perfection, 
wouldn't  he?"  and  other  like  exclamations, 

pame  from  all  sides,    The  defeated  Shorthorns 


the  grounds.  The  judges  were  unanimous  in 
all  these  awards  and  the  bystanders  shook  their 
hands  and  congratulated  them  upon  their  judg- 
ment. 

I  supposed  the  battle  over  and  the  victory 
won  beyond  all  question ;  but  in  this  I  was  mis- 
taken. The  secretary  notified  me  that  the 
Shorthorn  men  had  protested  and  ordered  him 
to  withhold  my  diplomas  and  premiums;  that 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Ross  denied  writing  the  news- 
paper articles  referred  to  in  my  protest,  etc., 
etc.  They  then  employed  a  lawyer  to  manage 
and  attend  to  their  case.  I  then  sought  the 
Eon,  John  Kelley,  but  he  had  gone  home  and 


480 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


"DRIFTING."     A    SCENE    ON   THE    RANGE    OF    COL.   C.    C.    SLAUGHTER. 
North  Texas  and  New  Mexico  line. 


I  was  left  alone  to  fight  it  out  as  best  I  could. 
I  could  see  no  reason  why  I  could  not  make  alK 
the  showing  necessary  without  the  aid  of  a 
lawyer,  therefore,  I  did  not  employ  one.  I  sus- 
tained every  point  taken,  and  the  word  of  the 
editor  and  old  files  of  the  newspaper  proved 
that  Hon.  Mr.  Ross'  memory  was.  treacherous, 
to  say  the  least.  Judge  Little  finally  proposed 
to  withdraw  the  Shorthorn  protest,  which  was 
urged  upon  technicalities  only,  and  to  sustain 
the  first  judgment,  if  I  would  divide  the  pre- 
mium money  with  Mr.  Blakeley.  To  this  propo- 
sition, I  replied  :  "It  is  not  the  money  I  am  con- 
tending for— thirty  dollars  is  but  a  trifle — but 
there  is  a  principle  involved  and  underlying 
this  matter  that  I  am  contending  for.  I  have 
won  the  awards  by  fair  and  impartial  judgment 
and  I  am  determined  to  maintain  my  rights  if 
I  have  to  resort  to  the  Supreme  Court  to  secure 
them."  This  was  a  clincher  and  after  another 
half  day's  parley  among  themselves,  they  with- 
drew their  protest  and  the  secretary  paid  me  my 
money.  A  delay  of  four  days  was  caused  by 
these  proceedings.  W.  E.  CAMPBELL. 

Mr.  Campbell,  now  of  Kiowa,  Kansas,  was 
then  at  Caldwell;  he  first  introduced  Short- 
horns, and  was  known  as  "Shorthorn  Campbell" 


for  many  years  until  the  merits  of  the  Hereford 
became  appreciated  by  him.  After  the  above 
experience,  in  true  western  fashion,  to  his 
countless  friends  and  acquaintances  he  was 
known  as  "Bald-face  Campbell." 

EARLY    EXPERIENCE    IN   VERMONT. 

Cornwall,  Vt.,  May  8,  1882. 

The  year  that  I  was  twenty,  which  was  thirty- 
eight  years  ago,  I  visited  with  two  of  our  best 
farmers,  Corning  and  Sotham's  herd  of  Here- 
ford cattle  at  Albany,  N".  Y.  At  the  same  time 
I  saw  the  Prentice  herd  of  Shorthorns,  and 
have  since  seen  some  of  the  finest  herds  of 
Shorthorns  in  the  country,  but  have  never  seen 
a  herd  of  cattle  that  so  completely  filled  my 
eye,  as  Corning  and  Sotham's  Herefords  did. 

The  two  farmers  that  were  with  me  purchased 
two  bulls  of  Mr.  Sotham  and  I  raised  a  few 
calves  from  the  bulls  out  of  common  grade 
cows,  and  from  their  calves  I  had  steers  the 
fall  after  they  were  two  years  old,  on  grass 
alone,  1,350  pounds,  live  weight;  dressed,  800 
pounds. 

One  spring  I  purchased  two  steer  calves,  half- 
blood,  one-year-old,  that  had  been  wintered  on 


HIST OK Y  OF  H EKE FORD  CATTLE 


481 


lowland  hay.  They  were  not  large  and  not  in 
good  condition.  I  turned  them  into  a  pasture 
with  a  lot  of  two-year-olds,  with  no  feed  except 
the  pasture;  I  dressed  the  following  December 
016  and  632  pounds,  and  the  finest  beef  I  ever 
tasted.  What  the  live  weight  would  have  been, 
I  do  not  know. 

A  few  years  after  these  bulls  were  brought 
into  our  town,  there  was  a  great  Shorthorn 
fever,  and  bulls  of  that  breed  were  introduced 
and  the  Herefords  neglected,  and  I  never  had 
as  fine  steers,  or  saw  as  fine  steers  in  our  town 
of  the  grade  Shorthorn,  as  there  were  of  the 
Herefords,  and  I  have  heard  several  of  our  best 
farmers  make  the  same  remark. 

I  had  several  half-blood  cows,  some  of  them 
very  fine,  but  now  and  then  would  have  one 
that  would  not  make  good  milk  cows,  but  would 
make  nice  beef.  I  am,  with  most  of  the  farmers 
in  Addison  County,  engaged  in  breeding  Merino 
.•sheep,  and  at  present  prices  it  is  for  our  in- 
terest to  devote  the  most  of  our  energies  in 
this  direction.  But  the  Champlain  Valley  in 
our  county  is  as  fine  grazing  for  cattle  as  any 
section  in  the  country,  and  I  shall  be  pleased 
to  see  Herefords  again  introduced. 

The  chromo  of  eight  premium  Herefords 
you  wrote  of  sending  me,  I  have  not  received; 
shall  be  pleased  to  receive  one. 

Yours  truly,  HENRY  LANE. 


.Ml!.    CORNING  8    NEW    YORK    EXPERIENCE. 

The  following  letter  was  written  to  the 
"Breeders'  Journal" : 

Corning  Farm,  Albany,  N".  Y. 

May  15,  1882. 
Mr.  Editor: 

In  your  article  on  Wm.  Henry  Sotham,  Esq., 
I  noticed  an  assertion  upon  which  I  should  like 
to  throw  some  light  and  which  I  expected  Mr. 
Sotham  would  do  in  the  following  May  number 
of  the  "Journal."  Paragraph  No.  2,  second  col- 
umn, page  194,  states:  "Recognizing  these 
facts  the  Shorthorn  breeders  made  special 
efforts  to  detach  Mr.  Corning  from  the  Here- 
ford interest  and  were  finally  successful." 

To  be  sure,  they  were  by  their  efforts  suc- 
cessful in  proving  to  Mr.  Corning  the  superior- 
ity of  the  Hereford  to  the  Shorthorn. 

Many  of  Mr.  Coming's  friends  were  inter- 
ested in  Shorthorns  at  that  time,  and  when  he 
took  a  fancy  to  the  Herefords,  they  endeavored 
to  detach  him  from  whatever  favorable  views 
he  had  of  them,  but  being  a  very  practical  gen- 
tleman, he  resolved  to  test  the  merits  of  the  two 
breeds  himself,  by  a  trial  under  conditions  he 
knew  would  be  perfectly  just  and  similar  to 
both  breeds.  At  that  time  Mr.  Corning  owned 
a  choice  herd  of  Shorthorns,  and  these  with  the 
Herefords  were  bred  from,  fed  and  killed,  both 


A  SAMPLE  OP  COL.  C.  C.  SLAUGHTER'S  (DALLAS,  TEX.)  LAZY  "S"  BRAND,  NORTH  TEXAS. 


482 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


having  the  same  care  and  treatment.  The  ani- 
mals 'were  weighed  regularly,  as  was  also  the 
feed  consumed  by  each. 

Mr.  C.  and  his  son,  the  present  Hon.  Erastus 
Corning,  were  so  far  convinced  of  the  superior- 
ity of  the  Herefords,  that  the  Shorthorns  were 
sold,  and  the  descendants  of  the  same  herd  of 
Herefords  can  now  be  seen  on  the  farm. 

The  Herefords  in  the  trial  exceeded  the 
Shorthorns  in  the  number  of  pounds  gained  and 
put  the  gain  in  the  most  desirable  portions  of 
the  animal  for  market. 

In  the  forty-two  years  the  Herefords  have 
been  on  the  farm,  there  has  never  been  a  Here- 
ford cow  but  what  has  given  plenty  of  milk  to 
raise  her  calf,  whereas  some  of  the  calves  of 
the  Shorthorn  cows  would  have  died  of  starva- 
tion but  for  outside  help. 

The  Corning  herd  of  Herefords  are  kept  in 
breeding  condition  only  and  are  exhibited  in 
that  state. 

As  prize  winners  they  rank  among  the  high- 
est in  the  country,  having  won  the  New  York 
State  Agricultural  Society's  Large  Gold  Medal 
three  times.  Imp.  Comus  has  won  seven  first 
premiums,  Marchioness  2d,  Katy,  and  Victoria 
6th  have  all  won  first  prizes  as  cows,  when  com- 
peting against  some  very  noted  herds. 

The  demand  for  Herefords  in  the  last  six 
months  has  been  unprecedented. 

While  in  Colorado  some  time  ago,  I  asked 
an  extensive  cattle  man  what  he  thought  was 
the  best  breed  for  beef.  "Well,  there  isn't  much 
doubt  about  that,  when  a  man  can  get  five 
dollars  more  a  head  for  white- faced  steers,  from 
Kansas  and  Illinois  buyers,  than  for  any  other 
steers,  no  matter  how  well-bred  we  tell  them 
they  are."  JAMES  W.  Cox,  JR. 

A   NEW   YORKER  ENDORSES    MR.   SOTHAM. 


Mr.  Editor: 


Meslina,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y. 
June  5,  1882. 


The  "Breeders'  Journal"  of  April  last  was 
put  into  my  hands  a  few  days  ago  by  a  friend, 
and  while  I  have  not  had  time  to  examine  it  as 
much  as  I  wish,  I  have  read  the  article  upon 
the  life  and  career  of  my  old  and  valued  friend, 
Wm.  H.  Sotham,  as  a  breeder  of  Herefords, 
and  much  of  which  came  under  my  own  knowl- 
edge. It  is  a  truthful  history,  and  his  likeness 
recalls  to  my  mind  many  pleasant  memories, 
and  I  am  glad  to  know  that  he  is  yet  living 
and  sees  his  favorite  breed  taking  rank  where 
he  always  claimed  they  would  if  given  anything 
like  a  fair  chance  alongside  the  Shorthorns; 
many  men  less  resolute  than  he  would  have 


succumbed  to  the  great  pressure  against  him  in 
the  early  introduction  of  the  Herefords.  I 
have  witnessed  many  an  argument  between  him 
and  the  Shorthorn  men,  besides  those  wielded 
by  his  able  pen.  Mr.  Remington,  of  whom  you 
speak,  is  a  brother-in-law  of  mine,  and  has 
started  a  small  cattle  ranch  in  Holt  Co.,  Ne- 
braska, and  purchased  a  Hereford  bull  of  Eras- 
tus Corning,  of  Albany.  His  son,  M.  C.  Rem- 
ington, Jr.,  is  attending  to  it.  I  am  still  of  the 
opinion  there  are  no  better  cattle  for  the 
shambles  or  for  working  oxen  than  the  Here- 
fords, but  as  beef  is^now  produced  so  much 
cheaper  in  the  West,  we  have  to  resort  to  other 
branches  of  farming.  I  purchased  some  very 
good  animals  of  Mr.  Sotham,  one  heifer,  two 
years  old,  and  calf  by  her  side.  Woodbine,  il- 
lustrated in  transactions  of  the  New  York  State 
Agricultural  Society  in  1853,  took  first  prize  at 
Saratoga.  I  then  sold  the  late  John  Merryman, 
of  Cockeysville,  Md.,  the  first  Hereford  he  ever 
purchased.  I  last  met  Mr.  Sotham  in  Detroit 
some  four  years  ago,  and  through  his  recom- 
mendation I  purchased  some  Berkshires  of  Mr. 
Smith,  with  which  I  have  been  very  successful, 
carrying  off  first  prize  in  our  state.  I  should 
like  to  be  informed  of  Mr.  Sotham's  address. 
Sincerely  yours,  H.  BOWEN. 

SUCCESSFUL  IN   DAKOTA. 

Mr.  T.  L.  MILLER,  Beecher,  111. 

Dear  Sir :  Have  intended  writing  you  for  a 
considerable  time,  but  between  getting  in  a  new 
herd  of  Minnesota  cattle,  and  putting  up  our 
hay  crop,  have  had  little  leisure  since  the  first 
of  May.  We  are  now  in  position  to  give  the 
results  of  our  first  year's  experience  with 
Herefords,  and  am  glad  to  say  it  is  most  satis- 
factory. We  used  the  yearling  bulls  we  bought 
of  you  in  June  of  last  year  on  a  limited  number 
of  native  cows  during  July  and  August.  Every 
cow  they  served  had  a  calf  last  spring  and  all 
are  alive  and  doing  splendidly.  They  all  show 
the  Hereford  blood  distinctly — and  some  of 
them  are  as  well  marked  as  their  sires.  After 
the  season  was  over,  we  turned  the  bulls  out 
on  the  range  and  let  them  run  all  winter.  Did 
not  stable  them  or  feed  any  hay  or  grain. 
They  came  out  this  spring — thin  in  flesh,  but 
in  good  thriving  condition,  and  filled  up  very 
fast  when  the  new  grass  came.  Altogether,  they 
proved  themselves  a  very  hardy  lot  of  cattle 
and  well  adapted  to  roughing  it  on  the  range. 
Have  used  them  on  our  entire  herd  this  season, 
and  if  next  year's  calves  prove  equal  to  those 
we  now  have,  the  Herefords  will  unquestionably 
have  the  lead  here.  All  our  neighbors  conceded 


483 


to  us  the  best  lot  of  calves  to  be  found  in  this 
section. 

Some  parties  who  have  been  using  Shorthorn 
bulls,  are  negotiating  with  us  for  grade  Here- 
ford bull  calves.  Hoping  you  are  enjoying  good 
health  and  the  "Highland  herd"  is  flourishing, 
we  remain,  yours  truly,  KENNEDY  BROS., 

Fort  Sully,  D.  T. 

Oak  Creek  Eanch,  D.  T.,  Sept.  8,  1882. 

GRADE    HEREFORD   SIRES    IN    MISSOURI. 

Concord,  Mo.,  Jan.  9,  1883. 
T.  L.  MILLER,  Beecher,  111. : 

I  wish  you  would  be  kind  enough  to  tell  me 
what  is  the  trouble,  if  any,  in  the  breeding  of 
my  bull,  or  rather,  I  should  say,  the  marking  of 
my  grade  Hereford  calves.  I  have  been  told 
that  he  (the  bull)  puts  too  much  red  in  their 
faces.  Last  spring,  I  had  dropped  twenty-three 
grade  Hereford  calves,  sired  by  Red  Cloud 
2086  (5528),  and  out  of  high-grade  Shorthorn 
cows.  They  (the  cows)  are  all  red,  some  few 
with  white  spots,  and  deep  red  roans.  The 
calves  are  without  exception  deep  reds,  with 
white  bellies,  white  feet,  white  ends  on  their 
tails,  and  white  faces  back  to  their  ears,  with 
a  broad  red  spot  over  the  nose  and  some  of  them 
extending  up  to  the  eyes,  covering  one-third  of 
the  face.  They  have  short  legs,  broad  hips, 
straight  lines  top  and  bottom,  well  sprung  ribs 
and  deep  briskets.  In  short,  everyone  was  a 
good  one,  without  a  runt  or  dwarf,  and  to-day 
are  fat,  living  on  hay,  staying  out  of  doors  on 
the  prairie.  Is  the  bull  at  fault?  Are  the 
spots  all  right  and  as  they  should  be?  I  have 
bred  to  him  for  this  year  fifty  choice  grade 
cows,  and  will  in  a  few  days  have  more  calves. 
Now,  if  the  spotted  faces  are  all  right,  the  calves 
are. 

I  am  a  Hereford  man  from  honest  convictions 
and  because  I  believe  the  Herefords  to  be  the 
cattle.  A  hedge  fence  alone  separates  my  herd 
from  a  herd  of  Shorthorns  that  for  pure  breed- 
ing and  fancy  strains  of  blood  stands  pre-emi- 
nent in  Central  Missouri,  but  as  they  emerge 
from  their  warm  barn  and  well-filled  boxes, 
showing  the  kindly  attention  of  an  intelligent 
and  good  master,  and  in  themselves  most  splen- 
did specimens  of  a  splendid  breed,  they  excite 
not  the  slightest  sense  of  shame,  for  the  jolly 
little  whitefaces,  that  go  scampering  away  over 
the  frozen  snow  to  the  music  of  the  jingling 
icicles  that  hang  to  their  soft  and  mellow  hides, 
and  who  wouldn't  know  an  ear  of  corn  if  they'd 
meet  it  in  the  road.  Please  answer  me  the 
question  of  their  faces,  and  oblige. 

Yours  truly,     CEPHALUS  BLACK. 


NOTE. — The  man  who  buys  grade  Hereford 
bulls  should  first  convince  himself  that  they 
are  by  thoroughbred  Hereford  bulls,  and  then 
that  the  form  of  the  calf  is  good ;  and  then,  if 
the  calf  has  a  brockled  face,  it  will  not  hurt 
him. 

MORE  NEW  YORK  EXPERIENCE. 

Amos  Bissell  &  Son,  of  Milford,  N".  Y., 
wrote  in  October,  1883,  as  follows: 

On  April  13th  last,  we  placed  a  pair  of  grade 
Hereford  steers  in  a  stall  together,  and  told  the 
man  who  grooms  our  stallions  to  see  what  he 
could  make  of  them.  That  day  they  weighed 
2,100  pounds  and  were  so  good  that  two  weeks 
later  the  butchers  offered  us  $143  for  them  to 
kill.  Five  months  and  eleven  days  later  we 
drove  them  to  the  village  (one  mile)  and  they 
pulled  the  scale  at  3,180  pounds,  but  had  on  a 
pine  yoke  which  we  think  will  weigh  35  pounds, 
but  is  safe  at  40  pounds.  Thus  the  cattle  gained 
1,050  pounds  during  that  time,  or  an  average 
of  6.44  pounds  per  day  for  the  pair.  Both 
weighings  were  honest  in  every  particular  and 
on  the  same  scales.  Age,  three  years  last  spring. 
Their  daily  feed  consisted  of  small  potatoes, 
hay,  nine  quarts  wheat  middlings,  and  two 
quarts  oil  meal.  August  and  September,  hay, 
Bassano  beets,  four  quarts  of  oil  meal  and 
twelve  quarts  of  middlings.  They  are  now  eat- 
ing potatoes  and  some  quantity  of  grain.  We 
hope  to  grow  them  a  ton  during  the  experiment 
year. 

These  steers  have  no  straight  breeding  in 
them,  but  are  doubtless  three-quarters  Here- 
ford, as  we  have  much  of  that  blood  mixed 
through  our  dairies. 

By  the  way,  Mr.  Geo.  Clarke,  our  neighbor, 
had  at  one  time  over  300  pure-bred  breeding 
cows  of  his  own  importing  and  breeding — many 
years  before  you  gentlemen  at  the  West  adopted 
the  breed. 

MR.   FUNKHOUSER   A  MISSOURI   CONVERT. 

Mr.  Jas.  A.  Funkhouser,  of  Plattsburgh,  Mo., 
writes  as  follows  (1884)  : 

In  regard  to  my  calves  by  Dauphin,  I  will 
say  I  have  eighteen,  ten  bulls  and  eight  heifers. 
The  ten  bull  calves  average  weight  is  711 
pounds  and  their  average  age  is  242  days,  or 
eight  months.  The  eight  heifers'  average  weight 
is  601  pounds,  and  their  average  age  is  239 
days.  They  certainly  are  a  choice  lot,  in  fact, 
the  best  lot  of  calves  of  any  breed  I  ever  saw. 
My  Shorthorn  friends,  even,  acknowledge  they 
are  an  extra  lot  of  calves,  but  claim  they  would 
be  good  from  such  cows  by  any  bull.  It  occurs 


484 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


to  me  they  are  acknowledging  just  what  you 
have  been  preaching  for  years,  that  a  Hereford 
bull  bred  to  a  Shorthorn  cow  makes  an  im- 
provement. I  am  well  satisfied  with  the  cross, 
and  my  only  regret  is  that  I  did  not  get  the 
Hereford  sooner.  I  have  forty-three  cows  in 
calf  to  my  young  bull  Invincible,  and  he  has 
proved  himself  to  be  a  very  sure  breeder.  He 
was  two  years  old  October  18,  1883,  and  weighs 
over  1,300  pounds,  after  a  hard  season's  work. 
I  am  very  much  pleased  with  him  and  think 
he  will  yet  be  a  credit  to  his  breeder.  The 
heifer  I  had  of  you  did  not  do  so  well  last 
season ;  this  season  she  has  improved  amazingly 
and  now  I  am  not  ashamed  to  say  she  is  by 
Dauphin  18th. 

FAVOKABLE  CALIFORNIA  REPORT. 

San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Sept.  3,  1884. 
Mr.  Editor: 

Last  evening  I  read  up  what  your  correspond- 
ents have  to  say  about  local  Herefords,  and 
from  experience  can  say  the  Hereford  has  been 
found  the  animal  par  excellence  for  New  Zea- 
land and  Australian  pastures.  After  the  severe 
cold  weather  in  South  of  New  Zealand  winters 
he  will  flesh  up  in  half  the  time  it  takes  the 
Shorthorn  on  rough  outdoor  feed. 

In  1883  Mr.  R.  P.  Saxe  was  sent  from  this 
city  by  Mr.  A.  W.  Sisson  to  select  from  the 
herd  of  the  New  Zealand  Stud  Company,  forty- 
four  head  of  Hereford  bulls  and  heifers.  These 
arrived  without  any  loss  and  were  sold  here  at 
prices  from  $450  to  $750  per  head. 

Every  buyer  without  exception  has  expressed 
his  delight  with  the  stock  and  especially  the 
favorable  manner  in  which  they  go  through  the 
winter,  compared  with  the  Durham. 

I  note  in  your  last  number  that  Mr.  A.  Gala- 
tin,  of  Sacramento,  who  purchased  from  us,  is 
applying  for  registration  of  his  stock  in  the 
American  Hereford  Record.  This  may  be  done 
with  every  assurance  of  the  pedigrees  furnished 
by  this  gentleman  being  authentic  and  reliable. 
They  were  sent  to  us  direct  from  the  stud  and 
pedigree  company. 

Last  year  they  sent  us  twenty-five  Herefords 
and  five  Shorthorns.  The  first-named  came 
through  by  steamer  without  loss.  Of  the  five 
Durhams  two  died  on  the  voyage.  We  sold  one 
of  the  Durhams,  "Spring,"  for  $400  to  Dr. 
Lillerneranty.  He  won  the  blue  ribbon  with 
him,  at  the  Golden  Gate  Fair,  September,  1884, 
and  resold  him.  I  note  he  is  again  a  winner 
and  held  at  a  very  high  price  by  the  owner. 

The  Herefords  won  prizes  at  Alameda,  Stock- 


ton, Sacramento  and  San  Jose  fairs,  and  were 
sold  at  an  average  of  $290  per  head,  and 
shipped  in  every  direction,  from  San  Diego,  in 
the  South,  to  Frazer  River  in  British  Columbia, 
in  the  North. 

From  every  direction  we  hear  nothing  but 
satisfaction.  The  company  have  at  Auckland 
a  herd  of  800  pure  Herefords. 

I  think  we  can  match,  if  not  show  a  superior 
bull  to  Success,  from  our  herd.  The  Hereford 
bull  for  British  Columbia  had  to  foot  it  inland 
250  miles  to  reach  the  run. 

Yours  faithfully,     HUGH  CRAIG. 

AN  OFT-REPEATED  OCCURRENCE. 

Illinois  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
,  Secretary's  Office. 

T.  L.  MILLER,  ESQ.,  Beecher,  111., 

Dear  Sir :  Yours  of  the  23d  received,  and  in 
reply  will  state  that  it  was  surely  an  oversight, 
the  omitting  to  print  your  specials  at  the  Fat 
Stock  Show  in  the  5,000  edition  of  the  premium 
list,  until  the  whole  edition  was  printed. 

It  will  appear  in  nice  form  in  the  5,000  addi- 
tional editions  and  also  in  the  2,000  printed 
separate  from  the  State  Fair  list. 

It  occurred  in  this  way:  Your  offering  was 
made  at  the  time  the  Board  met  in  Chicago,  and 
was  pasted  in  the  record  book.  I  knew  this,  of 
course.  All  the  remaining  specials  I  separated 
and  kept  in  a  file  by  themselves. 

When  the  printer  reached  this  part  of  the  list 
and  wanted  copy,  I  was  very  busy  with  my  cor- 
respondence and  turned  the  matter  over  to  Mr. 
Mills  to  arrange,  and  when  prepared  I  gave 
copy  to  the  printer  not  thinking  but  all  were 
in.  Nor  was  it  discovered,  as  stated  before, 
that  you  were  left  out,  until  the  edition  was 
printed;  was  very  sorry,  of  course,  but  among 
the  thousand  things  to  watch,  sometimes  it  will 
happen  that  an  error  or  an  omission  will  occur. 
Yours  truly,  S.  D.  FISHER. 

Springfield,  111.,  July  25,  1884. 

IN  THE  HIGHLANDS  OF  COLORADO. 

Editor  "Live  Stock  Record" : 

In  your  paper  of  the  30th  inst.,  I  notice  that 
Mr.  Pryor,  the  "Shorthorn  Stalwart,"  flings 
broadcast  to  all  Hereford  breeders  certain  ques- 
tions which  are  so  evidently  propounded,  only 
after  deep  thought  and  careful  consideration, 
that  it  is  with  great  hesitation  that  I  venture 
to  answer  them.  Mr.  Pryor  asks: 

First.  "Do  you  not  all  find  the  Shorthorn 
cross  indispensable  when  you  wish  to  get  good 
high-grade  bulls  ?" 


HlSTOltY     OF     H  EKE  F  OKI)     C  A  T  T  L 


485 


By  no  means.  For,  although  the  Shorthorn 
is  an  unquestionably  good  foundation,  upon 
which  to  huild  up  a  grade  herd,  I  consider  that 
equally  good  results  as  to  form,  and  superior 
as  to  color,  can  be  obtained  by  crossing  the 
Hereford  bull  with  the  Devon  or  red  Sussex 
cows.  And  I  have  good  reason  to  think  that  no 
animal  will  catch  the  butcher's  eye  much 
quicker  than  the  grade  produce  of  the  Hereford 
and  Polled-Angus,  or  Galloway.  Mr.  Pryor 
asks: 

Second.  "Are  not  nine-tenths  of  all  your 
bulls  sold  for  range  purposes  from  grade  Short- 
horn cows?" 

Taking  as  an  example  my  sale  of  bull  calves 
for  next  spring,  a  correct  notice  of  which  I  see 
in  your  columns,  my  answer  is,  certainly  not. 

Third.  "What  proportion  of  them,  if  any, 
are  from  grade  Hereford  cows?" 

In  the  above-mentioned  bunch  the  proportion 
of  calves  had  from  grade  Herefords  cows, 
ranging  from  first  to  fourth  cross,  is  somewhat 
in  excess  of  two-thirds. 

Six  years  ago  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  buy 
thirty  grade  Hereford  cows  and  heifers,  pre- 
sumably first  and  second  cross.  I  have  -since 
bred  them  to  first-class  Hereford  bulls  with 
most  satisfactory  results.  The  increase  has 
been  considerably  above  the  average — the  death- 
rate  almost  nothing.  Twenty-six  out  of  the 
thirty  original  cows  will  to-day  face  the  tally; 
and  yet  these  delicate  cattle  have  been  obliged 
to  "sniff  the  breeze  and  stem  the  blizzards"  at 
an  altitude  of  8,000  feet,  without  the  assistance 
of  either  15  cent  cribs  of  Kansas  corn,  or  suc- 
culent alfalfa. 

I  do  not  wish  to  enter  into  the  question  of 
superiority  of  herds;  so  long  as  my  own  pud- 
ding finds  favor  I  am  satisfied.  But  when  Mr. 
Pryor  claims,  or  rather  insinuates  that  the  re- 
sult of  a  first  cross  between  Herefords  and 
Shorthorns  produces  a  better  calf  than  can  be 
obtained  by  inbreeding  to  third  or  fourth  cross 
Hereford  cows,  I  must  respectfully  beg  to  differ 
with  him,  always  supposing  the  would-be  pur- 
chaser to  be  looking  for  "Hereford  grades." 
Yours  truly, 

THEODOKE  WHTTE. 

Estes  Park,  Jan.  4th. 

Mr.  Theodore  Whyte  was  a  breeder  of  Here- 
ford cattle,  and  Mr.  Pryor  was  a  breeder  of 
Shorthorns  in  Colorado. 

MR.    CULBERTSON    TO    ILLINOIS    BOARD   OF    AGRI- 
CULTURE. 

Gentlemen:  Inasmuch  as  many  absurd 
awards  were  made  at  our  last  Fat  Stock  Show, 


which  have  caused  wide  comment  among  cattle 
men,  I  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  expres- 
sion of  my  views,  feeling  assured,  from  con- 
versation with  many  there  present,  that  I  speak 
the  sentiment  of  a  great  majority  of  breeders, 
feeders,  exhibitors,  and  cattlemen  generally, 
independent  of  affinity  for  any  particular  breed 
of  cattle.  So  far  as  my  own  exhibit  was  con- 
cerned, I  expected  nothing,  and  consequently 
was  not  disappointed. 

I  have  just  passed  through  our  sixth  Annual 
Fat  Stock  Show,  and  I  am  pleased  to  say  that, 
from  year  to  year,  we  have  continually  im- 
proved in  the  exhibit  in  the  cattle  department, 
our  last  exhibit  being  adjudged  the  best  ever 
seen  together  on  this  continent.  I  wish  the 
same  could  be  said  of  the  judging.  This  is, 
and  ought  to  be,  the  Great  American  Beef 
Show,  the  result  and  report  of  which  is  heralded 
not  only  all  over  this  country,  but  over  Europe 
also,  hence,  the  very  great  importance  of  having 
just  awards  made.  But  how  and  what  are  the 
facts  in  regard  to  the  awards  ?  I  do  not  believe 
that  there  is  one  of  you  who  does  not  feel  deeply 
mortified  and  ashamed  of  most  of  the  more 
important  awards.  The  errors  were  so  glaring 
that  it  would  seem  no  good  excuse  could  be 
made,  or  one,  at  least,  that  would  have  any 
force  in  it.  This  show  was  created  for  a  school, 
at  which  all  might  come  to  compete  and  learn. 
Inducements  have  been  held  out  to  make  steers 
and  prepare  and  exhibit  them — the  best  beef 
animals  to  win.  We  have  been  promised,  from 
year  to  year,  the  best  judges  obtainable.  We 
have  never  had  them  (in  my  opinion).  Illinois, 
Indiana,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Kan- 
sas, Minnesota  and  Canada,  have  come  up  here, 
bringing  with  them  their  best  cattle  for  judg- 
ment. Has  justice  been  done  them?  I  think 
you  will  say  no.  Please  pardon  me  when  I  say 
to  you,  in  all  sincerity,  that  if,  in  the  future, 
you  cannot  obtain  more  competent  judges,  it 
will  not  be  long  before  those  who  have  taken 
great  pains  to  make  steers,  "using  both  skill 
and  patience  in  preparing  their  cattle,"  will 
become  completely  discouraged  and  disgusted, 
and  the  show,  and  the  purposes  for  which  it 
was  created,  will  be  pronounced  a  by-word  and 
a  mockery. 

In  my  criticisms  of  the  awards  I  shall  touch 
only  on  a  few  of  the  most  important  ones,  fear- 
ing that  I  may  tire  your  patience.  In  the  first 
day's  judging  the  Shorthorn  steer  Schooler 
took  third  prize.  He  was  the  best  two-year-old 
Shorthorn  in  the  show  by  all  odds — a  credit  to 
the  breeder  and  feeder — hard  to  beat  in  any 
ring,  and  worthy  to  compete  for  grand  sweep- 


486 


H1STOHY     OF    HEltEFOliD     CATTLE 


stakes.  By  this  award  he  was  barred  from  com- 
peting for  the  grand  sweepstakes. 

In  the  three-year-old  Hereford  class  but  two 
animals  were  shown,  to-wit,  a  cow  belonging  to 
Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  and  the  steer  Hoosier, 
belonging  to  Adams  Earl.  The  cow  took  first 
prize,  and  no  one  was  more  surprised  than  Mr. 
Van  Natta  himself.  The  steer  Hoosier  was 
perhaps  the  most  skillfully  fed  and  fattened 
animal  in  the  show,  and  the  most  evenly 
fleshed  animal  in  the  show — not  a  lump  as  large 
as  an  almond  could  be  found  on  him  from  his 
horns  to  his  hocks.  He,  likewise,  was  barred 
from  showing  for  the  grand  sweepstakes. 

In  the  three-year-old  class  for  grade  Here- 
fords,  Benton's  Champion  took  third  prize. 
This,  of  course,  barred  him  from  the  grand 
sweepstakes  prizes.  This  Benton's  Champion 
was  such  an  extraordinary  good  steer  that  Mr. 
John  D.  Gillette  publicly  said  "he  was  as  good, 
if  not  the  best,  beef  steer  he  had  ever  seen." 
Mr.  Gillette  is  perhaps  the  most  noted  and  suc- 
cessful steer  breeder  and  feeder  in  the  West — 
a  man  of  integrity  and  rare  good  judgment. 

But  the  greatest  wrong  that  was  done  was  the 
awarding  the  grand  sweepstakes  carcass  prize 
to  the  steer  Clarence  Kirklevington.  Of  all 
the  carcasses  on  exhibition — 30  in  all — this 
carcass,  with  but  one  exception — was  the  most 
objectionable  of  any.  After  hanging  on  the 
hooks  for  two  days  and  nights,  the  weather  be- 
ing cool,  it  was  as  soft  and  springy  as  when  first 
killed — its  outer  coat  of  fat  handling  as  soft 
and  slippery  almost  as  a  sponge  filled  with  oil. 
As  a  proof  of  what  I  have  said  about  this,  it 
may  be  interesting  to  know  what  became  of  this 
carcass.  I  find  that  the  butcher,  Mr.  John 
Ford,  at  the  special  request  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel,  bought  the  carcass ; 
that  the  carcass  weighed  some  1,650  pounds; 
that  he  paid  12^  cents  per  pound  for  it — costing 
about  $200 ;  that  he  sent  about  600  pounds  to 
the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel;  that  the  hotel  sent 
back  to  him  about  300  pounds;  that  he  got 
about  $90  for  300  pounds  .from  the  hotel,  and 
that  Mr.  Ford  estimated  that  the  loss  on  the 
carcass  would  be  about  $50.  If  such  is  the  case, 
he  could  not  have  realized  quite  5  cents  per 
pound  for  the  balance,  1,350  pounds.  One  of 
the  proprietors  of  the  hotel  said  that  the  meat 
was  the  worst  they  ever  had  in  the  hotel.  And 
this,  gentlemen,  is  the  grand  sweepstakes  car- 
cass for  the  year  1884. 

The  truth  is,  gentlemen,  that  Clarence 
Kirklevington  as  a  beef  animal  never  deserved 
a  ribbon  of  any  kind.  He  was  a  beautiful 
animal  for  a  picture,  groomed  and  polished  to 
the  very  highest  degree,  but  as  a  beef  animal 


he,  to  say  the  least,  was  a  delusion.  The 
judges  on  carcasses,  in  1883,  gave  the  grand 
sweepstakes  to  a  very  lean  and  only  about  half 
fattened  animal.  In  1884  the  very  reverse  was 
the  case. 

My  opinion  is,  that  no  half-fat  animal  will 
retain  its  form  in  cooking.  The  marbling  or 
fat  strands,  or  tissues,  not  being  solidified 
among  the  lean,  will  melt  out  in  cooking.  The 
fatty  part,  it.  is  thought,  contains  most  of  the 
flavor,  hence  when  cooked  out  leaves  the  lean 
minus  the  flavor.  Mr.  Kinsley's  cook  hits  the 
nail  on  the  head  when  he  says :  "A  beef  animal 
is  like  an  apple — 1st,  the  green  stage;  2d,  the 
ripe  stage,  and  3d,  the  over-ripe  stage — when  it 
begins  to  deteriorate." 

Now  who  is  to  blame  for  all  this  blundering  ? 
I  am  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  mainly  charge- 
able to  the  management.  You  were  very  un- 
fortunate in  choosing  your  judges,  but  when 
you  saw  their  incompetency,  which  was  made 
very  apparent  the  first  hour  they  acted,  I  think 
it  was  your  bounden  duty — a  duty  you  owed 
to  all  the  exhibitors — to  have  promptly  dis- 
charged them,  and  substituted  other  judges. 
Mr.  Dysart,  in  1881  or  1882,  when  he  was  the 
superintendent  of  the  ring,  on  the  first  half  day 
of  the  judging,  promptly  discharged  the  judges 
when  it  became  apparent  that  they  were  not 
competent,  and  had  other  judges  substituted 
who  gave  very  general  satisfaction. 

The  only  places  where  you  are  likely  to  find 
expert  judges  of  beef  is  among  men  who  con- 
stantly use  none  but  the  choicest  of  beef,  and 
for  carcass  judges  none  so  good  as  the  men 
who  do  the  cooking  and  serving  up. 

It  was  reported  that  all  judges  who  served  in 
1883  would  be  barred  from  serving  in  1884. 
How  does  the  judging  of  1884  average  with 
that  of  1883?  In  the  Polled  yearling  class 
you  allowed  a  steer  to  be  led  into  the  ring  to 
compete  for  the  prize  that  had  been  protested 
by  about  all  the  cattle  exhibitors  and  expert 
judges  on  ages,  as  being  one  year  older  than  he 
was  entered  for.  I  must  say  that  much  sur- 
prise and  dissatisfaction  was  manifested  on 
account  of  this  action. 

I  have  from  the  start  taken  great  interest  and 
pride  in  our  fat  cattle  shows  and  have  made, 
from  time  to  time,  many  suggestions  about  ar- 
ranging and  making  our  show  and  system  more 
perfect.  I  am  still  with  you,  but  I  must  say 
that  if  better  judging  cannot  be  had,  your  show 
will  lose  the  confidence  and  respect  it  should 
have  and  the  people  and  exhibitors  will  lose 
interest  in  it. 

In  what  I  have  said  I  have  tried  to  state  facts 
as  they  appear  to  me,  and  have  also  tried  not  to 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


4*7 


give  offense  to  anyone.  If  I  have  said  anything 
that  is  not  true,  I  shall  be  glad  to  make  the 
correction  at  any  time.  I  have  tried  to  make 
what  I  have  said  to  you  as  non-partisan  as  it 
was  possible  to  do,  and  make  my  meaning  un- 
derstood. 

With  best  wishes  for  your  board,  and  all  that 
it  implies,  and  hoping  that  you  may  be  able  in 
the  future  to  procure  judges  of  note,  whose 
opinions  all  will  respect — judges  who,  as  it 
were,  will  be  blind  as  to  breeds,  who  can  dis- 
tinguish the  true  line  of  merit,  let  it  be  ever 
so  delicately  drawn,  and  will  hew  to  the  line, 
then  will  you  have  true  educators.  Then,  and 
not  till  then,  will  you  have  fully  accomplished 
the  purpose  for  which  our  fat  show  was  created. 

C.    M.    CULBERTSON. 

Chicago,  111.,  Jan.  8,  1885. 

IOWA   HEARD   FROM. 

Editor  "Breeders'  Journal":  We  are  butch- 
ers of  eight  years'  experience,  and  during  that 
time,  occasionally  getting  hold  of  a  grade  Here- 
ford, found  by  comparison  with  all  others,  they 
were  par  excellence  as  beef  cattle,  giving  a 
larger  percentage  of  the  most  valuable  cuts  to 
the  butcher.  We  notice  also  a  great  difference 
in  heft  of  hides — no  small  item  to  us.  The 
Hereford's  hide  is  20  to  30  per  cent  heavier 
than  scrubs  or  Shorthorns.  This,  we  believe, 
in  part  accounts  for  their  great  ability  to  with- 
stand cold.  These  facts  led  us  to  breeding 
Herefords.  About  four  years  ago  we  com- 
menced quietly  saving  the  best  grades  we  found 
in  our  business,  and  two  years  ago  we  crossed 
them  with  a  Wilton  bull,  and  one  year  ago 
we  bought  four  imported  cows  hard  to  beat. 
We  have  a  bull  calf  from  one  of  them,  now  ten 
months  old,  that  is  perfect  in  form,  marking 
and  color,  and  weighs  950  pounds.  This  is  the 
first  thoroughbred  dropped  to  us,  and  we  pride 
ourselves  on  our  commencement.  At  our 
County  Fair  last  fall,  with  strong  competition 
in  Shorthorns,  Holsteins,  etc.,  we  took  sweep- 
stakes on  best  cow  and  got  one  vote  of  three  on 
a  yearling  bull,  these  all  being  any  age  or 
breed.  Herefords  are  now  booming  in  Guthrie 
County,  where  but  two  years  ago  Shorthorns 
were  all  the  rage. 

Yours  respectfully, 

D.  P.WILLIAMS  (fl360). 

Guthrie  Center,  la.,  Jan.  28,  1886. 

TEXAS   TURNING.    . 

Mr.  Editor:  I  write  you  a  few  lines  about 
how  the  Herefords  are  doing  in  this  country. 


I  bought  two  heifers  and  one  bull  of  T.  L. 
Miller  and  a  heifer  and  bull  of  Tom  C.  Pont- 
ing  in  January.  They  are  very  fine  and  doing 
well.  I  have  six  thoroughbred  Hereford  bulls, 
all  in  fine  condition,  and  thirty-five  little 
whitefaces  that  are  looking  fine,  and  more  to 
come.  There  is  more  talk  about  Herefords  this 
season  than  ever  before.  At  the  convention 
of  the  North  Texas  Cattle  Raisers'  Associa- 
tion at  Weatherford  the  hall  was  beautifully 
decorated.  There  was  a  beautiful  Texas  star, 
just  back  of  the  President's  stand,  with  two 
United  States  flags  supported  by  a  point  of 
the  star  on  each  side.  In  the  center  of  the 
star — the  most  appropriate  thing  that  could 
have  been  placed  there — something  that  was 
suggestive  of  what  we  are  striving  for :  also  of 
the  best  breed  of  cattle,  and  the  breed  that  is 
taking  the  lead  and  will  hold  it;  the  best 
rustler  of  all  fine  blooded  cattle  and  next  to 
the  Texas  bullock  of  any  breed  that  has  ever 
been  tried  in  the  state — was  a  beautiful  pic- 
ture of  T.  L.  Miller's  noted  Success  bull.  Suc- 
cess to  the  Convention,  success  to  the  business, 
and  success  to  the  Herefords,  as  the  name  of 
the  bull  indicated.  I  don't  think  anything 
more  appropriate  could  have  been  put  in  the 
place  of  the  picture,  as  the  name  of  the  bull 
represented  all  we  could  ask  for. 
Yours  truly, 

W.  S.  IKARD.     (ff361) 
Henrietta,  Tex.,  Mar.  20,  1886. 

In  March,  1887,  Mr.  Ikard  wrote  us  again  as 
follows : 

"Stock  have  never  wintered  better  so  far  in 
Texas.  There  will  not  be  any  loss  in  this  part 
of  the  state  to  speak  of,  and  from  what  I  can 
learn  stock  are  wintering  equally  as  well  all 
over  the  state.  My  Herefords  are  doing  very 
well  indeed.  They  are  fat  enough  to  butcher, 
and  have  not  been  fed  any  this  winter,  winter- 
ing as  well  without  feed  as  any  common  Texas 
breed  of  cattle.  They  are  the  chief  rustlers  of 
any  fine  breed  of  cattle  that  I  have  ever  seen, 
and  they  have  certainly  proved  equal  to  the 
common  Texas  bullock  as  a  range  animal,  rust- 
ling for  his  own  living.  There  was  but  little 
raised  last  season,  and  no  feeding  done  this 
winter  except  to  work  stock." 

MORE   FROM   TEXAS. 

Mr.  Editor:  Thinking  that  you  would  like 
to  hear  from  this  corner  of  creation  I  pen  these 
few  lines.  I  have,  up  to  date,  lost  five  head  of 
the  twenty-one  cattle  that  I  bought  of  your 
townsmen  and  estimable  gentlemen,  T  L.  and 


•1SS 


H  1  S  T  0  R  Y     0  F     H  E  R  E  F  O  R  I)     C  A  T  T  L  K 


T.  E.  Miller.  I  have  been  breeding  Herefords 
now  about  nine  years,  having  bought  live  head, 
three  bulls  and  two  heifers,  nine  years  ago  in 
San  Antonio,  Texas,  of  Mr.  T.  E.  Miller,  and 
can  say,  not  boastingly,  but  with  truth  and 
candor,  that  I  think  Herefords  are  the  cattle 
for  the* range.  My  grades  stand  it  better  than 
even  the  native  Spanish  cattle.  I  am  a  true 
friend  to  the  Herefords,  and  hope  to  see  them 
universally  used  as  a  beef  producing  animal. 
The  people  here  are  taking  to  the  whitefaced 
cattle  right  along.  All  seem  to  want  them,  but 
the  price  somewhat  scares  most  of  them.  They 
are  used  to  buying  other  and  less  desirable 
cattle  much  cheaper,  and  they  are  loth  to  pay 
a  good  price  for  a  good  animal,  but  it  pays 
better  to  pay  a  good  price  for  a  good  animal 
than  to  get  a  mean  one  given  to  you.  I  have 
said  all  I  can  say  in  their  favor,  and  none  too 
much,  and  I  hope  to  see  them  crowned  king, 
which  I  don't  think  will  be  long  now.  The 
black  Muley,  Durham,  Devon,  and  all  others 
will  have  to  take  a  back  seat ;  they  cannot  shine 
when  they  come  in  contact  with  the  Herefords. 
Long  may  the  "Journal"  flourish.  I  am  well 
pleased  with  the  paper. 

Yours  truly, 

F.  0.  SKIDMORE. 
Arkansas,  Texas,  Mar.  30,  1886. 

TEXAS   GETTING   HEREFORDIZED. 

I  have  handled  Hereford  cattle  for  two  years, 
and  have  during  that  time  found  that  when  it 
comes  to  rustling  they  have  not  only  shown 
the  ability  to  down  the  Shorthorn  and  other 
improved  breeds  of  cattle,  but  they  can  suc- 
cessfully hold  their  own  with  our  native  Texas 
cattle,  which  have  always  been  admitted  to  be 
the  rustlers  par  excellence. 

The  winter  of  1885  we  had  five  Shorthorn 
bulls  at  the  pen  and  five  Herefords.  The  Short- 
horns were  good  average  specimens  of  the 
Shorthorns,  the  Herefords  were  four  registered 
ones,  and  a  bull  from  old  Success,  but  cannot 
say  if  he  is  recorded.  The  Durhams  were  fed 
oats  twice  per  day  with  all  the  cotton  seed  they 
could  eat,  the  Herefords  were  fed  once  a  day 
and  sometimes  not  that,  for  whenever  a  bulling 
cow  would  come  near  the  pens  the  Herefords  in- 
variably took  out  after  her  and  would  not  return 
for  two  or  three  days,  but  Mr.  Durham  could 
not  be  tempted  to  leave  the  sunny  side  of  a 
corn  crib  by  a  herd  of  bulling  cows  whilst  a 
norther  was  blowing,  and  would  always  be  on 
deck  at  meal  time  with  unfailing  regularity. 

In  the  following  spring  the  Herefords  came 
out  fat,  strong  and  hearty  and  "by  March  1st 


were  out  on  the  range  busy  as  bees.  The  Dur- 
hams were  also  turned  out,  but  they  were  far 
from  being  fat,  in  fact  they  were  not  even  in 
good  fix,  and  later  in  the  season  when  the 
warm  weather  set  in,  one  had  no  trouble  in 
finding  out  which  breed  of  cattle,  the  Durham 
or  Hereford,  could  stand  the  heat  best,  as  the 
former  sought  the  most  shady  places  in  the 
pasture,  and  stayed  there;  but  the  Herefords 
kept  on  chasing  cows  all  over  the  range,  and 
seemed  to  mind  the  heat  but  little,  and  they 
just  got  about  70  per  cent  of  the  calves  gotten. 
Last  week  I  brought  these  same  bulls  home  for 
the  winter,  and  the  Herefords,  after  an  un- 
usually hard  summer's  work,  look  first  rate,  the 
Success  bull  Joe  being  as  fat  as  the  steers  are 
on  the  same  range  (and  cattle  are  in  fine  shape 
here  at  this  time)  whilst  the  Durhams  look 
like  a  good  many  bushels  of  "4  bit"  oats  will 
have  to  be  pumped  into  them  before  they  will 
be  in  half  the  shape  the  Herefords  are  now.  I 
would  like  some  admirer  of  Durham  cattle  as 
range  cattle  to  notice  the  vast  difference  there 
is  in  the  grade  Hereford  and  the  grade  Short- 
horn calf  raised  on  the  range,  and  if  that  don't 
convince  him  of  the  superiority  of  the  Here- 
ford I  don't  know  what  will. 

The  range  raised  Hereford  calf  of  seven 
months  is  a  big  lusty  fellow,  with  a  beautiful 
red  body  and  white  face,  whose  sole  object 
seems  to  be  how  big  he  can  grow  and  how  fat 
he  can  keep,  and  he  "gets  there,"  too,  whilst 
the  grass  raised  Durham  is  a  long  haired,  miser- 
able looking  fellow,  who  grows,  too,  but  mostly 
in  length  of  leg  and  poorness,  and  who  doesn't 
confine  himself  to  the  red  color  of  his  aristo- 
cratic Kentucky  sire,  but  mostly  catches  on  to 
the  plebeian  brindle,  black  or  yellow  of  his 
Spanish  mother,  and  it  is  from  her  that  he 
inherits  what  few  good  qualities  he  has. 

The  day  is  coming  when  Texas  will  send 
out  many  a  train  load  of  whitefaced  steers, 
as  Texas  is  a  grass  country  from  way  back,  and 
all  that  a  Hereford  wants  is  a  trial  and  plenty 
of  grass.  Given  these,  he  will  be  sure  to  please. 
This  section  is  fast  getting  Hercfordized,  but 
it  will  take  time,  as  there  are  lots  of  Durham 
cattle  here  whose  owners  are  going  to  "wait  and 
see."  Yours,  A.  M.  WHITE. 

Woodward's  Ranch,  Milam  Co.,  Tex.,  Oct.  29, 
1886. 

EARLY  STRUGGLES  IN   NEW  ENGLAND. 

Mr.  Editor:  In  accordance  with  your  ex- 
pressed wish,  I  send  you  a  short  article  upon 
that — to  us — important  topic,  "Herefords  in 
New  England."  But  first  allow  me  to  ask  the 
leniencv  of  vour  readers  for  so  brief  an  article 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


489 


on  so  important  a  subject  on  account  of  long 
continued  ill-health.     As  perhaps  very  few  01 
your  readers  are  aware,  I  will  say  the  second, 
and  by  far  the  most  important  importation  of 
Hereford   cattle    into   the   United    States   was 
made    by    Sanford    Howard  for  the  Vaughn 
Bros.,  of  Hallowell,  Maine,  in  1830.    The  first 
being  imported  by  Henry  Clay  into  Kentucky 
in    1817.      The    Vaughn    Herefords    were    a 
splendid  lot  of  cattle,  and  were  kept  on  the 
farm  since  and  now  owned  by  Hon.  J.  R.  Bod- 
well  and  occupied  by  Burleigh  and  Bodwell  for 
quarantine  and   sale   purposes.      These  cattle, 
like  the  next  importations  into  Massachusetts, 
Sotham  &  Corning,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  Capt. 
Pendleton,  of  Scarsport,  Me.,  in  1841,  all  met 
terrible  opposition  by  Shorthorn  men,  of  which 
your  humble  scribe  was  one.     Never  in  the  his- 
tory of  any  state  did  the  worthy  "red  with 
white  faces"   have   stronger   opposition  than  in 
the  Dirigo  State.    But  when  we  look  back  and 
see  the  Shorthorn  blood  they  had  to  contend 
with — the  best  in  the  known  world — such  bulls 
as  Young  Denton,  Comet,  Fitz  Favorite,  and 
a  host  of  others  which  stood  within  three  miles 
of  my  door  in  the  great  grass  valley  of  the 
Kennebec,  you  will  admit  with  me  the  white 
faced  pilgrims  had    a  hard,  nay,  an  unequal 
battle  to  fight.     It  seemed  almost  like  march- 
ing   a    little    army    of    untrained    volunteers 
against  a  mighty  host  of  veterans  strongly  en- 
trenched behind  fortifications  of  years  in  build- 
ing.    But  what    a    mighty  change  has  been 
wrought  in  a  half  century  and  less.    A  few  men 
had  courage  to  try  the  Herefords ;  among  them 
was  Mr.  Joseph  Underwood,  of  Fayette,  Me., 
and  Wingate  Hains,    of    Hallowell,  Me.     The 
former's  enterprising  sons,  G.  and  G.  Under- 
wood, still  are  breeding  a  large  fine  herd,  and 
it  is  a  treat  to  a  Hereford  man  to  sit  before  the 
open  wood-fire  on  a   winter  evening  at  their 
hospitable  home  and  listen  as  they  relate  their 
earliest   experience    (as   boys)    with   Hereford 
steers.    I  advise  no  Western  breeder,  who  visits 
Maine,  to  miss  a  call  on  the  Messrs.  Underwood. 
It  was   not   until   1854   that  any   stockman 
had  courage  to  take  a  Hereford  bull  upon  the 
sacred  soil  of  my  native  town   (Fairfield),  as 
Shorthorns  had  held  full  and  undoubted  sway 
there.     But  Henry  Lawrence,  who,  by  the  way, 
was  a  great  judge  of  cattle  as  well  as  his  uncle, 
conceived  the  idea  of  buying  the  old  Pendleton 
(  Hereford)  bull  Kimroe,  then  fifteen  years  old. 
Quite  a  number  of  the  best  stockmen  patronized 
him  largely  because  they  had  great  faith  in  Mr. 
Lawrence's  judgment,  not  from  the  appearance 
of  the  bull,  for  the  poor  old  fellow  had  had 
rough  usage  since  he  left  his  home  near  Car- 


diff, South  Wales.  This  poor  old  bull  was  used 
one  season  and  died,  but  his  progeny  were  not 
prepossessing  in  appearance  at  a  tender  age, 
say  up  to  two  years  old,  yet  their  feeding  qual- 
ities and  net  weight  was  the  means  of  convert- 
ing many  a  "shorthorner,"  of  which  number 
the  writer  of  this  article  was  one. 

As  I  said,  less  than  fifty  years  has  made  a 
wonderful  change  in  the  cattle  interests,  and 
the  appearance  and  breeds  in  New  England. 
Thirty  years  ago  you  would  hardly  see  a  Here- 
ford at  any  show  except  the  old  Kennebec; 
not  one  at  our  State  Fair ;  all  were  Shorthorns. 
But  if  you  will  go  with  me  to  the  New  England, 
or  the  Maine  State  Fair,  during  the  month  of 
September,  1886,  I  will  show  you  nearly  300  of 
the  finest  steers  ever  seen  in  any  country,  and 
more  than  seven-eighths  of  the  number  will 
show  the  unmistakable  evidence  of  the  well-bred 
Hereford.  Yes,  they  will  be  there,  and  well 
did  a  certain  agricultural  writer  say  of  them 
last  year:  "It  was  a  sight  worth  seeing,  and 
long  to  be  remembered/'  There  will  be  whole 
teams  of  steers  there,  and  some  heifers,  that 
will  weigh  a  ton  apiece.  What  has  wrought  this 
change?  Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention. 
So,  also,  competition  compels  us  to  look  to 
"cost  of  production  and  value  of  products." 
Western  competition  has  driven  us  to  give  up 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  take  a  breed  that  we  can 
produce  five  pounds  of  choice  market  beef  from 
as  cheaply  as  we  could  four  pounds  with  Short- 
horns, and  not  only  the  difference  in  the 
amount,  but  the  finished  Hereford  will  com- 
mand •  nearly  or  quite  a  dollar  per  hundred 
more  in  the  market. 

Yes,  the  Battle  of  the  Breeds,  so  far  as  the 
Shorthorn  is  concerned  in  the  East,  is  forever 
settled.  Although  so  strongly  entrenched  be- 
hind seemingly  impregnable  fortifications,  and 
fighting  to  the  death,  their  flag  is  shot  away, 
their  munitions  of  war  are  expended  and  what 
was  once  a  little  insignificant  squad  of  red  with 
white  faces,  have  become  an  overwhelming  host, 
and  New  England  is  agriculturally  saved.  She 
need  not  be  dependent  on  any  section  of  our 
country  for  beef.  But  I  would  not  have  your 
readers  think  that  the  Herefords  have  no  ene- 
mies, or  the  Shorthorns  no  friends,  even  in  New 
England,  in  proof  of  which  I  will  cite  you  to 
the  fact  that  at  the  great  agricultural  show  to 
be  held  by  the  New  Massachusetts  Society  at 
Boston,  in  October,  there  is  offered  a  special 
prize  by  the  State  Board  of  $125  for  the  best 
Shorthorn  herd,  but  nothing  for  a  Hereford 
herd,  and  this,  notwithstanding  there  is  more 
than  four  times  the  value  in  pure-bred  Here- 
ford cattle  in  New  England,  that  there  is  in  pure 


490 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Shorthorns.  The  fight  for  supremacy  will  go 
on  in  the  West  and  Southwest,  and  while  the 
backbone  of  the  Shorthorns  is  broken  there  will 
be  a  new  rival  come  up,  and  it  will  be  a  rival 
worthy  of  your  steel.  Don't  ignore  the  Sussex, 
you  will  find  a  harder  foe  than  the  Shorthorns, 
or  I  am  very  much  mistaken  upon  a  three  and 
.  a  half  years'  acquaintance. 

In  1856,  although  a  strong  and  ardent  ad- 
mirer of  Shorthorns,  which  breed  of  cattle  I 
had  bred,  handled  and  fattened  from  boyhood, 
I  happened  by  mere  chance  to  obtain  some  of 
Kimroe's  stock,  i.  e.,  steers  of  his  get,  others 
by  sons  of  him.  They  fed  so  rapidly,  weighed 
so  heavily  and  were  of  such  wonderful  quality 
I  could  hardly  believe  that  my  vision  was  quite 
right.  After  being  thoroughly  convinced  of  the 
fact  that  my  sight  was  all  right,  then  I  thought 
I  would  decide  to  go  largely  into  Herefords, 
when,  ever  and  anon,  my  long-cherished  idea 
of  the  perfect  animal — the  Shorthorn — would 
cause  me  for  a  time  to  delay  my  purpose;  but 
not  long.  I  started  to  breeding  Herefords  in 
earnest — after  feeding  Hereford  steers  about 
eight  years — in  1866.  In  1868  I  bought  the  en- 
tire Hillhurst  herd  of  Herefords,  of  Hon.  M. 
H.  Cochrane,  the  advent  of  which  marked  a 
new  era  in  live  stock  industry  in  New  England. 
At  the  head  of  this  herd  was  the  bull  Compton 
Lad  (3764)  1327,  which  for  quality,  style  and 
general  make-up,  was  never  surpassed.  Showing 
this  bull  with  the  herd  at  all  principal  fairs 
from  the  eastern  borders  of  New  England  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  won  seventy-four  prizes, 
including  gold  and  silver  medals,  out  of  seventy- 
five  prizes  competed  for,  and  seventeen  of  these 
against  all  breeds,  and  which  was  the  means 
of  making  a  host  of  friends  for  the  Herefords. 
The  march  of  improvement  has  been  onward. 
Of  the  840  head  of  stock  imported  by  our  firm 
— Burleigh  &  Bodwell — too  many  have  been  al- 
lowed to  go  West  for  the  interest  of  New  Eng- 
land, yet,  the  showing  here  is  to  be  viewed  with 
pride  by  the  friends  of  the  great  and  cheap  pro- 
ducing race  of  cattle. 

The  sale  of  Hereford  bulls  to  the  resident 
stockmen  for  the  year  1886  has  been  very  fair 
considering  it  is  an  off  year,  and  as  the  years 
roll  on,  following  each  other  with  rapid  flight, 
so  will  the  panting  and  puffing  engine  steed 
with  fire  and  steam  bearing  their  heavy  loads  of 
noble  bovine  beauties,  with  the  unmistakable 
signs  which  the  Hereford  never  fails  to  impress 
upon  his  progeny,  to  the  great  manufacturing 
centers,  to  the  joy  and  satisfaction  of  the  con- 
sumer, and  profit  and  pleasure  of  the  producer. 
Yours  truly,  H.  C.  BURLEIGH. 

Vassalboro,  Maine,  September,  1886. 


A  CHICAGO  BUTCHER'S  TESTIMONY. 

About  the  first  of  October  (1886)  Messrs. 
Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  the  well  known  Hereford 
breeders  of  Fowler,  Indiana,  sent  to  the  Chi- 
cago market  a  car  load  of  yearling  half-blood 
Hereford  heifers,  that  averaged  885  pounds  in 
the  yards.  They  were  purchased  and  slaugh- 
tered by  Mr.  P.  Mehan,  for  his  meat  market  at 
No.  2911  South  Park  Ave.,  Chicago.  After 
disposing  of  the  meat  of  these  heifers,  Mr. 
Mehan  wrote  the  following  letter: 

Chicago,  Nov.  1,  1886. 
MESSRS.  FOWLER  &  VAN  NATTA, 

Fowler,  Ind. 

Gentlemen:  In  regard  to  the  twenty-five 
Hereford  heifers,  bought  of  you  for  my  market, 
I  wish  to  say  that  those  heifers  killed  the  best 
of  any  cattle  I  ever  slaughtered,  and  gave  the 
best  satisfaction  both  to  myself  and  customers. 
They  carried  their  weight  on  their  backs,  where 
it  is  most  valuable,  and  dressed  a  larger  pro- 
portion of  high-priced  meat  than  any  other  cat- 
tle I  ever  used.  Yours  truly, 

P.  MEHAN. 


These  twenty-five  heifers  were  raised  on  grass 
and  went  direct  from  the  pastures  to  the  sham- 
bles. The  above  letter,  coming  as  it  does  from 
a  practical  butcher,  doing  business  in  the  city 
of  Chicago,  is  valuable  testimony  for  the  Here- 
fords. About  this  time  a  correspondent  of  the 
"Breeders'  Gazette"  had  asserted  that  the  Short- 
horns were  the  best  cattle,  because  they  carried 
a  larger  proportion  of  first-class  meat  than  the 
Herefords.  Mr.  Mehan  says  these  half-blood 
Hereford  steers  raised  on  grass,  "carried  their 
weight  on  their  backs,  where  it  is  most  valuable, 
and  dressed  a  larger  proportion  of  high-priced 
meat  than  any  other  cattle  I  ever  used." 

Messrs.  Fowler  &  Van  Natta  with  their 
large  herd  of  thoroughbred  Herefords  have 
shown  great  enterprise  in  pushing  the  breed  to 
the  front,  that  cannot  be  too  highly  commended. 
They  went  to  large  expense  in  fitting  cattle  for 
show  purposes,  and  have  carried  off  many  prizes 
at  the  large  Fairs  and  Fat  Stock  Shows,  in- 
cluding the  champion  herd  prize  at  the  Illinois 
State  Fair  three  years  in  succession,  and  several 
times  they  exhibited  the  grand  sweepstakes 
steer  at  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show.  The  ex- 
ample they  have  set  of  making  steers  of  their 
grade  bulls  and  spaying  their  grade  heifers, 
and  putting  them  in  the  market,  was  followed 
by  many  more  of  our  large  breeders.  If  con- 
sumers once  get  accustomed  to  the  Hereford 


HIST  Oil  Y     OF     HE  KEF  OKI)     CATTLE 


491 


beef  they  will  buy  no  other,  and  the  only  way 
to  get  them  accustomed  to  it  is  for  all  the 
breeders  to  do  as  Messrs.  Fowler  &  Van  Natta 
did — send  their  grades  to  market. 

OLD  BLOOD  IN  VERMONT. 

We  make  the  following  extract  from  a  letter 
received  in  1882,  from  Mr.  Henry  Lane,  of 
Cornwall,  Vt. :  "I  saw  at  Mr.  0.  S.  Bliss',  of 
Georgia,  in  this  state,  a  very  fine  oil  chromo 
of  Herefords,  which  pleases  me.  Thirty-eight 
years  ago  I  went  with  two  of  my  townsmen  to 
Albany,  1ST.  Y.,  to  see  Corning  &  Sotham's  herd 
of  Herefords,  and  we  purchased  two  bulls  that 
were  brought  into  this  town  and  the  stock  from 
them  made  the  finest  beef  cattle  we  have  ever 
had." 

Commenting  on  this  letter  in  the  "Breeders' 
Journal"  (p.  392,  1882)  : 

We  take  pleasure  in  calling  attention  to  this 
testimony,  as  showing  that  the  work  of  Mr. 
Sotham  forty  years  ago  comes  to  us  to  aid  in 
our  work.  There  is  no  way  in  which  Vermont 
and  New  England  farmers  can  advance  the 
farming  interest  of  those  states  so  well  as  by  the 
introduction  of  Hereford  cattle.  Two  years 
ago  we  sold  a  bull  and  some  heifers  to  go  to 
Mr.  H.  0.  McKnight,  of  Locust  Hill,  Penn. 
Mr.  McKnight,  after  two  years  and  six  months' 
experience,  returned  here  last  week  and  bought 
of  the  T.  L.  Miller  Co.,  the  Hereford  cow, 
Hampton  Olive  3d,  and  a  Hereford  bull  calf 
from  British  Lady,  the  mother  of  T.  L.  Miller's 
heifer  Prairie  Flower.  Mr.  McKnight's  experi- 
ence has  given  him  the  fullest  confidence  in  the 
Herefords  as  a  good  butter  dairy  cow  and  beef 
breed.  The  bull  purchased  by  Mr.  McKnight 
in  1879,  was  by  Success,  and  has  proved  a 
duplicate  of  the  old  bull.  His  purchase  now 
is  a  young  bull  by  Winter  de  Cote;  it  will  be 
recollected  that  Winter  de  Cote  was  bred  by 
Mrs.  S.  Edwards,  and  is  a  brother  of  the  cele- 
brated Hereford  cow  Leonora.  The  cow  Hamp- 
ton Olive  was  bred  by  J.  H.  Arkwright,  of 
Hampton  Court,  Leominster,  England,  and  im- 
ported by  the  T.  L.  Miller  Co.  in  1880.  The 
price  paid  for  the  cow  and  calf  was  $900. 
This  gives  Mr.  McKnight  a  herd  of  some  twelve 
females,  all  thoroughbred  and  very  choice  ani- 
mals. Besides  these  he  has  a  large  number  of 
grades,  among  them  yearling  steers  weighing 
about  1,000  pounds.  We  call  attention  here  to 
Mr.  McKnight's  experience,  showing,  in  con- 
nection with  our  extract  from  our  Vermont  cor- 
respondent, what  farmers  in  an  ordinary  prac- 
tice of  dairv  and  stock  business  can  do. 


Vermont  can  breed  Hereford  grades,  making 
a  very  good  butter  cow  of  the  heifers,  while 
the  steers  will  sell  to  the  butcher  at  from  twelve 
to  eighteen  months  old  at  $75  or  more.  Men 
who,  like  Mr.  Lane,  have  had  an  old-time  ex- 
perience with  Herefords,  will  recognize  the  cor- 
rectness of  our  predictions.  The  grade  steers 
that  we  have  now,  24  months  old,  would  sell 
in  Chicago  for  $100  per  head. 

KANSAS  IN  EARNEST. 

Editor  "Journal" : 

I  had  my  white  faces  at  the  Wichita,  Kansas, 
fair  again  this  year  and  "downed  the  Short- 
horns" worse  than  ever.  The  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers made  their  usual  amount  of  "wind  pudding" 
and  abused  the  white  faces  as  usual,  but  to  no 
purpose.  They  wanted  to  show  for  "big  money" 
they  said;  so  I  proposed  to  show  "The  Equi- 
nox" against  any  Shorthorn  bull  they  could 
bring  against  him  at  any  time  during  the  week 
for  $1,000  cash,  and  if  they  wished  they  could 
increase  it  to  $5,000,  and  I  would  put  up  $1,000 
forfeit  just  to  accommodate  them  and  put  the 
ball  in  motion,  but  these  "high-toned"  gentle- 
men preferred  eating  their  own  words  rather 
than  losing  their  money  and  meeting  inevitable 
defeat.  The  following  clipping  gives  what 
stock  I  had  there : 

"Mr.  W.  E.  Campbell,  of  Caldwell,  Kan.,  had 
on  exhibition  fifteen  head  of  his  famous  Here- 
fords, among  which  was  noticed  the  bull  Equi- 
nox, No.  2758,  weighing  1,920  pounds,  two 
years  old.  Mr.  C.  values  this  animal  at  $1,500, 
which  he  has  refused.  Among  his  exhibit  was 
the  Duke  of  Rosewood,  the  Queen  of  the  Lillies 
by  Prince  Eoyal,  Ella  3d,  Mermaid,  Jessamine 
by  Miller's  Success,  Empress  by  Emperor,  all  of 
which  are  two  years  old.  The  yearling,  Third 
Duchess  of  Somerset,  by  Emperor,  was  also 
among  the  collection.  Mr.  Campbell  has  over 
6,000  head  of  stock  on  the  range  in  southern 
Kansas  and  the  Indian  Territory.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell offered  to  show  his  bull  Equinox  for  a 
grand  special  sweepstakes,  prize  of  $1,000  cash, 
open  to  exhibitors  of  both  fair  associations,  but 
the  offer  was  not  accepted." 

And  the  following  from  the  "Caldwell  Com- 
mercial" of  September  14,  1882  : 

"Our  friend,  W.  E.  Campbell,  the  great  Here- 
ford and  Shorthorn  breeder  of  Sumner  County, 
better  known  as  Shorthorn  Campbell — to  dis- 
tinguish him  from  the  numerous  other  Camp- 
bells, imported  nearly  or  remotely  from  the  land 
of  oaten  cakes — visited  both  fairs  with  his 
Herefords,  and  we  are  pleased  to  state,  captured 
the  class  premiums  and  carried  off  the  sweep- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


stakes  for  the  best  thoroughbred  herd,  Ihe  best 
bull  of  any  age  or  breed,  and  the  grand  $100 
sweepstakes  for  the  best  bull  of  beef  breeds, 
against  all  competition  at  both  fairs. 

"In  this  triumph  Mr.  Campbell  laid  out  C.  A. 
Betz's  Shorthorn  prize  bull,  which  had  never 
been  beaten  before,  and  had  been  ruled  out  of 
competition  of  other  associations,  because  of  its 
supposed  overpowering  superiority  to  all  ani- 
mals of  that  class." 


I  have  just  bought  two  more  ranches,  cattle 
ranges,  etc.,  and  have  not  time  to  write  more. 
Respectfully  yours, 

W.  E.  CAMPBELL. 
Caldwell,  Kan.,  Sept.  27,  1882. 

P.  S. — "The  Equinox"  was  never  stabled 
twenty-four  hours  all  summer,  but  ran  in  the 
pasture  with  the  cows  the  entire  season  and  was 
only  stabled  nights. 


E.    S.    SHOCKEY, 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Mr.  Miller's  assistant  in  the  establishment  of  the 
"Breeders'  Journal,"  and  later  of  the  firm  of  Shockey  & 
Gibb. 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLU 


493 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

THE  HEREFORD  VERSUS  SHORTHORN — MR.  MILLER  RE-STATES 

His  POSITION 


A3  we  have  had  considerable  to  say  about 
the  methods  used  by  Shorthorn  men  in  Amer- 
ica to  hold  their  cattle  in  the  position  that 
they  claimed  for  their  breed,  before  the  Here- 
ford came  into  the  arena  demanding  a  fair  field 
and  no  favors,  we  considerately  put  what  we 
have  further  to  say  on  this  subject  at  the  end 
of  the  History. 

In  the  times  of  our  great  activity  in  the 
Hereford  cause  we  received  a  letter  from  an  old 
ex-editor,  who  says:  "I  regret  that  the  fight 
between  the  Shorthorns  and  Herefords  has 
assumed  a  personal  and  bitter  character,  which 
is  so  damaging  to  the  breeders  taking  part  in 
it.  The  press  may  gain  somewhat  from  the  in- 
terest thus  excited,  but  is  not  the  sacrifice  of 
individuals  too  great  and  in  a  great  measure 
unnecessary?  If  I  ever  take  up  the  cause  of 
any  breed  of  stock,  it  will  be  to  advocate  its 
merits,  and  not  to  expose  the  demerits  of  their 
opponents.  I  regret  that  you  have  become  per- 
sonally the  object  of  such  bitter  attack,  but  at 
the  same  time,  know  of  no  one  who  could  more 
successfully  ward  off  the  blows." 

In  reply  to  the  remarks  of  our  ex-editor,  we 
contended  that  an  erroneous  situation  had  been 
fraudulently  established  by  the  Shorthorn  in- 
terest. 

To  meet  the  claims  and  the  demands  of  the 
Shorthorn  advocates,  we  went  back  in  history 
one  hundred  years,  and  brought  up  their  rec- 
ord. This  record  shows  that  Youatt's  History 
of  British  Cattle  was  fraudulent,  in  that  it 
suppressed  facts  detrimental  to  Shorthorns  and 
favorable  to  Herefords.  We  brought  out  the 
record  showing  the  organization  and  manage- 
ment of  the  agricultural  fairs  to  have  been  in 
the  interest  of  the  Shorthorn  breeders.  We 
showed  that  the  advocates  of  the  Shorthorns 
used  Youatt's  History  of  British  Cattle  and  the 
awards  rendered  at  the  Agricultural  Societies 
to  support  their  claims.  We  charged  that  the 
press  supported  the  Shorthorn  breed  on  the 
evidence  thus  produced  by  the  Shorthorn  man- 


agers. We  brought  forward  the  record  of  the 
Herefords,  and  this  record  placed  them  in  the 
lead  of  all  other  breeds  as  beef  producers.  The 
course  we  have  taken  has  not  been  based  on  our 
own  opinion  simply,  but  upon  recorded  facts, 
tests  and  experiments,  that  are  accessible  to  the 
Shorthorn  advocates  as  well  as  to  ourselves. 
These  Shorthorn  advocates  have  never  met  the 
facts,  but  have  resorted  to  personal  abuse,  hop- 
ing thereby  to  mislead  the  bullock  breeders, 
and  by  so  doing  retain  their  position. 

In  years  past  the  press  accepted  Youatt's 
History  of  British  Cattle  as  authority;  they 
accepted  the  awards  rendered  at  the  agricul- 
tural societies  in  this  country  and  England  as 
fairly  made  and  rendered;  and  basing  their 
actions  on  these  facts,  gave  their  support  to 
the  breeders  of  Shorthorn  cattle,  as  did  their 
predecessors  and  those  especially  interested  in 
Shorthorns.  We  claim  that  the  facts  we  pre- 
sented were  entitled  to  the  attention  and  ex- 
amination of  said  press,  and  that  those  failing 
to  give  this  attention  and  examination  are,  or 
were,  parties  to  the  fraud  that  has  been  handed 
down  to  them  from  their  predecessors. 

The  press  occupies  another  and  more  import- 
ant relation  to  this  question.  They  are  bound 
to  know  whether  these  facts  are  true;  they  are 
bound  to  investigate;  they  are  bound  to  give 
the  results  of  this  investigation  to  their  readers, 
if  they  would  act  in  good  faith.  They  claim 
to  be  disinterested,  to  have  no  interest  in  any 
breed,  and  they  ask  their  readers  to  believe  not 
only  what  they  say  is  true,  but  they  ask  their 
readers  also  to  believe  that  they  are  intelligent 
and  well-informed  on  these  subjects.  Failing 
in  this  investigation  and  examination,  they  per- 
petuate the  fraud  that  has  been  handed  down 
to  them.  We  are  now  prepared  to  ask,  by  what 
terms  should  the  acts  of  these  Shorthorn  advo- 
cates and  these  editors,  be  characterized  ?  We 
believe  that  it  is  fraudulent  to  present  issues 
that  have  no  foundation  in  merit  or  fact;  we 
believe  that  the  editor  is  bound  to  know  the 


494 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


facts.  They  assume  to  be  teachers  and  guides, 
and  taking  this  position  and  proving  false  to 
the  responsibility,  they  should  be  held  account- 
able. Our  friend  says  if  he  "were  to  take  up 
the  cause  of  any  breed  he  should  advocate  their 
merits,  and  not  expose  the  demerits  of  other 
breeds/'  We  should  like  to  know  by  what  stan- 
dard he  would  measure  the  merits  of  his  own, 
unless  he  compared  them  with  others. 

In  entering  upon  the  breeding  of  beef  cattle, 
we  found  the  Shorthorns  the  dominant  and 
accepted  breed  for  that  purpose,  in  this  country. 
We  appeared  before  our  state  agricultural  so- 
cieties and  placed  the  Herefords  beside  the 
Shorthorns ;  we  asked  our  societies  to  pass  upon 
the  merits  of  the  breeds  as  represented  by  those 
upon  exhibition.  The  question,  then,  was 
opened,  as  a  matter  of  course,  as  to  the  com- 
parative merits  of  Herefords  and  Shorthorns; 
from  this  point  the  discussion  was  continued. 
Our  State  Society  discriminated  in  favor  of 
Shorthorns  by  giving  them  larger  premiums, 
and  thus,  by  inference,  declaring  to  the  world 
that  they  were  the  better  cattle.  They  sub- 
mitted the  question  of  merit  between  the  breeds 
to  men  selected  from  or  by  the  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers to  act  as  judges.  The  question  then  as  to 
the  merits  and  demerits  of  breeds  was  here  open- 
ed ;  we  had  to  accept  of  it,  and  when  they  claim- 
ed a  half  century's  acceptance  of  their  cattle  as 
evidence  of  merit  over  the  Herefords,  it  compell- 
ed us  to  go  back  of  the  merits  of  the  individuals 
as  they  stood  upon  the  show  grounds  and  in- 
quire as  to  the  methods  by  which  the  Short- 
horns had  obtained  their  endorsements.  We 
have  placed  the  result  of  these  examinations 
before  our  readers  and  the  world.  On  these 
facts  we  appealed  to  the  cattle  raisers  of  Amer- 
ica and  the  verdict  has  been  reversed;  the 
Herefords  are  now  accepted  as  the  best  and 
have  taken  the  place  among  the  cattle  breeders 
of  the  country  to  which  their  merits  always 
entitled  them.  Such  a  revelation  could  hardly 
be  accepted  without  more  or  less  bitter  feeling ; 
it  was  to  be  expected  that  the  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers and  advocates,  with  their  associates,  certain 
editors  of  live  stock  journals,  finding  the  facts 
against  them,  should  resort  to  vindictive  and 
bitter  personal  attacks  to  cover  the  weakness 
of  their  position. 

Presenting  a  breed  of  cattle,  as  we  have, 
claiming  an  advantage  on  the  score  of  economy 
and  value  of  product  over  this  dominant  Short- 
horn breed,  we  were  compelled  to  show  wherein 
this  value  consisted,  and  the  weakness  of  the 
Shorthorn  claims.  All  we  asked  was  a  full  and 
fair  investigation  into  the  claims  and  facts  that 
we  presented;  if  they  had  not  merit,  then  we 


were  not  entitled  to  the  verdict;  if  they  had, 
we  expected  the  Herefords  to  find  acceptance 
and  we  expected  to  have  that  position  as  an 
advocate  of  these  claims  that  belongs  to  us. 

So  influential  was  the  opposition  that  a  few 
contemporary  Hereford  breeders,  actuated  by 
jealousy,  were  prevailed  upon  to  cravenly  criti- 
cize our  methods  and  to  belittle  our  work; 
while  at  the  same  time  taking  every  possible 
advantage  of  what  we  had  done  almost  single- 
handed.  The  opposition  called  us  a  "kicker," 
knowing  full  well,  that  only  a  persistent  and 
consistent  "kicker"  could  make  the  slightest 
headway  against  their  adverse  and  perverse 
machinations. 

On  account  of  our  activity,  this  fight  became 
for  a  time  a  personal  one  upon  the  writer.  Hav- 
ing control  of  the  shows  our  opponents  made 
our  retirement  from  the  show  ring  imperative. 
Other  Hereford  breeders  might  get  a  semblance 
of  justice,  but  we  could  not.  Having  estab- 
lished an  agricultural  journal  in  which  our 
Hereford  writings  would  not  be  garbled  and 
misrepresented,  the  opposition  press  was  forced, 
as  it  were,  to  gnash  their  teeth  in  their  im- 
potent rage  and  vent  their  spleen  in  personal 
abuse  of  us. 

At  this  writing  (1898)  history  appears  to 
be  repeating  itself  in  the  case  of  the  leading 
Hereford  advocate.  Let  Hereford  breeders  be- 
ware, that  they  play  not  into  the  hands  of  their 
opponents  by  a  failure  at  all  times  to  recognize 
and  publicly  acknowledge  the  value  of  the  work 
of  those  who  have  fought  and  of  those  who  still 
honestly,  openly  and  courageously  fight  the  bat- 
tles of  their  breed. 

With  this  word  of  warning  brought  forth  of 
much  experience,  and  having  given  our  reasons 
for  engaging  in  the  unpleasant  task  of  contro- 
verting the  position  assumed  by  the  Shorthorns, 
we  will  reproduce  what  was  said  at  the  time 
in  the  "Breeders'  Journal,"  in  regard  to  the 
court  before  which  the  adverse  claims  were 
brought. 

We  will  consider  our  Illinois  State  Board  of 
Agriculture.  Has  it  been  of  a  partisan  character 
in  the  past  ?  Has  it  been  run  in  the  Shorthorn 
interest?  We  answer  these  questions  again  in 
the  affirmative,  and  will  bring  more  proof  to 
sustain  our  position  from  the  records  of  the 
society. 

Up  to  and  including  1870,  excepting  a  few 
Devons,  there  were  no  breeds  to  dispute  the 
superiority  of  the  Shorthorns.  The  question  as 
to  partial  judgments  was  confined  to  the  breed- 
ers of  the  different  families  of  Shorthorns.  We 
find  that  Mr.  A.  B.  McConnell,  in  his  inaugural 
address  as  president  (1865),  says  that  "the  so- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


495 


ciety  has  now  entered  its  thirteenth  year,  and 
its  advancement  has  been,  and  is  now,  a  high 
source  of  gratification  to  its  projectors;  but 
since  the  organization  of  the  society,  each  suc- 
cessive executive  committee  have  failed  in  get- 
ting full  reports  from  the  awarding  commit- 
tees. The  simple  fact  published  to  the  world 
that  a  certain  animal,  article  or  implement  has 
received  the  first  prize  of  the  society,  is  shorn 
of  half  the  value  to  the  public,  unless  the  rea- 
sons for  the  award  are  given  by  the  awarding 
committee,  fully  setting  forth  its  merits  and 
the  reasons  for  the  award.  If  some  plan  can 
be  devised  by  which  full  reports  can  be 
received  from  all  the  awarding  committees, 
I  am  satisfied  it  will  add  very  much  to  the  value 
and  usefulness  of  our  annual  exhibitions,  and 
also  to  the  transactions  of  the  society."  Dr. 
William  Kile,  on  assuming  the  presidential 
chair  (1869),  after  referring  to  the  great  suc- 
cess the  society  had  met  with  since  its  organiza- 
tion, says:  "We  should  not  forget  that  every 
citizen,  of  himself  or  by  his  representative,  has 
the  undoubted  right  to  call  in  question  the  wis- 
dom of  any  line  of  policy  we  may  adopt,  and 
to  criticize  freely  every  act  we  perform.  On 
all  questions,  therefore,  which  admit  of  argu- 
ment and  diverse  views,  and  especially  every- 
thing which  affects  seriously  any  interest  com- 
mitted to  our  fostering  care,  let  us  continue 
to  be  circumspect  and  to  act  so  that  every  step 
we  shall  take  shall  commend  itself  to  the  sound, 
reflecting  judgment  of  all.  As  your  presiding 
officer,  and  as  a  member  who  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  society  from  its  origin,  I  beg  leave 
to  call  your  attention  to  the  following  points: 
You  are  aware  of  the  great  and  delicate  duty 
performed  by  the  awarding  committees  at  our 
fairs,  and  have  found  that  a  full  attendance  of 
those  (the  judges)  originally  appointed  by  the 
Board  is  rarely  secured.  I  have  thought  that 
perhaps  the  system  practiced  in  Indiana,  of 
paying  committeemen  by  the  day  for  their 
services,  would  be  attended  with  good  results, 
and  respectfully  ask  that  you  will  take  the  mat- 
ter under  consideration." 

We  would  call  attention  especially  to  this 
recommendation  of  President  Kile.  We  for 
many  years  urged,  and  in  this  were  joined  by 
all  the  more  conservative  and  painstaking  mem- 
bers and  exhibitors,  that  the  procuring  of  com- 
petent judges  should  be  by  selecting  experts 
and  paying  for  their  services.  The  objection 
given  was  the  extra  cost  of  such  judges.  We 
shall  discuss  this  further  on. 

At  the  fair  held  in  1871,  Mr.  Wm.  W.  Al- 
drich,  of  Ohio,  appeared  on  the  show  ground 
with  a  herd  of  Hereford  cattle,  and  in  compe- 


tition with  Shorthorns  on  the  same  premium 
list.  But  besides  class  premiums,  there  were 
offered  for  herd  and  sweepstakes  $825,  for 
which  the  Herefords  had  a  right  to  compete, 
but  must  compete  under  judges  in  the  Short- 
horn interest,  and  often  composed  of  leading 
Shorthorn  breeders,  making  their  awards  a  dis- 
crimination in  favor  of  Shorthorns. 

President  D.  A.  Brown,  in  his  inaugural  ad- 
dress that  year,  says :  "The  state,  gentlemen,  has 
confided  the  management  of  its  institutions 
to  our  peculiar  care,  and  I  feel  bound  by  the 
trust  reposed  in  me  to  recommend  for  your 
consideration  the  adoption  of  such  rules  for  the 
regulation  of  our  exhibitions  as  will  give  to 
them  that  high  moral  character  their  import- 
ance demands." 

We  have  quoted  from  Presidents  McConnell, 
Kile  and  Brown,  showing  that  they  realized  the 
responsibilities  in  assuming  the  management  of 
the  state's  agricultural  interest,  and  that  they 
were  under  obligations  to  so  manage  and  direct 
the  operations  of  the  State  Agricultural  Shows 
as  to  bring  forward  the  best,  and  see  that  such 
awards  were  made  as  would  command  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  the  world.  At  this 
time,  1871,  a  new  act  of  incorporation  was  had 
from  the  legislature  of  Illinois,  creating  a  de- 
partment of  agriculture,  the  objects  of  which 
should  be  the  promotion  of  agriculture,  horti- 
culture, manufactures  and  domestic  arts.  See 
"Transactions  of  the  Illinois  Department  of 
Agriculture,  1872." 

In  1872,  Messrs.  Miller  &  Powell  were  ex- 
hibitors of  Herefords  under  the  same  classi- 
fication as  in  1871.  One  of  the  awarding 
committees  in  sweepstakes  that  year  was  com- 
posed of  John  M.  Milliken,  of  Ohio;  John  H. 
Bacon,  of  Iowa;  William  M.  Smith,  of  Mc- 
Lean Co.,  111.;  J.  H.  Reese,  of  Warren  Co., 
and  H.  Russell,  of  Marion  Co. ;  a  suitable  com- 
mittee to  pass  upon  Shorthorns,  a  majority  of 
them  being  among  the  prominent  and  leading 
Shorthorn  breeders  of  the  States. 

At  the  reorganization  of  the  society  in  Janu- 
ary, 1873,  under  the  new  constitution,  a  newly 
elected  president,  the  Hon.  John  P.  Reynolds, 
in  his  introductory  address,  reviewed  the  his- 
tory of  the  old  society  in  its  twenty  years'  ex- 
perience, calling  the  attention  of  the  new  Board 
to  what  had  already  been  done  and  the  responsi- 
bilities that  rested  upon  them  for  the  future; 
and  reminded  them  that  the  Board  is  placed 
in  sole  charge  of  the  agricultural  department 
of  the  state,  and  for  the  establishment  of 
county  agricultural  boards,  and  that  whatever 
the  state  might  do  will  be  entrusted  to,  or  en- 
joined as  a  duty  upon,  this  Board.  While  recog- 


496 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


nizing  the  difficulty  surrounding  the  appoint- 
ment of  awarding  committees,  and  prescribing 
rules  to  govern  their  action  while  serving  as 
such,  he  respectfully  referred  the  subject  to  the 
careful  consideration  of  the  Board,  when  revis- 
ing their  list  of  premiums  in  the  live  stock  de- 
partment. 

The  published  premium  list  shows  that  the 
Board  increased  the  premiums  on  Shorthorn 
heifers  and  cows  27£  per  cent,  leaving  the  Here- 
ford classification  as  before.  The  awarding 
committees  on  herd  and  sweepstakes  premiums 
were  so  composed  that  Herefords  had  no  con- 
sideration at  their  hands.  A  member  of  one  of 
these  committees  said  that  a  majority  of  the 
committee  would  not  consider  the  Herefords. 

In  1874,  Shorthorns  and  Herefords,  in  class 
premiums,  exhibited  on  an  even  classification 
as  to  premiums. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Board  in  January, 
1875,  Mr.  D.  B.  Gillham,  president,  in  his  in- 
augural address,  on  assuming  the  duties  of  the 
office,  says:  "It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  from 
the  magnitude  of  the  exhibitions  of  the  Short- 
horn element  in  class  A,  Cattle  Department, 
and  the  peculiar  circumstances  surrounding  it, 
the  general  participation  by  the  people  in  it, 
and  the  interest  manifested  by  all,  that  our 
present  system  of  selecting  awarding  commit- 
tees fails  to  render  the  satisfaction  so  desirable 
by  the  Board,  to  either  their  exhibitors  or  the 
public.  It  may  be  well  to  effect  some  change 
in  regard  to  that  department.  In  calling  your 
attention  to  the  matter,  gentlemen,  I  will  leave 
you  to  suggest  the  plan  and  to  act  in  the  prem- 
ises as  your  better  judgment  may  direct/'  The 
records  show  that  at  this  fair  the  Board  had  ad- 
vanced the  class  premiums  on  Shorthorns  about 
70  per  cent,  and  reduced  the  Herefords  some- 
thing like  15  per  cent. 

For  the  fair  of  1876,  the  Board  reduced  the 
class  premiums  for  Shorthorns  to  the  same 
amount  as  in  1874,  taking  off  the  increase  of 
70  per  cent  made  in  1875,  still  leaving  the 
Herefords  with  their  reduction  of  15  per  cent, 
or  50  per  cent  less  than  the  Shorthorns.  Hav- 
ing been  subject  up  to  this  time  to  the  decisions 
of  Shorthorn  judges  in  the  herd  and  sweep- 
stakes competition,  we  made  a  special  effort  to 
have  this  feature  of  the  awarding  committees 
corrected  and  to  this  end  we  made  a  special 
application  to  President  Gillham,  that  the 
awarding  committees  for  this  competition 
should  be  selected  from  impartial  and  intelli- 
gent men.  We  also  made  a  special  request  of 
President  Scott  to  the  same  end.  Our  right 
to  such  committees  was  freely  conceded.  Mr. 
W.  J.  Neely,  who  was  the  superintendent  of  the 


cattle  department,  was  also  appealed  to,  and 
his  first  committee  was  five  Shorthorn  men, 
composed  of  James  Mix,  H.  M.  Winslow,  of 
Ixankakee;  J.  E.  Shaver,  of  Ottawa;  John 
Brown,  of  Galena,  and  J.  L.  Moore,  of  Polo. 
Protesting  informally,  Mr.  Neely  undertook 
(according  to  his  statement)  to  get  an  im- 
partial committee  and  professed  to  find  a  good 
deal  of  difficulty  in  doing  so,  and  was  obliged 
to  get  the  assistance  of  Col.  Judy  to  aid  in 
selecting  and  completing  the  committee,  and 
J.  H.  Spear,  of  Tallula,  the  townsman  of  Col. 
Judy,  and  one  of  the  prominent  and  winning 
Shorthorn  breeders  at  previous  fairs,  was  se- 
lected to  hold  the  balance  of  power  in  this  new 
committee. 

In  coming  to  the  fair  of  1877,  the  Herefords 
came  on  an  even  classification,  the  Shorthorn 
premiums  in  classes  having  been  reduced  about 
15  per  cent,  and  the  Hereford  increased  some- 
thing over  20  per  cent.  The  Hon.  Samuel 
Dysart  had  been  chosen  superintendent  of  the 
cattle  department,  and  for  the  first  time  in  the 
herd  and  sweepstakes  competition  the  awarding 
committee  were  selected  with  a  view  to  make 
the  awards  upon  the  merits  of  the  cattle  ex- 
hibited. 

In  1878  the  two  breeds  in  class  premiums 
stood  upon  an  even  basis.  When  approaching 
the  competition  between  Herefords  and  Short- 
horns, for  herd  and  sweepstakes  premiums 
(Mr.  Dysart  then  being  absent  in  Europe),  we 
said  to  Mr.  Cobb,  of  Kankakee,  that  Herefords 
were  entitled  to  fair  and  impartial  committees, 
which  he  admitted.  We  proposed  to  him  that 
President  Gillham  and  ex-President  Keynolds 
be  requested  to  choose  the  awarding  committees 
for  this  competition.  He  said,  "That  was  right, 
and  he  would  see  that  such  an  arrangement  was 
carried  out."  The  committee  was  selected  by 
these  gentlemen,  and  the  Herefords  won  the 
first  premium  for  the  best  five  cattle,  male  or 
female,  in  the  show,  the  get  of  one  bull,  the  sire 
to  be  shown  with  the  herd.  Officers  of  the 
society  attached  to  the  Shorthorn  cattle  interest 
of  the  country,  then  took  charge  of  the  selection 
of  the  judges,  and  selected  them  in  the  interest 
of  the  Shorthorn  exhibitors.  So  clear  and  un- 
mistakable was  the  partisan  character  of  this 
work  that  the  Board  changed  the  manner  of 
selecting  judges  for  the  fair  of  1879,  when  the 
Board  was  organized,  with  Col.  J.  W.  Scott, 
as  president. 

In  his  inaugural  address  President  Scott 
said:  "It  is  needless  for  me  to  call  attention 
to  the  magnitude  of  the  interest  involved  in  an 
effort  to  promote  the  advancement  of  agricul- 
ture, horticulture,  manufactures,  and  the  do- 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


497 


mcstic  arts  in  the  leading  agricultural  state  of 
the  Union.  The  state,  through  the  legislature, 
has  been  very  liberal,  and  given  much  latitude 
to  the  operations  of  the  Board  in  creating  the 
same,  leaving  the  free  exercise  of  our  better 
judgment  in  the  promotion  of  the  interest  in- 
volved, and  thereby  increasing  the  responsibili- 
ties of  this  Board.  One  of  the  more  prominent 
methods  for  the  promotion  of  agricultural  in- 
terest has  been,  and  will  be  for  some  years,  the 
exhibition  of  the  annual  State  Fair.  It  seems 
that  the  great  importance  of  a  just  and  com- 
petent award  of  our  premiums  would  justify  a 
departure  from  the  old  custom  of  selecting  com- 
mitteemen,  at  least  in  the  more  important  de- 
partment of  live  stock,  where  the  competition 
is  sharp.  It  is  important  that  some  means 
should  be  devised  to  secure  competent  men  to 
act  as  judges,  whose  attendance  can  be  de- 
pended upon,  and  relieve  the  Board  from  the 
necessity  of  selecting  from  the  visitors  men  who 
are  frequently  not  as  skillful  as  the  good  repu- 
tation of  the  Board  should  require." 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the 
president's  address,  reported  as  follows,  on  the 
matter  of  awarding  premiums: 

"Fully  realizing  the  importance  of  more  care 
in  awarding  premiums,  especially  in  the  classes 
of  live  stock,  we  would  recommend  the  passage 
of  the  following  resolution:  'That  the  presi- 
dent, together  with  the  superintendents  of  the 
several  classes,  be,  and  are  hereby  constituted  a 
committee,  and  empowered  to  employ  as  com- 
mitteemen  such  gentlemen  of  recognized  fitness 
in  the  several  departments  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary,  the  remuneration  in  no  case  to  exceed 
the  actual  expenses  of  such  gentlemen/'1 

Under  this  resolution,  committeemen  were 
selected,  who  were  deemed  competent  and  im- 
partial, to  judge  the  different  lots  in  Class  A 
(cattle  department),  which  committeemen 
having  been  selected  with  care  and  without 
outside  influences,  were  to  act  as  judges  and 
no  protests  were  to  be  allowed.  We  were  ad- 
vised of  this  action  on  coming  to  the  secretary's 
office  on  the  show  grounds  at  Springfield,  be- 
fore the  opening  of  the  show.  We  gave  it  our 
hearty  approval  and  urged  upon  the  superinten- 
dent that  under  no  consideration  should  the  ar- 
rangement be  broken.  It  was  carried  out,  al- 
though the  Shorthorn  exhibitors  undertook  to 
break  it  up. 

For  1880  the  class  premiums  for  both  breeds 
were  the  same,  but  competition  between  breeds 
was  suspended. 

For  1881  the  classification  of  Herefords  and 
Shorthorns  was  even ;  the  sweepstakes  confined 
to  competition  for  a  herd  consisting  of  bull  and 


four  cows  or  heifers  of  any  age.  We  have  not 
the  data  before  us  for  1882,  but  premiums  in 
class  stand  on  an  even  basis. 

This,  then,  in  a  concise  form  and  up  to  the 
year  1882  when  we  ceased  showing,  is  the  rec- 
ord of  the  society  as  it  stood  between  breeds. 
Each  of  the  incoming  'presidents  recognized 
the  necessity  of  a  change  in  the  manner 
of  selecting  judges.  Each  recognized  that 
the  system  on  which  they  had  worked  was  de- 
fective, and  so  far  as  the  record  shows,  but  one 
change  was  made,  and  that  in  1879,  and  that 
only  held  in  practice  one  year.  Each  and  all 
of  the  presidents  recognized  the  responsibilities 
that  rested  upon  this  Board,  the  importance  of 
the  issues  that  were  submitted  to  their  manage- 
ment, and  that  the  live  stock  interest  was  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  important  that  they 
had  to  deal  with.  They  appointed  awarding 
committees  at  each  and  every  annual  meeting, 
with  the  knowledge  that  these  committees  were 
not  likely  to  act,  and  have  depended  upon 
judges  selected  from  the  crowd  of  visitors; 
men  who  were,  in  the  language  of  President 
Scott,  "frequently  not  as  skillful  as  the  good 
reputation  of  the  Board  should  require."  This 
custom  was  in  vogue  for  thirty  years,  and  we 
submit  that  under  such  a  system  the  awards 
had  very  little  value.  The  Shorthorn  interest 
sought  to  perpetuate  this  custom,  that  under 
the  excitement  of  the  show  ring  they  might 
select  men  in  their  interest. 

Leaving  the  State  Fair  and  the  action  of 
the  Board  in  reference  thereto,  we  are  prepared 
to  take  up  the  management  of  the  Fat  Stock 
Show.  The  first  of  these  shows  was  opened 
December  2,  1878,  the  Herefords  winning  the 
sweepstakes  for  the  best  cow  in  the  show,  and 
no  other.  The  second  was  held  November  10, 
1879;  third,  November  15,  1880;  the  fourth, 
November  7,  1881. 

The  action  of  the  Board  in  reference  to  se- 
lecting judges  for  this  show  was  to  take  them 
from  the  different  sections  of  the  state,  recom- 
mended by  different  members  of  the  Board. 
Men,  as  a  rule,  who  had  no  experience  with 
first-class  bullocks,  such  as  would  be  exhibited 
at  this  show,  whose  decisions  did  not  carry 
weight  or  authority  where  the  judges  are  known. 
Of  the  four  shows  mentioned,  we  only  wish  to 
call  attention  to  a  few  facts  therewith,  and  these 
mainly  as  regards  ages  at  which  cattle  have 
been  exhibited. 

At  the  show  in  1879  the  slaughtering  test 
was  introduced  with  results  as  set  forth  on 
page  147,  Vol.  XVII.,  Illinois  State  Report, 
which  we  show  in  a  schedule  in  Chapter  16. 
Each  of  the  bullocks  represented  in  this  sched- 


498 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


ule  was  three  years  old,  the  grade  Hereford 
at  three  years  six  months  and  fourteen  days, 
with  a  mouth  showing  six  permanent  teeth, 
the  grade  Shorthorn  represented  at  the  same 
age,  with  eight  permanent  teeth. 

At  the  show  in  1880,  of  steers,  three  and 
under  four  years  old,  there  were  slaughtered 
two  Herefords  and  one  Shorthorn.  One  of  the 
Herefords  was  three  years  seven  months  and 
thirteen  days  old,  and  the  other  three  years 
eleven  months  and  thirteen  days,  each  with  six 
permanent  teeth.  The  Shorthorn  was  repre- 
sented as  three  years  six  months  and  fifteen 
days,  having  a  full  mouth  of  eight  teeth,  but 
somewhat  broken,  and  difficult  to  tell  from  the 
teeth  his  age. 

In  the  year  1881  the  slaughter  test  revealed 
in  the  Shorthorn  three-year-olds  an  older 
mouth  than  the  age  for  which  they  were  en- 
tered would  indicate,  while  the  mouths  of  the 
Hereford  bullocks  corresponded  with  the  ages 
for  which  they  were  entered,  as  per  standard 
authorities.  These  mouths  were  preserved  and 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  officers  of  the  society 
for  preservation.  The  facts  in  reference  to  these 
indications  were  fully  before  the  Board  through 
its  officers.  An  effort  was  made  at  the  opening 
of  the  show  of  1880  to  have  the  animals  on 
exhibition  examined  by  a  veterinary  surgeon,  to 
determine  the  correctness  of  the  entries  that 
had  been  made.  He  entered  upon  his  duties 
and  met  with  a  decided  rebuff  from  one  of  the 
leading  Shorthorn  exhibitors,  while  the  Here- 
ford exhibitors  and  several  of  the  Shorthorn 
exhibitors  tendered  their  co-operation  in  mak- 
ing such  examination;  they  were  not,  however, 
completed.  This  brings  us  to  the  show  of  1882. 

With  our  experience  of  the  past  shows,  with 
reference  to  entries  of  animals  at  fraudulent 
ages,  there  came  a  determination  to  expose,  if 
possible,  such  frauds,  if  any  existed  at  this 
show,-  and  cattle  were  generally  examined  by 
experienced  cattle  men,  exhibitors  and  others, 
and  it  was  found  that  a  large  number  of  cattle, 
judging  from  the  indications  of  the  mouth, 
were  entered  at  ages  much  under  what  this 
evidence  would  indicate. 

Among  the  rules  governing  the  Fat  Stock 
Show  was  one  as  follows :  Section  5.  "In  case 
of  protest  notice  must  be  given  to  the  superin- 
tendent of  department  before  or  during  the  ex- 
amination of  the  animal  or  article  protested, 
and  a  written  statement  giving  the  reasons  for 
protesting,  verified  by  affidavit,  must  be  filed 
with  the  secretary  on  the  day  notice  is  given/' 

Another  rule. — Section  12.  "Awarding  com- 
mittees are  instructed  that  if  they  have  good 
reason  to  believe  that  any  exhibitor,  by  false 


entry  or  otherwise,  attempts  to  deceive  the 
committee  or  the  public,  and  obtain  an  award 
by  misrepresentation,  they  shall  report  the  fact 
at  once  to  the  superintendent  of  the  depart- 
ment, who  shall  report  the  same  to  the  Board, 
who  may  expel  such  exhibitor  for  fraud  for  at 
least  two  years." 

Rule. — Section  17.  "Decisions  of  awarding 
committees  shall  be  final,  and  no  appeal  will 
be  considered  except  in  cases  of  fraud  and  pro- 
test." 

These  were  the  only  published  rules  relating 
to  the  subject  of  frauds  in  entering  and  ex- 
hibition of  cattle  at  this  show.  Section  12  pro- 
vided for  the  disqualification  and  expulsion  of 
any  exhibitor  who  attempted  to  deceive  the 
committee  or  the  public,  and  obtain  an  award 
by  misrepresentation.  It  is  true  that  this  rule 
made  it  obligatory  upon  the  awarding  commit- 
tee to  bring  this  matter  to  the  notice  of  the 
superintendent,  and  that  he  should  bring  it  to 
the  Board,  that  they  might  expel  such  exhibi- 
tor. The  life  of  this  rule  is  that  an  exhibitor 
who,  by  fraud  or  misrepresentation,  attempts 
to  deceive  the  public,  shall  be  expelled.  This 
would  be  a  fair  construction  of  the  rule,  and  it 
would  be  a  strained  and  unnatural  construction 
to  say  that  the  Board  or  its  officers  could  not 
take  cognizance  except  it  come  through  the 
awarding  committee,  and  from  them  to  the 
superintendent,  and  from  him  to  the  Board. 

It  was  a  well  established  fact  among  ex- 
hibitors and  members  of  the  Board  that  entries 
were  made  at  fraudulent  ages,  and  when  we 
brought  this  matter  directly  to  the  president  it 
was  properly  before  the  society,  and  to  say  that 
we  had  no  right  to  a  hearing  until  we  came 
before  them  through  the  prescribed  routing  of 
Section  5,  of  the  Rules,  had  no  place  in  justice 
or  equity.  The  animals  had  not  yet  been  be- 
fore any  committee,  but  they  had  been  entered 
and  a  catalogue  of  the  entries  prepared.  The 
animals  thus  catalogued  were  in  the  charge  and 
under  the  control  of  the  society,  and  they  had 
a  right  to  enter  upon  any  investigation  that 
would  tend  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the 
show.  The  cattle  were  entered  in  classes  one, 
two  and  three  years  old,  respectively.  The  ex- 
hibitors had  undertaken  to  give  the  exact  age  of 
each  animal.  This  was  done  among  other 
things,  that  the  society  might  determine  the 
growth  and  gain  per  day,  and  upon  such  growth 
and  gain  per  day  an  award  was  to  be  made. 
They  had  schedules  which  provided  for  an 
elaborate  detailed  statement  of  the  results  to 
be  obtained. 

The  fraud  as  to  age  committed  the  great 
state  of  Illinois,  through  the  Agricultural  De- 


HISTORY    OF    H  ERE  F  OKI)     CATTLE 


499 


partment,  to  a  fraud  and  makes  them  a  party 
to  it.  The  State  Board,  representing  the  Agri- 
cultural Department  of  the  state  of  Illinois, 
were  assembled  on  the  opening  of  the  show  on 
the  morning  of  November  16,  to  make  their 
preparations  and  arrangements  for  the  week's 
work  that  was  before  them.  While  thus  assem- 
bled the  facts  of  these  frauds  were  brought  to 
their  notice.  We  called  on  President  Scott, 
and  advised  him  of  these  frauds  and  asked  that 
he  would  bring  the  matter  to  the  notice  of  the 
Board,  that  they  might  take  the  initiatory  steps 
to  determine  the  ages  of  the  animals  in  the 
cattle  department  before  they  should  be  brought 
before  the  committees.  When  we  entered  the 
outer  room,  President  Scott,  who  was  with 
the  Board,  left  the  inner  room  and  met  us,  the 
Board  still  in  session,  and  we  tendered  our 
herd  of  cattle  then  on  exhibition  for  the  open- 
ing of  such  an  examination  as  they  might  see 
fit. 

Mr.  Scott  referred  us  to  Rule  5,  as  his  remedy 
in  the  premises.  We  advised  Mr.  Scott  that  we 
came  not  as  a  protestor,  but  to  bring  a  fact  as 
to  fraud,  which  was  well  known  throughout  the 
building  in  which  the  show  was  to  be  held,  and 
advised  him  that  he  might  find  this  report 
sustained  by  members  of  the  Board,  and  ex- 
hibitors of  Shorthorn  as  well  as  Hereford  cat- 
tle; and  urged  him  to  take  such  measures  as 
would  protect  the  interests  of  exhibitors,  who 
were  there  under  the  rules  of  the  Board. 

On  leaving  this  room  we  met  Mr.  J.  H.  San- 
ders, editor  and  proprietor  of  the  "Breeders' 
Gazette,"  and  called  his  attention  to  the  fact, 
and  asked  his  aid  in  having  an  investigation 
made  in  reference  to  this  fraud  as  to  the  ages 
of  cattle.  Mr.  Sanders  promised  to  give  all 
the  aid  that  he  could  in  the  premises,  and  do 
all  he  could,  if  fraud  was  found,  to  expose  it. 
By  his  public  act,  Mr.  Scott,  or  the  State  Board, 
so  far  as  we  know,  took  no  action  in  this  mat- 
ter of  fraud,  but  had  the  cattle  brought  before 
the  committees,  who  made  the  awards  based 
upon  the  fraudulent  entries. 

We  wish  to  state,  in  reference  to  Rule  5,  that 
the  protest  of  an  animal  when  in  the  show  ring 
is  substantially  a  farce.  The  notice  of  protest 
filed,  the  committee  would  go  on  as  if  no  pro- 
test was  made,  the  Board  would  go  about  their 
business,  close  their  show,  and  go  to  Springfield 
on  the  first  of  January  following,  where  the 
protestor  might  appear  before  them,  get  a  hear- 
ing, or,  should  he  find  an  opportunity  to  argue 
his  case  on  the  week  of  the  show,  there  was  so 
much  haste,  so  much  business  crowding  upon 
the  members  of  the  Board,  that  it  was  difficult 
to  get  at  the  merits  of  the  question. 


\Ve  again,  appeared  before  the  president  on 
the  last  day  but  one  of  the  show,  and  again 
called  his  attention  to  special  animals  exhibited 
by  Mr.  D.  M.  Moninger,  that  the  Board  might 
take  some  action  that  would  disqualify  Mr. 
Moninger  as  an  exhibitor,  and  forfeit  the  pre- 
miums that  had  been  awarded  to  him.  Mr. 
Scott  again  referred  us  to  Rule  5,  and  said  that 
we  had  our  remedy  through  it.  We  informed 
him  that  we  came  not  as  a  protestor,  but  to 
bring  a  fact  to  them  of  a  fraud  that  was 
flagrant,  and  such  a  one  as  the  Board  ought  to 
take  cognizance  of. 

Failing  to  get  satisfaction  from  Mr.  Scott, 
we  then  went  to  the  Hon.  John  P.  Reynolds,  a 
member  and  ex-president  of  the  Board,  and 
called  his  attention  to  the  fact,  and  asked  that 
he  would  give  his  influence  to  the  exposing  of 
the  fraud  that  had  been  committed  upon  the 
society  and  the  public,  and  called  his  attention 
to  Rule  12,  as  authority  for  asking  that  the 
society  should  take  some  action  in  the  premises. 
We  also  advised  him  that  as  this  was  the  last 
day  of  the  show,  but  one,  we  would  be  obliged 
to  bring  the  matter  to  the  notice  of  the  Here- 
ford Society,  which  would  meet  that  evening, 
and  ask  them  that  they  would  take  action  to 
protect  themselves  and  the  public  from  the  con- 
sequences of  these  frauds.  Mr.  Reynolds  went 
to  Mr.  C.  M.  Culbertson,  the  president  of  the 
Hereford  Society,  and  asked  him  to  use  his 
influence  so  that  the  Hereford  Society  should 
not  take  any  action  in  the  premises,  and  he 
would  bring  the  matter  before  the  State  Board 
on  the  following  day  and  urge  an  investigation 
into  the  charges  of  fraud  that  were  made. 

The  matter  was  brought  before  the  Hereford 
Society,  when  Mr.  Reynolds'  request  and  prom- 
ise were  made  known  by  Mr.  Culbertson.  No 
action  was  taken  other  than  to  request  Presi- 
dent Culbertson  to  take  such  action  in  connec- 
tion with  the  State  Board  as  might  seem 
desirable.  The  charges  were  brought  before  the 
State  Board  the  last  day  of  the  show  by  Mr. 
Reynolds,  and  the  investigation  was  urged  by 
Mr.  Dysart  and  Mr.  Reynolds.  It  was  opposed 
by  President  Scott  and  Col.  J.  W.  Judy.  No 
other  action  was  taken,  so  far  as  we  know,  other 
than  to  say  to  Mr.  Moninger  that  charges  were 
made  that  his  steer,  Champion  of  Iowa,  was 
said  to  be  older  than  the  age  for  which  he  was 
entered.  On  Mr.  Moninger  stating  that  the  age 
for  which  he  was  entered  was  correct,  the  mat- 
ter was  dropped.  The  steer  was  entered  at  one 
year  eleven  months  and  fifteen  days,  showing 
a  mouth  of  six  full  teeth. 

There  were  two  other  steers  exhibited  by  Mr. 
Moninger,  one  as  a  two-year-old,  called  Tom 


500 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


Brown,  that  were  slaughtered  in  Chicago,  and 
we  obtained  their  mouths.  We  took  these  and 
others  that  we  were  able  to  obtain,  went  to 
Springfield  and  met  the  new  Board  at  its  or- 
ganization, and  asked  that  they  would  consider 
the  evidence  that  we  brought  before  them.  We 
submitted  to  them  standard  authorities  as  to 
the  ages  of  animals  as  indicated  by  the  teeth, 
referring  to  the  information  we  had  given  on 
the  week  of  the  show,  and  submitted  the  mouths 
as  evidence  of  the  frauds,  and  asked  whether 
Mr.  Scott  had  not  failed  in  his  obligations  to  the 
public  and  to  the  state  in  not  making  investiga- 
tions in  reference  to  the  information  that  was 
brought  to  him  as  to  the  fraudulent  ages  of  the 
cattle  exhibited.  On  motion  of  Mr.  D.  B.  Gill- 
ham,  we  were  requested  to  put  our  charges  in 
writing.  These  charges  and  the  report  of  the 
committee  to  whom  they  were  referred,  we 
presented  in  Chapter  28,  on  dentition.  The 
committee  saw  fit  to  shield  the  president  behind 
a  technicality  of  rules  of  the  Board,  to- wit: 
Section  5  and  Section  12,  which  we  have  given. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  this  information 
was  brought  to  Mr.  Scott  before  the  cattle  were 
brought  into  the  ring  at  all.  We  could  not  have 
acted  under  Rule  5,  and  in  a  manner  recognized 
(as  the  committee  say),  by  established  rules.  In 
fact,  we  said  to  President  Scott  that  we  did  not 
come  as  a  protestor,  but  we  came  for  the  pur- 
pose of  placing  facts  before  the  society,  before 
there  was  any  complication  of  awards,  and 
asked  that  the  Board  would  take  the  initiatory 
steps  to  determine  the  correctness  of  the 
charges,  and  relieve  the  exhibitors  from  becom- 


cers  would  not  recognize  fraud  except  it  comes 
to  their  notice  through  their  awarding  commit- 
tees or  their  superintendent? 

This  is  what  they  substantially  said  in  the 
committee's  report,  and  what  the  Board  said  in 
adopting  this  report.  As  illustrating  Mr.  Scott, 
in  his  peculiar  position,  we  reproduce,  in  Chap- 
ter 28,  a  cartoon  from  the  "Breeders'  Journal," 
which  we  had  prepared  at  the  time  to  better 
illustrate  the  Board's  effort  at  sustaining  him 
on  this  UL  tenable  and  dangerous  ground.  We 
repeatedly  called  attention  to  the  quotations 
from  the  inaugural  addresses  of  the  different 
presidents  of  the  Board,  in  which  they  recog- 
nized the  necessity  of  measures  to  make  their 
awards  authoritative  and  of  value  to  the  pub- 
lic. If  it  was  to  be  understood  that  the  State 
Board  of  Agriculture  of  Illinois  would  not  take 
cognizance  of  fraud,  except  it  come  through 
these  two  mediums,  the  power  that  had  been 
delegated  to  them  by  the  state  should  be  re- 
voked, and  the  state  legislature  should  provide 
some  other  means  to  encourage  the  agricultural 
and  live  stock  interest. 

If  no  record  had  been  kept  of  the  facts  de- 
veloped at  the  different  shows,  grave  injustice 
would  have  been  done  the  Herefords.  It  is  a 
matter  of  fact  that  all  the  Hereford  two-year- 
olds  showed  with  half  as  many  teeth  as  many 
of  the  Shorthorn  two-year-olds  had,  at  the  Chi- 
cago Fat  Stock  Show  in  1882.  This  proves 
conclusively  that  the  Herefords  were  much  the 
younger.  We  give  herewith  the  facts  of  this 
matter  which  we  published  in  the  "Breeders' 
Journal"  at  the  time: 


STEERS  TO  WHICH  PRIZES  WERE  AWARDED,  GRADE  AND  SWEEPSTAKES  CLASSES,  FAT  STOCK  SHOW,  1882. 


Catalogue  No. 

NAME  OF  EXHIBITOR. 

> 

9 

a 
a. 

f 

• 

AGE. 

Official  w'ght. 

Gain  per  day. 

No.  of  perma- 
nent teeth  .  . 

BREED. 

PREMIUMS  AWARDED. 

H 

» 

• 
<i 
m 

K 
| 

3- 

• 

I 

J) 

O 

£3 
8  & 
p« 

if 

£7 

m 

113 
17 
ill 
109 
22 
38 
112 
83 
84 
78 
79 
80 
81 
82 
74 

D.  M   Mouinger  

1174 
1265 
1011 
1034 
715 
574 
715 
1355 
1378 
970 
978 
972 
966 
866 
714 

3 

3 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 
3 
3 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
1 

3 

6 
9 
10 
11 
7 
11 
9 
9 
8 
8 
8 
8 
4 
11 

4 
5 
21 
14 
15 
24 
15 
5 
28 
10 
18 
12 
4 
26 
15 

1945 
2400 
1850 
1905 
1600 
1410 
1665 
1870 
1990 
1655 
1720 
1680 
1815 
1705 
1380 

1.65 
1.90 
1.83 
1.84 
2.23 
2.45 
2.31 
1.31 
1.44 
1.71 
1.75 
1.73 
1.88 
1.97 
1.93 

8 
8 
8 
6 
2 
Calf 
6 
6 
6 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
2 

*Grade  Shorthorn 

1st—  $30 
3d—  10 
1st—  30 
2d       20 

$50 
50 

H.  &  I.  Groff  

*Grade  Shorthorn 

*Grade  Shorthorn  .  .  . 

D  M  Monlnger       

Grade  Shorthorn 

J.  H.  Potts  &  Sons     

Grade  Shorthorn 

1st—  30 
2d—  20 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta  

*Grade  Shorthorn  

D.  M.  Moninger  

T.  L.  Miller  &  Co  

Grade  Hereford  

None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 

T.  L.  Miller  &  Co  

Grade  Hereford 

T  L.  Miller  &  Co  

Grade  Hereford 

T.  L.  Miller  &  Co.... 

Grade  Hereford  

T.  L.  Miller  &  Co  

Grade  Hereford      . 

T.  L.  Miller  &  Co  

Grade  Hereford 

T.  L.  Miller  &  Co  

Grade  Hereford  

T.  L.  Miller  &  Co  

Grade  Hereford  

*In  Chapter  XXVIII  on  Dentition,  we  present  illustrations  of  the  mouths  of  some  of  these  steers. 


ing  prosecutors.  The  committee  reported  that 
we  could  not  have  been  ignorant  of  our  own 
plain  duty  as  an  exhibitor.  Was  it  fair  to  say 
that  the  exhibitors  are  under  obligations  to 
prosecute,  and  also  that  the  society  or  its  offi- 


"We  give  a  table,  showing  the  catalogue  num- 
ber, name  of  exhibitor,  age  in  days,  and  age  in 
years  and  months,  weight,  gain  per  day,  number 
of  teeth,  and  the  premiums  awarded,  and  the 
age  as  indicated  by  the  teeth.  We  have  also 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


501 


taken  the  steers  as  exhibited  by  the  T.  L.  Miller 
Co.,  that  were  stall-fed,  and  of  the  ages  three, 
two,  and  one  year  old,  with  their  ages,  weight, 
gain  per  day,  and  age  as  indicated  by  the  teeth. 
It  will  be  seen  by  this  that  Mr.  Moninger's  No. 
113  was  entered  as  three  years  three  months 
and  four  days  old,  weighing  1,945  pounds,  to 
whom  was  awarded  the  first  premium  in  the 
three-year-old  grade  class,  and  sweepstakes  for 
the  best  three-year-old  in  the  show. 

"By  referring  to  Nos.  83  and  84  of  the  T.  L. 
Miller  Co.  exhibit,  they  were  by  the  entries  six 
months  older  than  Mr.  Moninger's  steer,  and 
weighed  about  the  same,  but  they  had  only  six 
teeth,  while  the  Moninger  had  eight.  And  re- 
ferring to  No.  17,  H.  &  I.  Groff,  which  won 
third  premium  in  the  grade  class  for  three- 
year-olds,  was  represented  three  months  younger 
than  Nos.  83  and  84,  and  had  eight  teeth. 

"Referring  to  Nos.  Ill  and  109,  D.  M.  Mon- 
inger's, the  first  represented  as  two  years  nine 
months  and  twenty-one  days  old,  and  weighing 
1,950  pounds  and  having  eight  teeth,  taking 
first  premium  for  the  best  two-year-old  grade; 
109,  entered  as  two  years  ten  months  and  four- 
teen days  old,  weighing  1,905  pounds,  had  six 
teeth,  taking  the  second  premium  for  grade 
two-year-old.  For  steers  one  and  under  two 
years,  the  premium  was  awarded  to  J.  H.  Potts 
&  Sons'  Red  Major  No.  22.  There  were  twenty- 
six  entries. 

"Referring  to  78,  79,  80,  81  and  82,  two-year- 
old  grades  of  T.  L.  Miller  Co.'s  exhibit,  averag- 
ing about  two  years  eight  months,  and  average 
weight  1,717  pounds,  it  will  be  found  that  none 
of  them  had  over  four  teeth.  Referring  to  J. 
H.  Potts  &  Sons'  No.  22  and  T.  L.  Miller  Co.'s 
No.  74,  they  are  substantially  the  same  age  and 
the  same  mouth,  to-wit,  two  teeth  in  each. 
Again,  referring  to  No.  112,  D.  M.  Moninger, 
one  year  eleven  months  and  fifteen  days  old, 
weight  1,665  pounds,  with  six  teeth.  This  steer 
was  entered  by  Moninger  in  the  class  of  year- 
lings at  the  ages  and  weights  as  stated.  Mr. 
Potts,  competing  with  him,  said  to  Mr.  Mon- 
inger, that  if  that  steer  No.  112  was  exhibited 
he  should  protest  him.  Mr.  Moninger  did  not 
bring  the  steer  before  the  awarding  committees, 
which  is  prima  facie  evidence  of  the  fraud  upon 
the  society  in  making  the  entry.  The  protest 
of  an  influential  Shorthorn  breeder  would  be 
too  sure  to  be  recognized,  while  it  was  tolerably 
safe  to  ignore  the  "kicks"  of  the  Hereford  men. 

"Mr.  Moninger  exhibited  what  purported  to 
be  ten  two-year-olds,  of  an  average  age  of  two 
years  nine  months  and  twenty-four  days,  weigh- 
ing 1,864  pounds,  making  a  gain  of  1.84  pounds 
per  day.  But  it  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  seven 


of  these  steers  had  eight  permanent  teeth  and 
three  had  six,  while  the  T.  L.  Miller  Co.'s  steers 
averaged  two  years,  seven  months  and  twenty 
days  old,  two  months  younger  as  per  entries, 
than  Mr.  Moninger's. 

"And  we  wish  to  call  special  attention  to  the 
fact  that  neither  of  these  last-mentioned  steers 
had  over  four  full  teeth,  a  little  more  than  one- 
half  as  many  as  the  Moninger  steers;  or,  in 
other  words,  Moninger's  steers  averaged  over 
seven  teeth,  while  Miller's  averaged  less  than 
four.  We  submit  on  that  showing  whether  the 
Herefords  were  not  entitled  to  class  prizes  in 
this  show. 

"Again,  referring  to  Section  12  of  the  Rules 
of  the  State  Board,  governing  awarding  com- 
mittees, on  page  4  of  their  fat  stock  premium 
list,  and  page  52  of  their  animal  premium  list 
for  1882,  they  are  instructed,  that  if  they  be- 
lieve an  exhibitor,  by  false  entry  or  otherwise, 
attempts  to  deceive  the  committee  or  the  public, 
they  shall  report  to  the  superintendent,  and 
the  superintendent  to  the  Board,  and  they  may 
expel  such  exhibitor  from  exhibiting  before 
the  society  for  two  years.  We  intended  to  put 
the  responsibility  of  fraudulent  entries  upon 
the  State  Board  before  the  show  opened;  in 
fact,  we  determined  this  at  the  show  a  year  ago. 
The  Hereford  breeders  in  the  state  of  Illinois 
must  look  forward  to  the  time  when  they  can 
come  before  the  society  at  its  shows  and  receive 
fair  and  impartial  treatment.  This  is  not  only 
to  protect  their  own  rights,  but  that  they  may 
bring  before  the  farmers  of  Illinois  the  evidence 
that  the  claims  they  make  for  the  Herefords 
are  founded  upon  a  sure  and  solid  basis.  The 
majority  of  the  citizens  of  Illinois  suppose  that 
the  awards  that  are  given  at  their  state  shows 
have  a  value  and  that  they  can  judge  from  these 
somewhat  as  to  the  character  of  the  different 
breeds. 

"We  have  no  desire  to  convict  Mr.  Scott  or 
any  other  officer  of  the  Board  of  using  his  posi- 
tion to  protect  fraudulent  exhibits,  or  of  using 
his  position  in  a  partisan  manner  to  protect 
any  class  of  exhibitors.  We  have  no  desire  to 
charge  or  convict  the  Board  of  such  practices, 
and  that  they  might  be  fully  protected  from 
such  suspicion  or  such  charges,  the  facts  that 
we  show  in  this  table  were  brought  fully  to  the 
notice  of  President  Scott  at  the  opening  of  the 
show,  and,  as  we  suppose,  through  him  to  the 
Board.  Again,  it  was  brought  before  them  on 
the  day  but  one  before  the  close  of  the  show. 
Again,  we  followed  them  to  Springfield  and 
sought  an  interview  with  Mr.  Scott  in  his  room 
at  the  hotel,  Mr.  Reynolds  being  present,  pre- 
senting him  with  the  evidence  of  this  fraud  and 


502 


HIST  0 II Y  OF  HEREFORD  CATTLE 


urging  upon  him  that  action  should  be  taken 
that  would  protect  exhibitors  in  the  future. 

"One  manner  suggested  was  by  employing  a 
veterinary  surgeon  who  understood  the  teeth 
indications  of  age  in  animals,  and  associate 
with  him  two  good,  practical  cattlemen,  to  ex- 
amine all  the  entries  that  should  be  presented 
to  them  in  future  shows.  He  replied  to  this 
that  such  an  examination  as  this  would  break 
up  the  show.  Again,  we  took  these  evidences 
before  the  State  Board;  we  made  our  verbal 
statements,  and  were  asked  to  put  them  in  writ- 
ing, and  the  committee  appointed  by  the  Board 
say  that  Mr.  Scott  did  what  the  Board  ought 
to  expect  of  their  chief  officer  in  refusing  to 
make  these  examinations.  When  afterward  a 
motion  was  made  that  such  examinations 
should  be  made  in  the  future,  the  Board  refused 
to  order  such  examinations. 

"The  'Breeders'  Gazette/  'not  a  trade  circu- 
lar,' says  of  T.  L.  Miller's  charges  before  the 
State  Board,  in  reference  to  fraudulent  entries 
of  cattle:  'The  standing  of  parties  accused  is 
such  that  their  motives  or  veracity  cannot  be 
impugned/  Mr.  Sanders  occupies,  in  this  case, 
a  position  somewhat  analogous  to  that  of  the 
Tombs  lawyer,  appearing  for  his  client,  and  un- 
dertaking to  get  a  verdict  in  his  favor  by  trying 
to  prove  the  previous  good  character  of  his 
client.  As  to  the  report  of  the  committee,  Mr. 
Sanders  says:  'They  were  impartial  men,  who 
have  no  prejudices  against  breeds  or  breeders, 
and  the  fact  that  the  report  was  unanimously 
adopted  relieves  the  Hon.  J.  W.  Scott,  the  late 
president,  or  the  retiring  members  of  the  Board 
of  Agriculture  from  any  want  of  a  desire  to 
protect  the  exhibitor  from  imposition  or 
fraud.' " 

In  the  April  (1883)  number  of  the  "Breed- 
ers' Journal"  we  said: 

"We  learn  that  at  the  meeting  of  the  State 
Board  in  February  the  question  of  determining 
the  ages  of  cattle  that  were  to  be  exhibited  at 
the  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1883  was  to  be  deter- 
mined by  examination.  This  was  the  re-opening 
of  what  the  Shorthorn  interest  supposed  was 
fixed  at  the  January  meeting.  They,  at  that 
time,  determined  that  such  examinations  should 
not  be  made,  but  they  found  in  the  month  that 
intervened  between  the  two  meetings  that  there 
was  a  determination  to  press  that  issue.  We 
understand  that  it  was  decided  to  employ  a 
veterinarian  and  two  competent  and  disinter- 
ested cattlemen,  not  exhibitors  at  the  show,  to 
examine  all  the  cattle  that  should  be  placed  on 
exhibition  at  the  next  show. 

"How  much  our  expose  of  the  frauds  perpe- 
trated at  the  last  show  had  to  do  with  this  we 


are  not  advised;  in  fact,  it  is  immaterial.  We 
have  had  a  severe  and  protracted  fight  before 
the  State  Board  to  secure  for  the  Herefords  an 
impartial  hearing.  There  have  been  men  in  the 
Board,  from  the  commencement  of  this  contro- 
versy to  the  present  time,  who  have  desired  to 
see  fair  play,  and  if  the  inside  and  outside  his- 
tory of  the  Board  could  be  written  we  think 
that  the  lobby,  or  the  outside  influence,  has 
been  the  stronojest.  When  Mr.  Scott  said  to  us 
in  Springfield  in  January  that  such  a  rule 
would  break  up  the  show,  we  thought  then,  and 
we  think  now,  that  he  believed  that  the  Short- 
horn men  would  not  show  under  such  a  rule, 
and  hence  the  conclusion  that  the  show  would 
be  broken  up.  We  do  not  know  that  these  con- 
clusions are  correct,  but  we  believe  they  are, 
and  we  believe  that  Mr.  Scott  at  the  last  show, 
had  it  not  been  for  this  fear  of  Shorthorn  influ- 
ence, would  have  undertaken  then  to  have  ex- 
posed the  frauds  that  were  being  perpetrated. 

"At  the  February  meeting  of  the  Board  it 
was  decided  that  the  State  Fair  for  the  next 
two  years  should  be  held  in  Chicago.  We  be- 
lieve that  this  is  a  wise  move,  and  we  under- 
stand that  the  citizens  of  Chicago  are  making 
liberal  provisions  to  make  the  Fair  a  success. 
And  we  hope  and  expect  that  the  changes  that 
were  made  in  the  management  of  the  Board  at 
its  election  in  September,  and  the  rules  that  are 
likely  to  be  adopted  by  that  management,  will 
put  the  State  Agricultural  Society  of  Illinois 
in  the  front  rank  of  a  reformatory  movement 
that  the  great  cattle  interests  of  the  world  re- 
quire. We  are  not  advised  as  to  whether  any 
action  has  been  taken  in  relation  to  the  selec- 
tion of  judges.  This  is  needed.  One  of  the 
movements  a  year  ago  in  this  direction  was  to 
ask  several  State  societies  to  send  judges  to  act 
at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  of  1883.  Among  the 
societies  responding  to  this  request  were  those 
of  Ohio,  Michigan,  Indiana,  Wisconsin  and 
Ohio,  each  of  which  have  made  discriminations 
against  Herefords  in  favor  of  Shorthorns  for 
years.  It  seems  strange  to  a  large  proportion 
of  fair-minded  men,  and  men  well  posted  in 
public  matters,  that  these  states  should  run 
their  fairs  and  shows  in  the  interest  of  any 
breed  or  for  partisan  purposes.  We  are  not 
surprised  that  such  men  should  think  we  are 
actuated  by  partisan  interests  in  making  these 
charges  and  entering  upon  this  contest.  We  are 
not  surprised  that  they  should  charge  it  to  the 
fact  that  we  did  not  get  all  the  premiums  we 
thought  we  were  entitled  to. 

"So  soon  as  the  Hereford  breeders  came  for- 
ward to  make  the  exhibits  at  the  State  fairs  in 
force  we  withdrew  as  an  exhibitor.  We  should 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


503 


have  withdrawn  from  the  Fat  Stock  Show  two 
years  before  but  for  the  fact  that  we  were 
strongly  urged  not  to  do  so.  There  has  been  no 
breeder  in  the  State  of  Illinois  that  has  done 
more  than  we  have  to  make  the  stock  exhibits 
before  the  State  Board  a  success.  Our  exhibits 
have  always  been  creditable,  they  have  been 
large.  Not  one  of  the  breeders  of  cattle  in  the 
State  of  Illinois  represented  the  State  at  the 
Centennial  Exhibition  in  Philadelphia  in  1876 
but  ourselves,  and  although  we  have  claimed 
our  rights,  we  believe  that  to-day  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  Board  during  the  last  eleven  years 
will  credit  us  with  having  prosecuted  our  claims 
in  a.  fair  and  gentlemanly  manner,  and  that  a 
majority  of  the  Board  are  personally  friendly 
to  us.  We  shall  assume  that  in  the  future  the 
Board  will  not  need  any  promptings  from  us 
to  make  its  shows,  its  exhibits  and  its  awards 
creditable  to  the  State  and  the  world. 

"We  have  made  our  contest  with  the  State 
Board  of  Illinois  because  Illinois  is  our  home. 
We  had  a  right  to  a  hearing,  and  to  fair  and  im- 
partial treatment,  that  we  would  not  have  in 
any  other  State  or  before  any  other  society.  We 
believed  if  this  Shorthorn  influence  was  broken 
here  it  would  be  substantially  broken  elsewhere, 
and  we  see  no  reason  to  change  our  views.  The 
State  Board  of  Indiana  has  been,  if  possible, 
more  under  Shorthorn  influence  than  the  State 
Board  of  Illinois.  So  with  the  State  Board  of 
Ohio,  so  with  that  of  Michigan  and  Iowa;  and 
they  will  do  well  to  profit  by  the  experience  of 
the  State  Board  of  Illinois.  The  Indiana  State 
Board,  at  its  late  meeting,  for  the  first  time 
gave  other  breeds  a  classification  equal  to  that 
of  the  Shorthorns. 

"The  State  Board  of  Illinois  has  now  a  presi- 
dent that  has  no  interest  in  Shorthorn  breeding, 
a  man  independent  of  all  Shorthorn  influence, 
as  we  believe,  and  we  think  that  the  Shorthorn 
members  of  the  Board  and  the  Shorthorn  breed- 
ers outside  of  it  did  all  they  could  to  prevent 
his  election.  He  was  nominated,  and  the  Board 
has  elected  the  Hon.  John  P.  Reynolds  as  the 
superintendent  of  the  cattle  department.  Mr. 
Reynolds  has  been  connected  with  the  Board 
for  a  great  number  of  years,  perhaps  from  the 
start.  He  has  been  its  secretary,  its  president, 
and  we  think  that  the  Board  owes  to  him  more 
of  the  good  there  is  in  its  management  than 
to  any  other  man  who  has  been  connected  with 
it.  We  know  somewhat  of  the  course  pursued 
by  the  Shorthorn  interest  in  and  out  of  the 
Board,  and  so  far  as  the  cattle  interest  is  con- 
cerned he  has  been  for  a  fair,  impartial  and  in- 
telligent management,  both  as  to  classification 
and  judging,  and  we  would  submit  our  interest 


as  we  have  before  stated,  to  his  judgment  alone. 
He  has  undoubtedly  exerted  a  larger  influence 
in  the  board  than  we  could  have  done  in  his 
place,  and  with  Mr.  Landrigan  as  president  and 
Mr.  Reynolds  as  superintendent  of  the  cattle 
department  we  can  scarcely  doubt  but  that  there 
will  be  a  fair  administration  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  cattle  department. 

"Although  the  Shorthorn  interest  will  die 
hard,  and  will  leave  no  stone  unturned  to  in- 
fluence action  in  its  favor,  the  Hereford 
breeders  are  strong  in  the  merits  and  right  of 
their  cause,  to  meet  the  issues  in  a  fair  and 
candid  spirit.  They  are  destined  to  win  the 
world  over,  and  perhaps  they  had  no  right  to 
expect  a  larger  success  than  they  have  already 
attained.  While  we  are  not  an  exhibitor,  we 
trust  that  the  Hereford  breeders  as  a  whole 
will  make  such  a  show  and  such  an  exhibit  at 
the  State  fairs  and  fat  stock  shows  that  will 
show  their  confidence  in  the  present  manage- 
ment. Should  Mr.  Scott's  predictions  be 
realized  as  to  the  Shorthorn  breeders,  let  the 
Hereford  men  make  good  the  deficiency. 

****** 

"Since  writing  the  above  we  have  received 
from  Secretary  Fisher  a  copy  of  Mr.  Moninger's 
statement,  which  was  read  at  the  February 
meeting,  and  is  as  follows: 

"  'To  the  Honorable  Board  of  Agriculture  of 
the  State  of  Illinois:  The  cattle  belonging  to 
me,  referred  to  by  T.  L.  Miller  in  the  state- 
ment made  to  your  Board  in  the  January  meet- 
ing, were  of  my  own  breeding  and  feeding, 
ages  as  recorded  in  my  list  of  entries  at  the  late 
fat  stock  show.  A  sworn  statement  of  the  ages 
of  the  steers  named,  with  others  shown  in  the 
herd,  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Iowa  State  Board 
of  Agriculture. 

"'Tom  Brown,  winner  of  the  sweepstakes 
prize  for  the  best  three-year-old  steer  in  the 
show,  dropped  August  28,  1879,  is  well  known 
by  many  cattlemen  in  Iowa.  He  was  a  prize 
winner  at  the  Iowa  State  Fairs  of  1880,  1881 
and  1882.  The  fairs  were  held  during  the  first 
ten  days  of  September  each  year.  His  weight 
when  shown  as  a  yearling  was  960  pounds; 
at  2  years  old,  1,500  pounds;  and  at  three  years 
old  1,900  pounds.  When  shown  at  a  few  days 
over  twelve  months  old  and  960  pounds  weight, 
is  the  time,  according  to  T.  L.  Miller's  state- 
ment, when  he  was  at  least  three  years  old  (not 
far  from  the  age  of  his  sire  at  that  time). 

'  'This  is  a  brief  statement  of  the  history  of 
the  prize  winner  Tom  Brown,  that  seems  to 
trouble  one  T.  L.  Miller  greatly,  inasmuch  as 


504 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


his  teeth  were  wrong,  he  says,  when  really  it 
was  his  back  that  made  him  a  troublesome  steer 
in  the  ring  to  competitors — of  the  squealing 
kind. 

"  'I  will  here  state  that  at  the  Iowa  State 
Fair  of  1880,  when  Tom  Brown's  show  career 
commenced,  Hon.  James  Wilson,  of  Traer,  was 
superintendent  of  cattle.  He  selected  for 
judges  on  herds  of  fat  cattle  Hon.  C.  Clarkson, 
of  Des  Moines,  agricultural  editor  of  the  Iowa 
State  Register;  Hon.  Oliver  Mills,  of  Atlantic, 
and  C.  W.  Norton,  of  Durant,  Iowa.  These 
gentlemen,  as  well  as  many  other  well  known 
stockmen,  such  as  Col.  Scott  of  Nevada ;  Eobert 
Miller,  of  West  Liberty;  Hon.  W.  T.  Smith, 
of  Oskaloosa,  now  president  of  the  Iowa  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  I  might  refer  to,  who 
well  remember  my  exhibit  at  the  Fair,  and  espe- 
cially the  little  yearling  steer,  since  named  Tom 
Brown. 

"  'Grinnell,  No.  Ill,  dropped  February  .  7, 
1880,  was  shown  in  my  herds  of  one  and  two- 
year-olds  at  the  Iowa  State  Fairs  of  1881  and 
1882.  At  the  Fair  of  1881  his  weight  was 
1,370  pounds,  age  19  months;  at  the  Fair  of 
1882  his  weight  was  1,800,  age  31  months. 
The  weights  here  given  are  home  weights.  This 
steer  was  always  shown  in  a  herd  of  five  steers 
of  remarkable  similarity,  and  he  is  not  so  easily 
distinguished  from  his  mates.  However,  the 
correctness  of  his  age  can  be  proven  by  a  good 
cattleman  who  has  known  and  admired  him 
from  a  sucking  calf  up  to  the  date  of  his  trial 
in  the  ring  at  the  late  show  in  Chicago. 

"  'The  steer  Iowa  Champion,  No.  112, 
dropped  late  in  November,  1880,  was  a  prize 
winner  in  my  herd  of  yearlings  shown  at  the 
Iowa  State  Fair  of  1882.  This  is  his  first  ap- 
pearance in  the  show  ring. 

"  'The  steer  Champion,  102,  dropped  Dec. 
7,  1879,  is  the  largest  steer  that  I  ever  raised 
for  his  age.  He  was  first  shown  as  a  suckling 
calf,  with  his  mother,  at  the  Marshall  County 
(Iowa)  Fair  of  1880;  was  winner  of  first  prize 
for  best  yearling  at  Iowa  State  Fair  of  1881 ; 
was  next  shown  at  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show  of 
1882  weighing  at  twelve  months  old  1,100;  at 
twenty-four  months  old,  1,700,  and  at  a  few 
days  under  three  years  old,  2,200  pounds.  This 
steer,  I  believe,  is  not  named  in  the  protest.  I 
mention  him  here  on  account  of  his  remarkable 
size  and  growth.  He  was,  however,  beaten  by 
Mr.  Gillette's  steer  Mammoth,  148,  weighing 
2,220  pounds  at  seven  months  younger,  and  I 
do  not  question  the  age  in  the  least  in  this  ring. 
However,  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller  put  in  his  usual 
protest.  As  will  be  remembered,  an  examina- 


tion of  the  teeth  of  the  animals  in  this  ring 
was  made,  and  the  awards  announced  as  made 
by  the  judges.  This  is  the  ring  in  which  Grin- 
nell  referred  to,  was  awarded  the  first  prize. 

"'In. regard  to  my  exhibit  for  the  late  show 
I  will  state  that  they  were  fed  for  exhibition 
from  almost  the  date  of  birth.  I  am  not  one 
of  those  who  claim  to  have  matured  a  steer  of 
1,845  pounds  weight  at  a  little  over  27  months 
old  and  only  fed  him  12  months  preceding  the 
show,  as  I  understand  to  be  the  age  and  care 
of  the  steer  Conqueror,  shown  by  T.  L.  Miller 
at  the  show  of  1880.  While  I  do  not  say  it 
is  impossible  in  Mr.  Miller,  yet  an  exact  state- 
ment of  the  prize  steer  would  be  of  interest  to 
many.  As  Mr.  Miller  in  his  communication 
states  the  importance  of  "going  forth  to  the 
world  with  truthful  results,"  I  would  suggest 
that  your  secretary,  in  editing  these  results, 
make  marginal  notes  of  explanations  where 
needed,  viz. :  In  the  table  on  page  182,  Vol.  18, 
Report  of  1880,  in  which  Mr.  Miller  reports 
sale  of  his  show  cattle  at  12  V2  cents  per  pound 
live  weight  while  Mr.  Ross,  Mr.  Highmore,  Mr. 
Sodowsky  and  Mr.  Scott  fail  to  reach  an  aver- 
age sale  of  7  cents  per  pound  for  their  prize 
cattle,  the  price  for  choice  exporting  cattle  for 
the  week  of  the  show  not  being  over  6*4  cents 
per  pound.  In  Vol.  19,  Report  of  1881,  Mr. 
T.  L.  Miller  reports  sale  of  his  show  herd  at  12 
cents  per  pound,  while  Mr.  Hunt,  Mr.  Nelson, 
and  others  only  reached  8  cents  for  their  best 
prize  cattle. 

"  'A  due  regard  for  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller's  earnest 
desire  for  "truthful  results"  might  justify  some 
explanation  of  these  tables  for  the  benefit  of 
readers  who  may  not  know  the  superiority  of 
Mr.  Miller's  kind  of  cattle  and  the  wherefore  of 
the  great  difference  of  price  obtained.  I  would 
further  suggest  that  these  tables,  which  are  val- 
uable if  correct,  be  published  in  the  stock  jour- 
nals. Money  is  what  we  are  after  and  if  Mr. 
Miller's  cattle  will  sell  in  the  open  market  for 
beef  for  from  4  to  6  cents  per  pound  more  than 
other  breeds  of  cattle,  they  are  the  kind,  and  he 
can  well  afford  to  retire  from — to  him,  the 
trouble  of  the  show  ring,  as  he  threatens  to  do. 
"Truthful  results."  Truthful  Results.  Who 
can  better  cry  fraud  than  the  man  who  has 
"been  there?"  I).  M.  MONIXGER. 

"  'P.  S. — A  sworn  statement  from  the  man 
who  dressed  the  steers  Tom  Brown  and  Grin- 
nell, is  being  prepared,  and  will  be  sent  you. 
Also  a  sworn  statement  from  me  as  to  their  ages 
will  accompany  it.  By  the  way,  the  steer  Grin- 
nell  is  going  to  come  out  the  champion  of  any- 
thing on  record,  dressing  over  72  per  cent. 

"  'To  S.  D.  Fisher,  Sec-rotary.      D.  M.  M.' 


H  I  S T  0  R  T     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


505 


"This  was  referred  and  the  committee  made 
the  following  report: 

"  'To  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture :  Your 
committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  communi- 
cation of  Mr.  D.  M.  Moninger,  of  Galvin,  la., 
would  beg  leave  to  report  that  they  have 
duly  considered  the  matter;  that  as  no  formal 
protest  has  been  entered  against  the  entries 
made  by  him  as  prescribed  by  the  published 
rules,  no  action  of  the  Board  should  be  taken, 
and  the  committee  recommend  that  the  com- 
munication be  placed  on  file  with  other  papers 
in  the  case. 

J.  IRVING  PEARCE, 
JOHN   P.   REYNOLDS, 
JOHN  VIRGIN, 

Committee.' 

"There  is  but  little  to  Mr.  Moninger's  state- 
ment beyond  what  his  entries  would  show.  He 
says  a  sworn  statement  of  the  ages  of  the  steers 
named,  with  others  shown  in  the  herd,  is  in  the 
hands  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Iowa  State  Board 
of  Agriculture.  It  would  have  been  well  if  Mr. 
Moninger  could  have  had  a  sworn  copy  of  these 
statements.  In  reference  to  the  steer  Tom 
Brown,  Mr.  M.  seems  to  think  'it  was  his  back 
instead  of  his  teeth  that  was  troublesome  to 
competitors  of  the  squealing  kind/  This,  we 
think,  is  the  only  reference  that  Mr.  M.  makes 
to  the  fact  that  a  three-year-old  steer  carried 
eight  teeth  with  evidence  of  absorption  already 
commenced.  After  some  considerable  general 
talk  about  this  steer,  the  judges  and  the  parties 
who  know  something  about  him  in  the  show 
ring,  we  would  call  attention  to  the  fact  that 
Mr.  M.  states  that  Tom  Brown  received  his 
name  some  time  after  those  exhibits  were  made, 
which  may  or  may  not  be  a  convenient  way  of 
covering  his  identity. 

"As  to  Grinnell,  a  two-year-old  steer,' he  does 
not  undertake  to  explain  how  he  could  grow 
eight  teeth  while  he  was  only  entitled,  accord- 
ing to  standard  authorities,  to  four.  We 
wish  to  call  special  attention  to  the  remark  in 
Mr.  Moninger's  statement  in  reference  to  this 
steer,  "that  he  was  one  of  five  steers  of  remark- 
able similarity,  and  he  was  not  so  easily  dis- 
tinguished from  his  mates/  But  he  suggests 
that  he  can  prove  his  age  by  a  man  that  has 
known  him  from  a  calf.  It  would  have  been 
well  for  Mr.  Moninger  to  have  produced  this 
testimony.  General  statements  are  not  as  easily 
refuted  as  certificates  giving  age  by  dates,  and 
sworn  statements,  if  not  true,  subject  a  man 
to  charge  of  perjury. 

"As  to  the  steer,  Iowa  Champion,  No.  112, 
he  gives  no  explanation  as  to  how  he  could  have 


grown  six  teeth  when  entitled  to  only  two. 
There  are  some  general  statements  made  about 
the  steer  Champion  No.  102. 

"On  the  whole,  the  statement  that  Mr.  Mon- 
inger makes  will  hardly  convince  anyone  that 
his  entries  as  made  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  were 
truthful.  But  he  promises  some  further  data, 
and  we  defer  any  further  notice  of  this  reply 
until  his  case  is  made  and  placed  on  record. 

"Mr.  Moninger  undertakes  to  draw  attention 
from  his  case  by  reviving  the  charges  of  Tom 
Corwin  Anderson,  in  1880.  We  met  these  at 
the  time,  we  believe  satisfactorily  to  everybody 
who  took  any  interest  in  the  case,  and 
especially  to  Mr.  Anderson.  We  hope  when 
Mr.  Moninger  has  his  affidavits  prepared  they 
will  be  in  such  shape  that  they  will  have 
some  value  in  and  of  themselves,  and  that  they 
may  contain  some  explanation  as  to  how  such 
abnormal  teeth  developments  may  be  secured. 

"The  committee  in  reporting  upon  this  state- 
ment, say  that  as  no  formal  protest  has  been 
entered  against  the  entries  made  by  him  (Mr. 
D.  M.  Moninger),  as  described  by  the  published 
rules,  no  action  should  be  taken,  and  the  com- 
mittee recommend  that  the  communication 
be  placed  on  file  with  other  papers  in  the  case. 
Mr.  Miller  has  never  undertaken  to  make  any 
protest;  each  and  every  time  that  he  has  come 
before  President  Scott  or  the  Board  he  has 
stated  distinctly  that  he  has  come  to  advise  the 
Board  of  facts,  and  not  as  a  protestor." 

On  page  86  of  Vol.  4  of  the  "Breeders' 
Journal,"  appears  the  following  humorous  bur- 
lesque, written  by  an  unknown  Kansas  corre- 
spondent (thought  to  be  W.  E.  Campbell), 
which  shows  so  thorough  an  appreciation  of  the 
truth  of  the  case  that  it  cannot  be  left  out  of 
this  history. 

TRIAL  OF  D.  M.   MONINGER. 

"Editor  'Journal': 

"You  will  probably  find  the  following  of 
interest  to  your  readers: 

"D.  M.  Moninger,  the  great  Shorthorn 
breeder  of  Iowa,  and  the  exhibitor  of  the 
crimson  herd  of  Shorthorns  at  the  leading 
Western  Fairs  last  fall,  was  arraigned  in  Chi- 
cago before  the  Court  of  Public  Opinion  at 
the  November  Term,  Judge  Breeders  presid- 
ing, J.  H.  Gazette  appearing  for  the  defense 
and  T.  L.  Whiteface  for  the  prosecution. 

"The  indictment  charged  the  prisoner  with 
frauds  perpetrated  upon  the  public,  and  of  ob- 
taining moneys  and  valuable  premiums  by  false 
pretenses  and  misrepresentations  to  and  before 
the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  on  or 


506 


HISTORY    OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


about  the  16th  day  of  November,  1882.  The 
indictment  further  charges  and  sayeth  that  on 
or  about  the  16th  day  of  November,  1882,  the 
aforesaid  D.  M.  Moninger  did  enter,  or  cause 
to  be  entered,  a  number  of  Shorthorn  steers 
under  false  ages  and  misrepresentations,  there- 
by defrauding  honorable  exhibitors  out  of  large 
sums  of  money  and  valuable  premiums.  And 
the  indictment  further  sayeth  that  on  or  about 
the  16th  day  of  November,  1882,  the  aforesaid 
D.  M.  Moninger  did  wilfully,  knowingly  and 
fraudulently  enter  the  Shorthorn  steer  Cham- 
pion of  Iowa,  as  being  one  and  under  two  years 
old,  when  the  aforesaid  Moninger  knew  said 
steer  to  be  three  years  and  eight  months  old.  The 
indictment  further  sayeth  that  the  horns  of  the 
aforesaid  steer,  Champion  of  Iowa,  had  been 
filed,  scraped,  shortened,  and  otherwise  dis- 
figured for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  the  public, 
in  making  said  steer  appear  much  younger  than 
the  said  D.  M.  Moninger  knew  him  to  be. 

"A  motion  was  made  to  quash  the  indictment 
on  account  of  informality,  but  was  overruled 
and  the  defense  forced  to  trial. 

"A.  Herdsman  was  the  first  witness  called, 
and  testified  that  the  ages  of  cattle  could 
readily  be  determined  by  an  examination  of 
their  mouths ;  that  he  had  examined  the  mouth 
of  the  steer,  Champion  of  Iowa,  entered  by  the 
defendant  as  a  yearling,  and  found  that  said 
steer  had  six  full  grown,  second-growth  teeth, 
and  that  he  was  about  three  years  and  eight 
months  old. 

"On  cross-examination  he  said  that  he  had 
examined  the  mouth  of  the  Shorthorn  steer 
Red  Major,  entered  and  exhibited  by  Potts  & 
Son  as  the  same  age  to  a  day  as  the  defendant's 
steer;  that  the  Potts  steer  had  but  two  second- 
growth  teeth,  and  that  the  Moninger  steer  had 
six  second-growth  teeth  and  must  have  been 
about  .two  years  older  than,  the  Potts  steer. 

"John  Ranchman  was  then  examined  and 
testified  that  he  had  bought  and  sold  thousands 
of  cattle  in  Texas  and  Colorado ;  that  whenever 
there  was  any  dispute  or  doubt  about  the  ages 
of  cattle  when  delivering  and,  classifying  them, 
they  were  lassoed,  thrown  down  and  their 
mouths  examined.  If  the  animal  had  no 
second-growth  teeth  it  was  classed  as  a  calf  or 
yearling;  if  two  second-growth  teeth,  as  a  two- 
year-old;  if  six  second-growth  teeth,  as  four 
years  old,  which  is  the  highest  and  most  valu- 
able class  they  have,  and  are  commonly  called 
beeves.  The  two  first  second-growth  teeth'  ap- 
pear at  about  eighteen  months,  and  at  twenty- 
four  months  they  are  fully  developed,  and  so 
on  each  twelve  months,  until  the  animal  has 
what  we  call  a  full  mouth. 


"The  counsel  for  defense  then  produced  some 
printed  matter  clipped  from  the  'Breeders' 
Gazette'  and  the  'Chicago  Times,'  which  they 
asked  leave  to  read  and  submit  to  the  jury  as 
evidence,  to  which  the  prosecution  objected, 
and  after  some  discussion  the  court  ruled  that 
the  printed  matter  could  be  read,  but  that  the 
jury  were  at  liberty  to  use  their  own  judgment 
as  to  the  value  and  weight  of  the  same. 

"The  articles  were  then  read  to  open  court, 
and  represented  that  the  world-renowned  Dr. 
N.  H.  Veterinary  had  examined  the  mouths  of 
the  steers  in  question  and  found  that  they  were 
entered  in  accordance  with  the  ages  their 
mouths  or  teeth  indicated. 

"J.  H.  Gazette  then  volunteered  his  testi- 
mony ;  was  placed  upon  the  stand  and  testified 
that  he  had  known  the  defendant  many  years, 
and  had  always  considered  him  a  very  fine 
Shorthorn  breeder.  He  admitted  that  de- 
fendant's cattle  had  an  unusual  number  of 
large  teeth  for  their  age,  but  he  thought  they 
had  been  forced  out  by  the  feeding  of  very 
hard,  flinty  corn,  which  was  known  to  grow  on 
Mr.  Moninger's  farm ;  and  the  crushing  of  this 
flinty  corn  (in  his  opinion)  had  forced  the 
second  growth  of  teeth  through  the  gums  at  a 
very  early  age,  and  thought  Dr.  N.  H.  Veteri- 
nary based  his  conclusions  upon  the  same 
theory,  and  that  the  Doctor  was  very  high  au- 
thority in  steerology. 

"T.  L.  Whiteface,  believing  that  Dr.  N.  H. 
Veterinary  had  been  grossly  misrepresented 
and  used  as  a  scape-goat,  to  his  detriment  for 
the  benefit  of  the  defendant,  asked  that  the 
Doctor  be  subpoenaed  and  brought  into  court, 
which  caused  quite  a  rustling  throughout  the 
court  room,  that  did  not  subside  until  the  Doc- 
tor had  been  sworn  and  placed  upon  the  witness 
stand. 

"He  testified  that  he  had  not  authorized  the 
statement  made  in  court  by  Mr.  Gazette,  much 
less  the  articles  read  by  the  defense;  that  he 
was  not  interested  in  the  matter,  and  did  not 
know  any  of  the  steers  involved,  either  by  name 
or  number,  and  very  much  regretted  that  he 
had  been  dragged  into  so  disagreeable  a  posi- 
tion. 

"Court  then  adjourned  until  Monday,  when 
it  is  expected  the  prosecution  will  introduce 
testimony  of  a  startling  nature. 

"Yours  ever,  BOVINE. 

"Grass  Plot,  Kansas,  Dec.  25,  1882." 

That  the  Hereford  winnings  made  a  decided 
impression  on  the  breeders  of  Shorthorns  is 
shown  by  the  following  from  the  "Breeders' 
Journal" : 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


507 


"A  writer  in  the  'National  Live  Stock  Jour- 
nal' under  the  heading  of  'The  Present  and 
Future  of  Shorthorns',  says  in  reference  to 
showing  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  that  'in  the 
future  we  must  insist  on  its  being  between 
thoroughbreds  of  the  different  rival  breeds,  so 
there  will  be  no  doubt  about  how  much  Short- 
horn blood  there  is  in  one  that  is  shown  as  a 
Hereford  grade.  It  is  manifestly  unfair  to 
breed  the  pick  of  the  Hereford  bulls  imported 
into  this  country  on  some  of  our  best  cows, 
and  then  exhibit  their  progeny  as  grade  Here- 
fords.  It  is  no  grade,  it  is  a  cross-bred.  If 
this  practice  is  continued  by  the  Hereford  men, 
the  Shorthorn  men  should  retaliate  by  selecting 
several  of  the  best  Hereford  cows  and  breed 
the  best  Shorthorn  bulls  upon  them,  and  show 
the  calves  of  these  Hereford  cows  as  grade 
Shorthorns.  And  nothing  would  be  settled  by 
this  course.  It  would  show  only  the  unfairness 
which  Hereford  men  have  been  practicing  in 
the  past,  and  every  time  the  blue  ribbon  has 
been  awarded  on  the  Hereford  grades  in  the 
best  fat  stock  shows  in  this  country,  doubtless 
one-half  or  more  of  the  ribbons  should  have 
been  labeled,  "A  Shorthorn  cow  has  proved 
true  to  her  well-established  character,  namely, 
she  makes  a  half-breed  better  than  the  average 
of  the  sire's  race."  And  we  understand  that 
these  Polled  Angus  friends  follow  their  Here- 
ford friends'  practice  in  this  regard,  and  their 
crosses  will  be  harder  to  detect,  as  we  are  told 
these  Polled  Angus  bulls  are  such  prepotent 
fellows  that  at  one  sweep  they  knock  both  horns 
and  color  off  the  finest  Shorthorn  cow  in  the 
land  and  bury  the  unfortunate  cow's  calf  in  a 
dark  grave  and  deny  them  the  privilege  of  be- 
ing recorded  alongside  of  their  mothers.  Re- 
taliation upon  these  Polled  Angus  men  is  prac- 
tically denied  the  Shorthorn  men,  from  the  fact 
that  we  are  told  that  no  Shorthorn  bull  in  the 
world  can  make  these  pokers  grow  out  at  the 
top-nots  of  those  black  cows,  or  the  orange  color 
to  blossom  upon  their  smelling  tubes.  So  it 
appears  at  the  present  time  the  Shorthorn 
breeders  are  put  to  a  disadvantage  with  these 
Polled  Angus  breeders,  and  the  only  way  left 
us  to  beat  them  is  to  fight  them  as  we  propose 
to  fight  the  Hereford  breeders — thoroughbred 
against  thoroughbred.'  —  [This  is  part  of  an 
article  signed  W.  H.  H.  Cundiff.] 

"Will  our  Shorthorn  friend  state  how  many 
thoroughbred  Shorthorns  have  been  winning 
honors  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show  ?  Can  he  remem- 
ber that  it  was  the  thoroughbred  Hereford  cow 
Jennie  that  won  the  sweepstakes  for  the  best 
cow  in  the  show  in  1879?  Will  he  state  how 
much  Shorthorn  blood  the  steer  Conqueror 


had  ?  Here  we  call  to  his  attention  that  every 
grade  Hereford  that  has  been  shown  at  the  Fat 
Stock  Show  was  a  well  marked  Hereford.  Our 
friend  is  in  trouble,  and  considers  himself  at 
a  disadvantage  with  the  Hereford.  He  must 
have  the  white  face  and  the  usual  markings. 
If  he  puts  the  Shorthorn  bull  upon  tbfe  Here- 
ford cow  he  must  bring  affidavits  upon  the  show 
ground  if  he  would  claim  any  merit  from  the 
Shorthorn,  for  the  produce  will  be  a  Hereford 
in  appearance  and  character.  We  cannot  at  the 
present  time  see  any  way  by  which  he  can  be 
successful  upon  the  show  ground,  except  to  fol- 
low the  practice  in  vogue  at  the  last  show,  to- 
wit,  showing  cattle  at  from  two  to  three  years 
older  than  the  ages  for  which  they  were  entered. 
But  we  fear  even  here  he  will  be  at  a  disad- 
vantage, as  we  understand  that  the  rules  of  the 
Board  are  to  be  enforced  at  the  next  show." 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  at  this  time 
the  "Breeders'  Gazette"  was  not  in  any  sense 
of  the  word  a  partisan  of  the  Hereford  breed  of 
cattle.  - 

We  had  the  following  to  say  at  the  time,  in 
regard  to  this  matter: 

"We  have  no  desire  to  prolong  this  contro- 
versy, but  we  wish  to  state  our  beliefs.  Some- 
thing about  three  years  ago  there  was  formed 
a  syndicate,  a  Bates  corner  in  that  class  of  the 
Shorthorn  breed  of  cattle.  We  believe  that  out 
of  that  syndicate  grew  the  establishment  of  the 
'Breeders'  Gazette/  and  that  the  parties  inter- 
ested in  that  movement  were  the  main  support- 
ers of  that  journal. 

"We  believe  that  out  of  that  syndicate  was 
formed  the  plan  to  break  the  Hereford  interest, 
by  charging  T.  L.  Miller  with  frauds  at  the 
Fat  Stock  Show  as  to  the  ages  of  his  cattle. 
That  that  syndicate  was  a  signal  failure  there  is 
no  doubt." 

From  the  "Breeders'  Journal,"  April,  1883, 
we  quote:  "Mr.  J.  H.  Sanders  of  the  'Breed- 
ers' Gazette,'  in  noticing  Mr.  Moninger's  state- 
ment before  the  State  Board  in  reference  to 
the  entries  of  his  cattle,  says:  'We  have  been 
favored,  as  heretofore  stated,  with  a  copy  of 
the  communication  sent  by  Mr.  Moninger,  of 
Iowa,  to  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture, in  reply  to  the  recently  published  state- 
ment of  T.  L.  Miller,  of  Beecher,  Illinois.  The 
action  of  the  State  Board  in  refusing  to  con- 
sider the  tardy  protest  of  T.  L.  Miller,  months 
after  the  awards  had  been  made  on  the  cattle 
in  question,  has  generally  been  endorsed  by  the 
public,  who  have  never  questioned  the  integrity 
or  the  motives  of  this  body  of  honorable  gentle- 
men. The  untarnished  reputation  and  high 
standing  of  the  Board,  individually  and  col- 


508 


HISTORY     OF    HEKEFOBD     CATTLE 


leetivoly,  has  not  suffered  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree with  the  unprejudiced  public  from  Mr. 
Miller's  aspersions.  His  (Mr.  Millers)  motives 
are  generally  understood  and  have  been  mani- 
fest from  the  beginning  of  the  movement,  to 
advertise  certain  interests  in  every  possible  way, 
regardless  of  courtesy  or  even  common  decency. 
Mr.  Miller  was  requested  by  the  officers  of  the 
Board  at  the  proper  time,  during  the  show,  to 
reduce  his  verbal  complaints  to  writing  and 
make  specific  charges  against  the  steers  ex- 
hibited by  the  Messrs.  Moninger,  Groff  and 
others.  He  was  assured  that  his  protest,  if  so 
made,  should  have  proper  attention,  and  he  well 
knew  that  recognized  experts  would  thereupon 
be  called  to  determine  the  matter  of  the  ages 
of  the  steers  in  question.  But  Mr.  Miller  failed 
to  do  this  until  long  after  the  steers  were  killed, 
and  now  the  evidence  he  presents,  the  alleged 
teeth  of  the  steers  in  question,  is  no  more  con- 
vincing to  the  friends  of  the  parties  than  the 
positive  statement  of  Mr.  Moninger,  a  breeder, 
and  the  other  man  he  names,  as  to  tl\e  age  of 
the  steers,  even  if  the  identity  of  the  teeth  has 
been  established,  which  has  not  been  done/ 
To  which  we  replied  in  the  'Journal,'  Vol.  4, 
page  230:  'Mr.  Miller  appeared  before  the 
Board  in  the  morning  of  the  day  that  the  show 
opened  and  advised  Mr.  Scott  of  the  frauds 
that  were  being  perpetrated  upon  the  Board, 
exhibitors  and  the  public,  and  asked  that  the 
Board  might  take  the  initiatory  steps  to  ascer- 
tain the  correctness  of  the  entries  and  protect 
the  exhibitors  that  were  honestly  before  them 
under  the  rules/ 

"  'Mr.  Miller  again  appeared  before  Mr.  Scott 
the  last  day  but  one  of  the  show,  and  again 
called  his  attention  to  these  facts,  and  asked 
that  an  investigation  might  be  had,  and  with 
witnesses,  if  need  be,  to  prove  the  fraudulent 
ages  of  the  steers  in  question.  Failing  to  get 
a  promise  of  any  action  from  Mr.  Scott,  he 
then  went  to  Mr.  John  P.  Eeynolds.  Mr. 
Reynolds  promised  to  give  his  efforts  and  in- 
fluence, as  did  the  Hon.  Sam'l  Dysart,  another 
member  of  the  Board,  which  was  opposed  by 
Col.  Scott  and  Col.  Judy. 

"  'Mr.  Miller  secured  the  teeth  of  several  of 
these  animals  that  were  slaughtered  in  Chicago, 
and  met  the  newly  elected  Board  at  their  meet- 
ing in  January,  and  laid  before  them  again 
these  facts  and  this  evidence,  and  charged  there 
and  then  that  either  Mr.  Scott  had  failed  in 
meeting  his  responsibilities,  or  that  the  Board 
had  failed  in  theirs.  These  facts  were  brought 
to  the  notice  of  the  Board  not  in  the  shape  of 
protest  but  in  the  shape  of  information,  which 


the  Board  ought  to  have  taken  cognizance  of 
the  week  of  the  show. 

"  'Mr.  Sanders  says  "the  action  of  the  State 
Board  in  refusing  to  consider  the  informal  pro- 
test of  Mr.  Miller  months  after  the  awards 
had  been  made  on  the  cattle  in  question,  has 
generally  been  endorsed  by  the  public,  who  have 
never  questioned  the  integrity  or  motives  of 
this  body  of  honorable  gentlemen/'  Mr.  San- 
ders knew  when  he  wrote  this  article  that  Mr. 
Miller  had  so  informed  the  Board  on  the  open- 
ing day  and  the  closing  day  but  one  of  the 
show,  and  he  knew  that  Mr.  Miller,  instead  of 
making  a  protest,  took  the  first  opportunity 
when  the  new  Board  was  organized  to  meet  the 
Board  with  these  facts.  Mr.  Sanders  knew  that 
there  was  a  strong  feeling  in  the  Board  in  favor 
of  these  charges  having  an  investigation,  and 
he  knows,  and  knew  then,  that  the  investigation 
of  these  charges  was  opposed  by  the  Short- 
horn influence,  in  and  out  of  the  Board.  He 
knew  that  when  the  effort  was  made  to  have  the 
rule  passed  by  which,  at  future  Fat  Stock  Shows, 
a  proper  and  authoritative  examination  should 
be  made  as  to  ages  of  the  cattle  on  exhibi- 
tion, it  was  opposed  by  the  Shorthorn  mem- 
bers, including  Cols.  Scott  and  Judy,  who  were 
perhaps  the  leaders  in  the  opposition.  He 
knew  when  he  wrote  that  article  that  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  passed  at  the  February 
meeting,  providing  for  such  an  examination  at 
future  shows  as  would  prevent  the  repetition  of 
these  frauds: 

"  'Resolved,  That  the  President  be,  and  he 
is  hereby,  authorized  to  select  and  secure  the 
attendance  of  three  gentlemen,  one  of  whom 
shall  be  an  experienced  and  practical  veterinary 
surgeon,  and  two  of  them  experienced  cattle 
feeders  or  breeders  of  neat  cattle,  who  shall 
examine  every  animal  entered  for  competition 
in  Class  A  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show,  and  re- 
port in  writing  to  this  Board,  previous  to  the 
commencement  of  work  by  the  awarding  com- 
mittees, their  judgment  as  to  the  ages  of  the 
respective  animals  so  examined. 

"  'Resolved,  That  the  committee  on  ages  shall 
act  independent  of  the  statements  of  exhibitors 
as  to  the  ages  of  their  respective  entries/ 

"When  Mr.  Sanders  says  that  that  action  of 
the  Board  at  its  January  meeting  has  generally 
been  endorsed  by  the  public,  he  knew,  when  the 
sentence  was  penned,  that  public  sentiment  had 
compelled  the  Board  to  provide  for  future  ex- 
aminations. When  he  says  that  Mr.  Miller's 
movements  are  generally  understood,  and  have 
been  manifest  from  the  beginning  of  the  move- 
ment, to  advertise  certain  interests  in  every  pos- 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


509 


sible  way,  regardless  of  courtesy  or  even  com- 
mon decency,  he  knew  that  he  was  occupying 
the  contemptible  position  of  a  pettifogger. 

"It  is  true  that  Mr.  Moninger  entered  steers 
at  this  show  as  two  years  old  with  eight  teeth, 
as  one  }^ear  old  with  six,  and  when  Mr.  Sanders 
was  asked  by  a  prominent  exhibitor  at  this 
show  to  make  an  examination  of  the  mouths 
of  these  steers,  he  excused  himself  by  saying 
he  could  not  tell  by  the  teeth  the  age  of  a  bul- 
lock. Still,  he  claims  to  be  the  'pioneer  jour- 
nalist' in  the  live  stock  interest  of  America. 
He  knew  that  Mr.  Miller  went  before  the  Board 
to  advise  the  Board  of  these  facts.  He  knew 
that  Mr.  Miller  advised  him  (Sanders),  and 
that  he  had  promised  to  give  his  influence  in 
aiding  Mr.  Miller  to  expose  any  fraud  in  the 
entries  of  animals  that  were  entered  at  that 
show. 

"These  are  facts,  and  Mr.  Miller's  record  in 
this  matter  has  been  open  and  above  board. 
Mr.  Sanders'  position  in  undertaking  to  defend 
Mr.  Moninger  in  these  fraudulent  entries  might 
be  excused  in  him  as  an  individual,  being  a 
personal  and  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Moninger, 
but  as  a  journalist  there  is  no  excuse.  Mr.  San- 
ders might  inform  himself  that  two-year-old 
steers  cannot  grow  eight  teeth,  or  one-year-old 
six,  and  he  knows  that  these  bullocks  had  such 
teeth,  and  we  are  not  confined  to  the  teeth 
that  we  have  secured  to  show  this.  We  can, 
whenever  the  time  comes  and  it  becomes  neces- 
sary, bring  such  an  array  of  witnesses  to  prove 
these  statements  as  will  make  it  conclusive  be- 
fore any  court  in  Christendom.  Mr.  Sanders 
says  that  'Mr.  Miller  failed  to  make  his  protest 
in  a  formal  manner  until  long  after  the  steers 
were  killed,  and  now  the  evidence  he  presents 
(the  alleged  teeth  of  the  steers  in  question)  is 
no  more  convincing  to  the  friends  of  the  parties 
than  the  positive  statements  of  Mr.  Moninger, 
a  breeder,  and  the  other  men  he  names.'  Mr. 
Moninger's  referring  to  certain  names  is  not 
presenting  them  in  evidence  at  all.  They  have 
had  nothing  to  say  as  yet;  when  they  do  have, 
we  will  discuss  the  merits  of  their  statements. 

"We  would  call  attention  to  the  'Gazette/ 
which  professes  to  give  a  correct  copy  of  the 
statement  made  by  Mr.  Moninger  to  the  State 
Board,  that  it  has  left  out  a  portion,  which  we 
have  put  in  italics,  commencing  with  'this  is  a 
brief  statement,'  etc.,  etc." 

From  the  "Breeders'  Journal,"  June,  1883, 
we  quote:  "We  have  heretofore  given  Mr. 
Moninger's  statement  in  answer  to  our  charges 
of  fraudulent  entries  at  the  late  Fat  Stock 
Show.  The  'Breeders'  Gazette'  of  the  5th  inst. 
introduces  Mr.  Moninger  as  follows:  The  re- 


markable percentage  of  net  to  live  weight  made 
by  the  grade  Shorthorn  steers  Grinnell  and 
Tom  Brown,  exhibited  at  the  last  American 
Fat  Stock  Show  in  this  city  by  D.  M.  Moninger, 
of  Galvin,  la.,  have  already  been  reported  in 
these  columns  as  tending  to  set  at  rest  the 
fraudulent  charges  as  to  how  the  bullocks  died, 
as  the  English  say.  We  herewith  present  the 
affidavits  of  Messrs.  Moninger  and  Duddleston : 

MR.  MONINGER'S  AFFIDAVIT. 

"'The  steer  Grinnell,  winner  of  the  first 
prize  for  best  two-year-old  steer  in  the  Chicago 
Fat  Stock  Show  of  1882,  was  dropped  Febru- 
ary 7th,  1880.  The  steer  Tom  Brown,  winner 
of  first  prize  for  best  three-year-old  steer  in 
the  same  show,  was  dropped  August  28th,  1879. 
"'D.  M.  MONINGER. 

"'Feb.  24th,  1883. 

"'Subscribed  in  my  presence  and  sworn  to 
before  me  by  the  said  D.  M.  Moninger,  this 
24th  day  of  February,  1883,  as  witness  my 
hand  and  seal  notarial. 

"'HENRY  STONE,  Not.  Pub.' 

AFFIDAVIT  OF  GEO.  DUDDLESTON. 

"  'CHICAGO,  March  27th,  1883. 

"'This  is  to  certify  that  I,  George  Duddles- 
ton, a  butcher  doing  business  at  Nos.  83  and  85 
Fifth  Ave.,  Chicago,  111.,  purchased  the  prize 
steers  Grinnell  and  Tom  Brown  from  D.  M. 
Moninger,  of  Galvin,  Iowa,  during  the  last 
Fat  Stock  Show  held  in  this  city ;  that  the  live 
weight  of  the  steer  Grinnell,  allowing  fifty 
pounds  for  shrinkage  (his  show  weight  having 
been  1,850  pounds),  was  1,800,  and  that  said 
steer  Grinnell's  dressed  weight  was  1,310 
pounds,  a  percentage  of  32  to  77  of  net  to  live 
weight.  The  show  weight  of  the  steer  Tom 
Brown  was  1,945  pounds,  from  which  50 
pounds  is  to  be  deducted  for  shrinkage,  leaving 
his  live  weight  at  time  of  slaughter  1,895 
pounds;  the  dressed  weight  of  the  steer  Tom 
Brown  was  1,340  pounds,  a  percentage  of  net  to 
live  weight  of  31  to  70.  Having  seen  the  car- 
casses dressed  at  each  of  the  Fat  Stock  Shows, 
I  can  truly  say  that  I  have  never  seen  so  deep  a 
fleshed  bullock  as  the  steer  Grinnell  above 
mentioned.  Furthermore,  it  is  my  belief  that 
the  ages  of  the  above  named  steers  were  sub- 
stantially as  given  to  the  managers  of  the 
show  by  Mr.  Moninger. 

"'GEO.  DUDDLESTON. 

"  'State  of  Illinois,  Cook  County.     Attest. 

"'Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this 
27th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1883. 

"  'GEO.  BUAHAM,  Not.  Pub/ 


510 


HISTORY     OF     HEEEFORD     CATTLE 


"Of  which  the  'Breeders'  Gazette'  says: 
.'The  allowance  of  50  pounds  shrinkage  from 
show  weight  will  be  generally  regarded  as  none 
too  large,  especially  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the 
champion  Horeford  steer  imported  Sir  Rich- 
ard's shrinkage,  as  we  are  informed,  was  75 
pounds.  The  statement  of  Mr.  Duddleston  de- 
rives additional  weight  from  the  fact  that  he 
has  a  decided  preference,  as  a  rule,  for  Here- 
ford cattle,  and  his  experience  as  a  butcher  is 
such  as  to  render  his  clearly  expressed  opinion 
as  to  the  age  of  the  steers  worthy  of  some 
credence.' 

"Mr.  Miller  obtained  the  teeth  of  the  steers 
from  Mr.  Duddleston.  Mr.  Moninger  makes 
affidavit  as  to  the  age  of  the  steers,  but  does 
not  show  or  explain  how  a  steer  at  two  years  old 
can  grow  eight  teeth;  neither  does  he  explain 
how  Tom  Brown  at  three  years  old  could  grow 
eight  teeth,  while  the  first  was  entitled  to  only 
four  and  the  latter  to  six.  As  to  the  net  to 
live  weight  as  given  by  Mr.  Duddleston  it  is 
foreign  to  the  questions  at  issue.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  the  steers  had  lived  something 
over  one  month  from  the  time  they  were 
weighed;  that  they  ought  to  have  gained  75 
pounds  instead  of  shrinking  50.  But  this  is 
immaterial.  Mr.  Duddleston's  opinion  may  be 
valuable,  but  it  would  seem  to  us  that  Mr. 
Moninger  is  bringing  to  his  aid  very  weak  sup- 
port. We  had  hoped  to  see  Mr.  Duddleston, 
but  have  not  been  able  to  inquire  as  to  who 
sought  his  affidavit  and  how  he  could  reconcile 
the  fact  that  these  steers  carried  a  full  mouth 
of  eight  teeth  at  the  age  they  were  represented 
to  be.  Not  seeing  him,  we  have  written  him  a 
line,  and  may  be  able  to  give  his  answer  next 
month.  We  have  received  a  letter  from  a 
responsible  party  and  have  had  it  in  our  pos- 
session for  some  time,  waiting  for  some  testi- 
mony from  Moninger.  The  letter  is  as  follows : 

"  'Feb.  22,  1883. 
"  'T.  L.  Miller,  Esq. 

"  'Dear  Sir :  I  attended  a  farmer's  sale  of 
stock,  etc.,  to-day,  and  while  there  -was  engaged 
in  conversation  with  three  gentlemen  with 
whom  I  am  well  acquainted.  Two  of  them  are 
breeders  of  Shorthorn  cattle,  and  the  other  a 
large  feeder  of  cattle.  The  conversation  turned 
upon  yourself  and  your  cattle,  when  one  of  the 
breeders  above  referred  to  said  that  a  man  work- 
ing in  his  neighborhood  who  formerly  lived  in 
Iowa,  near  D.  M.  Moninger,  says  you  are  cor- 
rect about  the  age  of  the  steer  Tom  Brown, 
shown  by  Moninger  last  November  at  the  Fat 
Stock  Show.  He  said  this  party  stated  that  he 
knew  the  steer  well,  and  that  his  age  is  about 
the  same  as  you  consider  it  to  be,  and  that  there 


are  many  persons  in  the  vicinity  who  know  the 
same  thing.  Yours  truly, 

"'E.  W.  P.' 

"We  are  fully  satisfied  that  the  proof  might 
be  had  from  several  parties  as  to  the  ages  of  the 
steers  exhibited  by  Mr.  Moninger  last  Novem- 
ber. Mr.  Moninger  undoubtedly  relied  upon 
having  his  steers  passed  through  the  exhibition 
without  question  as  to  the  correctness  of  his 
entries,  and  we  have  no  doubt  that  the  fact 
that  the  steers  exhibited  greater  age  than  they 
were  entered  for,  and  that  the  dressing  would 
have  exposed  this,  is  the  reason  ,yhy  the  bul- 
locks were  not  dressed  at  the  show.  It  was 
well  known  by  the  exhibitors  at  this  show,  and 
that  of  1881,  that  the  Shorthorn  bullocks  that 
were  dressed  in  1881  showed  an  age  by  their 
mouths  largely  in  excess  of  that  for  which 
they  were  entered.  They  knew  that  the  Here- 
ford exhibitors  had  these  mouths  preserved  and 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  officers  of  the  State 
Board  as  an  evidence  of  the  fraud  as  to  age. 
Our  persistency  in  calling  attention  to  these 
frauds  and  bringing  forward  these  evidences 
(for  it  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
'Gazette'  admits  that  Mr.  Duddleston  gave  us 
these  teeth)  has  secured  action  by  the  State 
Board  which  will  prevent  any  such  frauds  in  the 
future.  We  are  advised  by  members  of  the 
Board  that  this  rule  will  be  rigidly  enforced, 
to-wit :  That  all  cattle  offered  for  exhibition  in 
1883  will  be  examined  by  a  competent  veteri- 
nary surgeon  and  two  practical  men  to  deter- 
mine the  ages  without  reference  to  the  entries. 

"It  is  now  nearly  five  months  from  the  time 
these  charges  were  made,  before  these  affidavits 
were  given,  and  no  evidence  now  beyond  what 
was  before  the  Board  and  the  public  on  the 
16th  of  November.  This  is  not  a  matter  as  to 
whether  a  Shorthorn  exhibitor  or  a  Hereford 
exhibitor  shall  be  successful  at  the  Show.  It 
is  beyond  and  above  this.  It  is  a  question  as 
to  whether  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  of 
Illinois  shall  publish  to  the  world,  under  its 
authority  and  sanction,  data  that  are  based 
upon  an  erroneous  and  incorrect  basis." 

GRADES  AND  CROSSES. — The  journals  that 
were  advocating  the  lordly  Shorthorn  could  not 
bear  to  have  the  Herefords  win  a  prize,  and 
when  they  did  win  with  a  steer  that  was  the 
most  distantly  related  to  the  Shorthorn  they 
claimed  all  the  glory  for  their  breed. 

Strictly  speaking,  at  the  date  of  which  we  are 
writing  there  were  very  few,  if  any,  cross-bred 
steers,  as  we  understand  the  term;  that  is,  a 
thoroughbred  Hereford  bull  bred  to  a  thorough- 
bred Shorthorn  cow,  and  there  were  certainly 


HISTOEY     OF    HEEEFOKD     CATTLE 


511 


none  bred  the  other  way,  or  the  calf  would 
come  red  with  white  face.  Our  grade  Herefords 
were  bred  from  all  kinds  of  native  cows,  with  a 
thoroughbred  Hereford  bull  for  sire.  On  this 
subject  we  quote  from  the  "Mark  Lane  Ex- 
press" as  follows : 

"The  'Breeders'  Gazette'  (Chicago),  a  jour- 
nal which  appears  to  be  laying  itself  out  as  far 
as  possible  to  further  the  interests  of  Shorthorn 
breeders  and  fanciers,  admits  that  the  Here- 
fords  come  nearer  'dividing  the  honors  as  beef 
producers  with  the  Shorthorns  than  any  other 
breed  in  America/  This  is  pretty  well  from 
the  'Breeder's  Gazette/  especially  when  it  is 
seldom  contended  by  even  the  warmest  par- 
tisans of  the  Shorthorn  breed  in  this  country 
that  Shorthorns  excel  the  Herefords  purely  as 
beef  producers.  However,  the  'Gazette'  goes 
on  to  say:  'They  (the  Herefords)  are  an  old 
and  well  established  breed,  and  have  long  been 
known  in  this  country;  but  it  has  only  been 
within  the  past  six  years  that  they  may  fairly 
be  said  to  ha've  made  any  material  advances  in 
popular  favor.  Since  then,  however,  the  de- 
mand for  improved  bulls,  for  use  in  the  vast 
herds  on  our  western  plains,  has  led  to  the 
extensive  use  of  the  Herefords,  and  so  far  as  we 
have  heard  an  expression  of  opinion,  with  most 
excellent  results.*  Certainly  the  demand  during 
the  past  three  years  has  been  largely  in  excess 
of  the  supply,  and  prices  have  risen  materially. 
Within  two  years  past  the  importation  from 
Great  Britain,  notwithstanding  the  hindrances 
of  an  expensive  quarantine,  have  very  greatly 
exceeded  the  sum  total  of  importations  to  this 
country  previous  to  that  date,  and  there  is  no 
perceptible  falling  off  in  the  demand  for  them 
by  oiir  ranchmen.  Their  great  merit  as  grazing 
beasts  is  unquestioned.  That  they  possess  great 
hardiness  is  clearly  evidenced  by  their  heavy 
shoulders,  well  sprung  ribs  and  general 
make-up.  As  a  rule,  there  is  no  breed  of  cat- 
tle extant  the  structure  of  which  more  clearly 
indicates  strong  vital  organs  than  the  Here- 
fords. The  breeders  of  Herefords  in  this  coun- 
try have  manifested  much  spirit  for  several 
years  past  in  pushing  the  claims  of  these  cattle 
to  the  front,  and  have  undoubtedly  met  with  a 
good  share  of  success  at  our  Fat  Stock  Shows. 
It  has  been  frequently  alleged  that  the  excel- 
lence which  has  characterized  the  animals  shown 
as  Hereford  grades  heretofore  was  due  largely 
to  the  admixture  of  Shorthorn  blood — that,  as 
a  rule,  they  have  not  been  any  more  properly 
grade  Herefords  than  grade  Shorthorns,  •  and 
that  they  might  as  well  have  been  shown  in  the 
one  class  as  the  other.  The  Hereford  breeders 
have  accepted  the  issue,  and  have  declared  their 


determination  to  make  a  bold  stand  and  face 
the  music  hereafter  with  purely  bred  Here- 
fords at  our  Fat  Stock  Shows.' '; 

Commenting  on  which  the  "Mark  Lane  Ex- 
press" said: 

"No  doubt  the  Hereford  men  will  be  able  to 
'face  the  music'  with  butchers  as  judges;  we 
shall  see  when  the  time  comes.  Meantime,  we 
do  not  clearly  understand  the  sense  in  which  an 
animal  called  a  grade  Hereford  could  be  with 
equal  correctness  described  as  a  grade  Short- 
horn. We  can  very  well  understand  that  an 
animal  which  has  any  proportion  of  Shorthorn 
blood  in  its  veins,  whether  much  or  little,  would 
have  its  merit — should  it  possess  any — ascribed 
to  the  admixture  of  Shorthorn  blood,  by  par- 
tisans who  are  blind  to  everything  but  their 
own  hobby ;  but  whether  such  merit  could  be  so 
claimed  or  not,  there  should  be  no  question  as 
to  whether  any  particular  animal  was  a  grade 
of  one  breed  or  that  of  another.  If  the  sire  was 
of  one  breed  and  the  dam  of  the  other,  the  off- 
spring would  not  be  a  grade  but  a  cross-bred. 
We  cannot  tell  what  the  word  grade  may  be 
understood  to  cover,  as  used  in  the  United 
States,  and  it  is  not  used  at  all  in  this  country ; 
but  we  should  take  it  to  mean  a  step,  or  one  of 
a  series  of  steps,  in  remove  from  a  thorough- 
bred sire  out  of  a  mongrel  dam.  The  question, 
then,  is  simply  whether  these  animals  at  the 
Chicago  show  were  sired  by  Hereford  or  by 
Shorthorn  bulls.  If,  as  we  have  already  stated, 
they  were  from  pure  bred  sire  and  dam  of  dif- 
ferent breeds,  then  they  were  crosses  and  not 
grades;  and  if  the  sire  was  a  'grade,'  the  off- 
spring would  clearly  class  as  a  grade  of  the 
breed  represented  by  the  sire.  As  for  the  merit, 
let  both  parties  claim  it,  but  there  should  be 
nb  sort  of  question  as  to  the  classification.  At 
our  Fat  Stock  Shows  cross-bred,  grade  and 
mongrel  animals  are  all  classed  together  as 
'crossed  or  mixed  bred/  a  very  unsatisfactory 
arrangement  to  our  thinking;  nevertheless  it 
covers  the  whole  ground,  which  the  term  'grade' 
used  alone  evidently  does  not." 

In  closing  this  chapter  we  give  an  extract 
from  the  "Breeders'  Journal"  for  June,  1883, 
written  just  prior  to  our  departure  for  England 
to  purchase  an  addition  to  our  Hereford  herd. 

"We  are  glad  to  have  an  opportunity  to  reply 
to  Mr.  Sanders  and  Mr.  Moninger's  defense. 
We  shall  be  absent  for  some  months,  and  should 
anything  come  up  in  reference  to  this  matter, 
and  there  is  a  delay  to  notice  it,  it  must  be 
attributed  to  this  reason.  It  would  be  well  for 
the  'Breeders'  Gazette'  to  explain  somewhat  in 
reference  to  the  teeth  indications  of  age.  Mr. 
Sanders  claims  to  be  the  pioneer  live  stock 


512 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


journalist  of  America,  and  whether  the  claim 
is  worth  anything  or  not,  he  should  sink  his 
personal  friendship  and  sympathy  for  Mr. 
Moninger  in  his  higher  duties  as  a  journalist. 
Mr.  Sanders  knows,  or  may  know,  that  no  two 
or  three-year-old  steer  can  have  eight  teeth. 
The  rule  requiring  the  examination  of  teeth  to 
determine  the  ages  of  animals  in  the  future 
was  opposed  vigorously  by  a  large  portion  of 
the  Shorthorn  element  of  the  Board,  and  they 
were  able  to  defeat  such  action  at  their  Jan- 
uary meeting.  It  was,  however,  re-opened  at 
their  February  meeting  and  carried. 

"In  the  issue  that  has  been  made  between  the 
Herefords  and  Shorthorns  during  the  last  ten 
years,  the  Shorthorn  advocates  have  never  at- 
tempted to  meet  the  positions  that  we  have 
taken,  but  have  undertaken  to  throw  mud  and 
'dirt  instead.  We  advised  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Board  that,  while  we  should  do  all  that 
we  could  to  advance  and  forward  the  success 
of  the  shows  made  under  the  auspices  of  the 
State  Board  of  Agriculture  of  Illinois,  until 
some  of  these  questions  which  have  given  rise 
to  a  good  deal  of  controversy  were  settled  and 
disposed  of  we  should  not  be  an  exhibitor.  We 
received  for  a  reply  the  following,  which  we 
feel  at  liberty  under  the  circumstances  to  make 
public.  We  do  withhold,  however,  the  name 
of  the  writer.  We  will  say  that  he  is  not  a 
Hereford  breeder  and  never  has  been,  and  so 
far  as  we  know,  never  expects  to  be.  He  says : 

"  'I  am  anxious  to  see  your  herd  well  repre- 
sented at  our  large  shows.  You  have  done 
more  to  bring  a  very  valuable  and  meritorious 
breed  of  cattle  to  the  attention  of  breeders  and 
the  public  than  any  other  gentleman  on  the 
continent,  and  for  the  persistency  in  which  you 
have  pressed  the  just  claims  of  a  meritorious 
breed  to  a  successful  end,  you  deserve  the  praise 
of  the  whole  agricultural  community.  Indeed, 
your  zeal  and  determination  in  making  known 
the  real  merit  of  your  favorite  breed  of  cattle 
has  been  and  will  be  of  untold  benefit  to  the 
breeders  of  Shorthorns,  for  it  has  aroused  them 
to  the  necessity  of  cultivating  and  developing 
the  better  qualities  of  the  Shorthorns,  instead 
of  resting  their  claims  on  fancy  pedigrees. 
Pedigree  is  all  well  enough  in  its  place  and 
for  the  purpose  intended,  but  real  and  uniform 
merit  has  a  value  more  important.' '; 

We  have  done  very  little  in  bringing  forward 
notices  of  commendations  to  our  course  in  this 
controversy,  but  we  have  much  pleasure  in 
many  letters  we  have  received.  The  contest 
which  we  have  had  to  meet  has  been  one  of 
trial  and  annoyance,  but  our  work  is  done,  and 
inures  not  to  our  benefit  but  to  the  world,  to 


the  breeders  of  cattle  and  to  the  consumer's  of 
their  product. 

Our  exposure  of  these  frauds  was  not  to 
blacken  or  damage  Mr.  Moninger,  or  any  other 
man,  but  to  secure  fair,  impartial  and  intelli- 
gent judgment  in  passing  upon  the  claims  of 
the  different  breeds  of  cattle;  and  we  wish  to 
state  that  we  never  considered  Mr.  Moninger 
a  sinner  above  all  others,  but  there  came  at 
last  a  feeling  among  exhibitors  that  they  must 
protect  themselves,  because  those  who  were 
managing  the  societies  would  not  protect  them. 
From  this  on  the  decisions  were,  as  a  rule, 
fairer,  improving  as  the  judgment  and  intelli- 
gence of  the  managers  allow  it.  This  is  all  that 
we  asked  and  to  this  we  had  a  right. 

The  foregoing  is  a  repetition  of  part  of  much 
similar  matter  published  in  the  seventies  and 
eighties  that  at  this  writing  (1898)  has  already 
yielded  much  fruit  of  vast  benefit  to  American 
agriculture.  We  cannot  refrain  in  this  con- 
nection from  quoting  a  more  recent  correspon- 
dence. There  had  been  a  tendency-  on  the  part 
of  the  Board  to  lessen  its  vigilance,  and  on  the 
18th  of  February,  1898,  we  wrote  to  Mr.  J. 
Irving  Pearce,  then  president  of  the  Illinois 
State  Board  of  Agriculture,  calling  his  atten- 
tion to  the  necessity  of  adopting  some  definite 
rule  to  determine  the  ages  of  Jive  stock  to  be 
exhibited  at  their  annual  fairs,  and  suggested 
that  the  teeth  indications,  were  the  surest 
.'  method  of  determining  this  question,  and  after- 
wards sent  to  him  cuts  of  teeth  of  horses,  cattle, 
sheep,  and  hogs,  as  adopted  by  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  England.-  In  replying  to 
my  letter  of  the  18th,  Mr.  Pearce  wrote  as  fol- 
lows : 

"Chicago,  March  4th,  1898. 
"Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  DeFuniak  Springs,  Fla. 

"Dear  Sir:  I  have  your  letter  of  the  18th 
ult.  before  me 'and  note  with  pleasure  the  in- 
terest you  still  continue  to  take  in  the  annual 
exhibitions  of  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture. I  think  it  is  not  probable  that  there 
will  be  another  Fat  Stock  Show  held  soon  in 
Chicago,  the  Board  acting  very  wisely  in  mak- 
ing fat  stock  divisions  to  the  cattle  and  sheep 
departments  of  the  State  Fair.  The  carcass 
prizes,  of  course,  have  to  be  abandoned,  as  it 
would  be  impossible  to  save  the  meat  without 
incurring  more  expense  than  the  Board  can  at 
this  time  stand.  On  account  of  the  weather 
and  the  likelihood  of  fat  hogs  to  suffer  from 
the  three  or  four  loadings  required  to  get  them 
to  the  Fair,  it  was  thought  impracticable  to  add 
a  fat  stock  division  to  that  department. 

"Your  table  giving  descriptions  of  the  mouths 
of  cattle  of  different  ages  is  very  interesting  to 


HISTOKY     OF    HEKEFOKD    CATTLE 


513 


me,  and  doubtless  will  be  to  the  Board,  when 
1  have  an  opportunity  to  have  it  read  at  the  next 
meeting.  The  rule  of  the  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture at  present  is  to  appoint  a  jury  of  three 
veterinarians  to  pass  upon  the  exhibit,  as  to  the 
ages  of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  competing  for 
fat  stock  prizes.  This  rule  has  proven  very 
satisfactory,  and  has  on  several  occasions 
'passed  out'  an  animal  for  being  over  age.  If 
you  have  cuts  of  the  mouths  of  cattle,  sheep 
and  hogs,  and  would  care  to  loan  them,  our 
secretary  would,  I  know,  be  glad  to  include 
them  in  our  Annual  Eeport  of  1897,  the  copy 
of  which  is  about  ready  for  the  printer. 

"The  progress  of  the  Fair  for  1898  is,  I  be- 
lieve,  beyond  your  anticipations,   and  I   hope 
to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  there. 
"Very  truly  yours, 

"J.  IRVING  PEARCE." 

Mr.  Pearce  showed  my  letter  to  ex-President 
John  P.  Eeynolds,  and  from  Mr.  Eeynolds  I 
received  the  following,  dated  March  10,  1898 : 

"468  LaSalle  Ave.,  Chicago. 
"Mr.  T.  L.  Miller, 

"My  Dear  Sir :  Our  mutual  friend,  J.  Irving 
Pearce,  handed  me  your  letter  of  18th  ult.  to 
him,  touching  the  show  of  fat  stock  at  the 
State  Fair,  with  request  that  I  express  to  you, 
as  I  did  to  him,  my  approval  of  your  sugges- 
tions as  to  the  careful  determination  of  the 
ages  of  the  contesting  animals  by  the  examina- 
tion of  their  teeth. 

"Your  demonstration  years  ago  fully  con- 
vinced me  that  your  position  on  that  question 
is  absolutely  correct,  and  that  the  adoption  of 
your  views  by  the  Board  is  entirely  practicable. 


In  no  other  way  does  it  seem  to  me  possible 
to  insure  accuracy  as  to  ages,  which  fair  deal- 
ing and  justice  to  exhibitors  demand. 

"I  was  under  the  impression  that  the  speci- 
mens of  teeth  illustrating  the  subject,  which 
you  showed  us  at  Springfield,  were  left  in  pos- 
session of  the  Board  and  placed  in  the  museum. 
At  least  there  ought  to  be  a  complete  series 
there  for  comparison  on  occasion  of  controversy 
or  differences  of  opinion  among  the  judges.  I 
suggested  to  Mr.  Pearce  that  possibly  you  might 
be  induced  to  meet  the  Board  at  some  con- 
venient time  and  give  them  a  talk  on  the  sub- 
ject. I  know  of  none  so  well  informed  and 
prepared  to  impart  the  much-needed  informa- 
tion as  you  are,  and  hope  such  opportunity  may 
offer.  Very  truly  yours, 

"JOHN  P.  REYNOLDS." 

On  the  20th  of  March  I  received  another 
letter  from  President  Pearce,  as  follows: 

"Chicago,  March  20,  1898. 
"T.  L.  Miller,  Esq.,  De  Funiak  Springs,  Fla. 

"Dear  Sir :  Your  good  and  interesting  as 
well  as  instructive  letter  of  the  9th  came  duly 
to  hand.  I  am  glad  to  know  that  you  keep  up 
your  interest  in  cattle  breeding  and  feeding. 
You  have  done  more  than  any  one  I  know  to 
further  that  interest  and  do  not  keep  your  light 
under  a  bushel.  I  am  glad  that  you  or  your 
son  are  agreeing  to  furnish  me  with  such  in- 
formation that  will  enable  us  to  adopt  the  teeth 
test.  If  you  can  get  it  to  me  by  the  10th  or 
llth  of  April  I  would  be  glad.  Thanking  you 
for  your  good  letter,  and  hoping  we  may  see 
you  at  our  next  Fair,  I  am,  Yours  truly, 
"J.  IKVING  PEARCE." 


HIST  GUY     OF     HE  KEF  (JED     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

MONGREL  PEDIGREES  MAKE  MONGREL  BREEDS;  CONCLUSIVELY 
DEMONSTRATED  ON  THE  RANGE 


In  December,  1881,  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Rust, 
(j[362)  the  eminent  Shorthorn  historian  and 
authority,  wrote  an  article  for  the  "Breeders' 
Gazette,"  Vol.  I,  page  29,  on  the  Shorthorn 
Herd  Book  question,  and  its  relation  to  the 
Shorthorn  breed  of  cattle — their  merits  and  de- 
merits. In  January,  1882,  in  the  "Breeders' 
Journal,"  Vol.  Ill,  page  43,  we  quoted  from 
this  article  that  Mr.  Rust  wrote.  Mr.  Rust 
took  us  to  an  account  for  quoting  him  incor- 
rectly, and  that  the  matter  might  be  fairly  be- 
fore our  readers  we  quoted  Mr.  Rust  as  pub- 
lished by  the  "Breeders'  Gazette,"  on  page  29, 
Vol.  I,  Dec.  8,  1881,  as  follows : 

"The  action  of  the  Shorthorn  Association  at 
the  late  Jacksonville  convention  will  commend 
itself  to  the  great  body  of  breeders,  and  the 
more  as  it  comes  to  be  discussed  and  under- 
stood. The  Record  of  Pedigrees — the  integrity 
with  which  it  is  conducted  and  the  degree  of 
confidence  placed  upon  it — exercises  so  direct 
an  influence  upon  the  prosperity  of  the  breed- 
ing interest  that  there  can  be  no  questioning 
the  fact  that  it  should  be  in  the  hands  and 
thoroughly  under  the  control  of  the  breeders 
themselves,  acting  in  some  associate  capacity. 

"The  record,  as  such,  should  have  been  insti- 
tuted in  the  first  instance  by  them,  but  through 
the  force  of  circumstances  and  the  want  of 
proper  co-operation,  this  was  not  the  case.  But 
the  interest  is  now  so  vast,  and  has  been  already 
so  seriously  prejudiced,  and  its  extension  likely 
to  be  so  influenced  in  the  future  by  the  unfor- 
tunate conditions  surrounding  the  Pedigree 
Records,  that  it  is  an  imperative  necessity,  that 
the  breeders  should  take  these  records  under 
their  own  control  and  direction,  purely  as  a 
matter  of  self  protection,  if  for  no  other  reason. 

"There  are  many  ways  in  which  the  unsatis- 
factory conditions  of  the  Pedigree  Records  have 
prejudiced  the  interest  of  breeders,  some  of 
which  it  may  be  well  to  enumerate. 

"Through  the  lack  of  system  and  method  in 
the  Herd  Book  (Shorthorn)  itself,  the  editor 


[L.  F.  Allen,  mentioned  by  Mr.  Sotham  in  his 
history,  Chapter  13  of  this  volume. — T.  L.  M.J 
has  been  unable  to  detect  and  exclude  improper 
pedigrees  from  record,  and  in  a  great  many 
cases  his  judgment  has  been  warped  by  his  per- 
sonal interests  to  admit  pedigrees  and  classes 
of  pedigrees  wliicli  a  disinterested  person  would 
probably  have  excluded.  As  a  result  the  records 
have  fallen  into  such  shape  that  none  but  an 
expert  can  tell  much  about  them ;  and  innumer- 
able pedigrees  of  a  doubtful  character  have  been 
given  the  sanction  of  a  record.  The  general 
public,  unable  to  discriminate  between  the  true 
and  the  false,  has,  under  these  circumstances, 
been  imposed  upon  by  unscrupulous  persons, 
who  have  not  hesitated  to  sell,  as  genuine 
Shorthorn,  animals  that  were  anything  but  as 
represented.  [A  pretty  incrimination,  truly. — 
T.  L.  M.]  And  when  a  rascal  sells  an  honest 
man  such  an  animal,  the  mischief  is  broader 
than  it  first  appears;  for  the  honest  man  has  a 
reputation  upon  which  the  produce  of  this 
spurious  animal  can  be  sold  to  others  and  scat- 
tered far  and  near  into  other  herds,  and  as  he 
is  unconscious  of  the  fraud  that  has  been  put 
upon  him,  he  innocently  passes  it  along  and 
involves  his  friends  and  his  neighbors. 

"An  extensive  demand  for  bulls  among  farm- 
ers and  in  the  grazing  regions  should  bring  a 
rich  reward  to  the  breeders  who  have  cultivated 
and  maintained  the  excellence  of  Shorthorn 
cattle,  but  they  find  themselves  brought  into 
competition  with  other  people  who  have  bulls 
to  sell,  which,  in  the  unfortunate  condition  of 
the  records,  they  are  able  to  substitute  for 
pure  Shorthorns,  and  which  they  are  glad  to 
sell  at  such  prices  as  would  restrict,  if  not  in 
many  cases  utterly  destroy,  the  profits  of  legiti- 
mate breeding.  Thus,  the  public  record  of 
pedigrees  [Shorthorn. — T.  L.  M.],  instead  of 
being  a  means  of  public  protection,  as  it  should 
be,  has  come  to  be  a  means 'of  public  impo- 
sition. 

"But  time  tries  everything;  and  the  people 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


515 


who  have  been  imposed  upon  with  spurious  cat- 
tle, and  those  who  have  been  deceived  into  sup- 
posing they  were  introducing  well  bred  bulls 
into  their  grazing  herds,  fail  to  realize  the  an- 
ticipations which  they  entertained.  They  had 
heard  and  read  much  of  the  excellence  of  Short- 
horn cattle,  and  felt  they  had  a  right  to  realize 
something  of  it  in  their  own  herds.  But  time 
brought  only  disappointment.  Unfortunately, 
however,  instead  of  placing  the  cause  of  the 
failure  where  it  belonged,  upon  the  Record, 
upon  the  rascals  who,  through  it,  had  perpe- 
trated fraud  upon  them,  and  upon  the  partic- 
ular animals  which  had  been  imposed  upon 
them — instead  of  placing  the  cause  of  failure 
where  it  belonged,  they,  still  relying  upon  the 
fidelity  of  this  record,  the  integrity  of  the 
men  who  sold  them  the  cattle,  and  the  purity 
of  the  animals  themselves,  committed  the  mon- 
strous error  of  ascribing  their  failure  to  a  want 
of  merit  and  excellence  or  adaptability  in  the 
great  race  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  And  their  de- 
sire for  improvement  not  being  satisfied,  there 
immediately  sprung  up  a  demand  for  some 
other  breed  of  cattle  which  does  have  the  power 
to  favorably  impress  itself  upon  the  stocks 
with  which  it  is  interbred. 

"The  respective  merits  of  different  breeds  of 
cattle  need  not  be  brought  into  this  discussion, 
and  would  indeed  be  foreign  to  it;  but  the  fact 
cannot  well  be  disputed  that  the  Shorthorns 
had  such  a  start,  both  in  respect  to  the  estima- 
•  tion  of  the  public  regarding  their  merits  and 
the  number  of  animals  and  breeders,  that  the 
advancement  of  any  other  breed  of  cattle  to  a 
position  of  nominal  rivalry  should  have  been 
very  slow  and  difficult,  if  not  impossible.  And 
it  would  have  been  impossible,  had  the  esti- 
mates of  everybody  regarding  the  character  and 
adaptability  of  Shorthorns  been  based  upon  ex- 
perience with  genuine  specimens  of  the  breed. 
And  if  the  facts  could  be  all  ascertained,  it 
would  doubtless  be  found  that  those  whose  ex- 
perience with  Shorthorn  cattle  is  said  to  have 
been  unsatisfactory  in  an  intelligent  effort  to  put 
them  to  practical  use,  have  not  generally  had  in 
their  possession  well-bred  representatives  of  the 
breed.  They  were  imposed  upon  with  impurely 
bred  cattle,  and,  disappointed  in  the  results, 
have  acquired  impressions  concerning  the 
Shorthorns  which  not  only  do  this  whole 
breed  of  cattle,  but  the  breeders  of  it,  great  in- 
injustice.  The  extent  of  this  injustice  can 
scarcely  be  estimated;  but  in  the  grazing  re- 
gions, individuals  here  and  there  are  paying 
for  bulls  of  other  breeds  two  or  three  times  the 
price  for  which  Shorthorns  can  be  obtained  ;  and 
among  the  general  farmers  everywhere  through- 


out the  country  the  same  false  impressions, 
springing  from  precisely  the  same  source,  are 
operating  to  discourage  the  purchase,  restrict 
the  demand  for  and  depreciate  the  price  of 
every  Shorthorn  calf  that  is  dropped. 

"This  unfortunate  condition  of  affairs  has 
been  growing  worse  from  year  to  year;  and  it 
is  high  time  the  breeders,  acting  through  a 
regularly  organized  association,  should  move 
for  a  reformation  of  the  record,  and  the  pro- 
tection of  their  personal  and  pecuniary  inter- 
ests, which  are  being  so  seriously  prejudiced. 
To  hesitate  longer  about  applying  a  remedy 
would  be  little  less  than  criminal. 

"There,  must  be  a  public  record  of  pedigrees. 
This  record  must  command  the  confidence  of 
the  public.  To  command  this  confidence  the 
record  must  be  conducted  with  honesty,  with 
care,  and  without  bias  or  prejudice  of  any  sort. 
A  dishonest  management  cannot  be  guarded 
against  as  long  as  the  record  is  the  private 
property  of  one  man,  who  can  admit  or  reject 
at  pleasure  any  pedigree  offered.  Care  in  its 


T.  F.  B.  SOTHAM. 
Chillicothe,  Mo. 

compilation  cannot  be  secured  where  the  com- 
piler is  responsible  to  no  one  but  himself  for 
its  accuracy.  It  cannot  be  said  to  be  free  from 
bias  where  the  editor  who  pas'ses  upon  a  pedi- 
gree receives  a  dollar  if  he  approves  of  it  and 
loses  a  dollar  if  he  rejects  it.  It  cannot  be  said 


516 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


to  be  free  from  prejudice  where  the  rules  for 
the  admission  of  pedigrees  are  made  to  con- 
form to  the  views  of  one  man,  and  the  great 
body  of  breeders  whose  interests  are  affected 
have  no  means  of  expressing  or  enforcing  their 
views  of  the  matter. 

"Thus  it  is  seen  that  to  secure  for  the  record 
of  pedigrees  the  character,  reliability  and  qual- 
ity necessary  to  such  a  record,  and  also  neces- 
sary for  the  protection  and  advancement  of  the 
interest  of  breeders,  it  must  be  controlled  and 
published  by  an  association  of  the  breeders 
themselves — and  in  no  other  way  can  the  de- 
sired end  be  obtained ;  and  as  the  matter  is  dis- 
cussed there  can  be  no  question  about  the  great 
body  of  breeders  approving  the  action  had  at 
the  Jacksonville  meeting  of  the  association, 
looking  for  an  association  record.  It  can  be 
made  purer,  more  reliable,  more  accurate,  more 
systematic,  more  methodical,  and,  therefore, 
more  intelligible  than  under  any  merely  private 
management.  At  the  same  time  it  will  cost 
less  money,  and  be  a  bond  of  union  between 
breeders  sufficient  to  create  and  maintain  a 
strong  and  active  association,  the  existence  and 
work  of  which  will  be  a  source  of  pleasure  and 
profit  to  all  legitimate  breeders. 

"There  are  some  other  features  of  the  mat- 
ter referring  to  how  the  record  should  be  con- 
ducted, what  it  should  be,  and  how  it  can  be 
reduced  in  bulk  and  cheapened  in  price,  that 
are  reserved  to  another  occasion." 

This  is  Mr.  Rust's  entire  article,  from  which 
we  quoted,  of  which  quotations  Mr.  Rust  com- 
plained. 

We  now  give  our  quotation,  as  found  on  page 
43,  Vol.  Ill,  of  the  "Breeders'  Live  Stock 
Journal"  for  January,  1882 : 

"Geo.  W.  Rust. — Many  who  read  the  above 
name  will  remember  the  man  who  bore  it,  as 
the  editor  and  maker  of  the  'National  Live 
Stock  Journal,'  a  man  who  wrote  fearlessly  and 
ably.  We  met  an  article  of  his  written  in  the 
interest  of  the  new  movement  for  a  Shorthorn 
Herd  Book.  In  speaking  of  those  who  have 
endeavored  to  improve  their  stock  by  using 
Shorthorn  bulls,  he  says:  /They  had  heard 
and  read  much  of  the  excellence  of  Shorthorn 
cattle,  and  felt  they  had  a  right  to  realize 
something  of  it  in  their  own  herds.  But  time 
brought  only  disappointment.  And  they  com- 
mitted the  monstrous  error  of  ascribing  their 
failure  to  a  want  of  merit  and  excellence  or 
adaptability  in  the  great  race  of  Shorthorn  cat- 
tle; and  their  desire  for  improvement  not  be- 
ing satisfied,  there  immediately  sprang  up  a 
demand  among  them  for  another  breed  of  cattle 
which  does  have  the  power  to  favorably  im- 


press  itself  upon   the   stock   with   which   it   is 
interbred.' 

"Quoting  this  much  from  Mr.  Rust's  article, 
we  will  say  that  it  is  well  stated,  and  that  Mr. 
Rust  has  always  been  considered  good  authority. 
But  it  is  due  to  Mr.  Rust  to  say  that  he  as- 
cribes this  failure  to  the  old  Herd  Books,  and 
not  to  the  Shorthorn  race  of  cattle.  But  the 
fact  remains,  and  the  farmer  or  bullock 
breeder  does  not  care  whether  this  inabil- 
ity of  the  Shorthorn  race  of  cattle  to  im- 
prove the  common  or  native  cattle  of  the 
country  comes  from  an  original  defect  in 
the  breed,  or  the  admitting  of  bogus  Shorthorns 
to  record,  and  therefore  giving  them  a  diploma 
to  go  forth  to  deceive  the  purchaser ;  or  whether 
it  comes  from  speculative  malpractice  in  breed- 
ing. The  cause  is  immaterial — the  fact  remains 
the  same.  They  fail  to  improve  the  stock  upon 
which  they  are  bred,  and  the  breeders  want 
something  else — some  breed  that  will  favorably 
impress  itself  upon  the  stock  upon  which  it  is 
bred,  if  they  have  to  pay  two  or  three  times 
as  much  as  they  can  buy  Shorthorns  for. 

"Mr.  Rust  intimates  that  the  manner  to  re- 
form and  improve  the  Shorthorns  is  to  estab- 
lish another  record — of  course,  if  there  is  to  be 
any  improvement  it  must  be  by  recording  only 
the  best  Shorthorns. 

"The  Shorthorn  men  are  in  a  bad  fix,  and 
they  will  find  it  difficult  to  get  out  of  it  by 
using  Shorthorn  bulls.  Their  only  sure  and 
quick  remedy  is  by  using  Hereford  bulls  upon 
Shorthorn  cows.  Many  have  accepted  our  ad- 
vice and  are  taking  this  course,  and  are  finding 
good  results. 

"A  prominent  bull  dealer  who  has  been  sell- 
ing Shorthorn  bulls  to  Wyoming,  advises  the 
bull  breeders  to  breed  Hereford  bulls  to  their 
Shorthorn  cows  if  they  wish  a  better  price. 
And  another  equally  prominent  bull  dealer  and 
breeder,  who  has  been  selling  bulls  to  Wyoming, 
says  Herefords  are  a  failure  in  Wyoming,  but 
he  knows  what  he  states  is  not  true,  and  many 
of  whom  he  has  bought  Shorthorn  bulls  are 
buying  Hereford  bulls,  and  some  of  them  are 
getting  thoroughbred  cows  as  well. 

"We  would  advise  the  Shorthorn  breeders  to 
take  the  Hereford  remedy  and  not  to  try  and 
patch  up  a  hreed  with  consumptive  Shorthorn 
bulls,  and  establish  a  cross-breed  record.  Start 
new,  gentlemen. 

"We  will  quote  Mr.  Rust  again.  He  says: 
'This  unfortunate  condition  of  affairs  has 
grown  worse  from  year  to  year,  and  it  is  high 
time  the  breeders,  acting  through  a  regularly 
organized  association,  should  move  for  a  reform- 
ation of  the  Record,  and  the  protection  of  their 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


517 


personal  and  pecuniary  interests,  which  are  he- 
ing  so  seriously  prejudiced.  To  hesitate 
longer  about  applying  the  remedy  would  be  lit- 
tle less  than  criminal/ 

"Too  late,  George.  The  horse  is  stolen;  no 
use  locking  the  barn  now." 

We  now  quote  Mr.  Rust,  of  February  7,  1884, 
in  the  "Breeders'  Gazette": 

1IEREFORDS   VS.    SHORTHORNS MR.   MILLER  AND 

MR.  RUST. 

"There  is  no  form  of  misrepresentation  more 
annoying  to  a  man  than  to  be  perpetually  mis- 
quoted, or  to  have  one's  expressions  garbled  and 
used  in  a  different  sense  from  that  in  which 
they  were  originally  employed.  And  for  a  year 
or  two  past — I  don't  know  how  long — I  have 
been  annoyed  by  the  persistent  efforts  of  Mr.  T. 
L.  Miller,  in  a  paper  published  by  him  in  the 
interests  of  his  herd  of  Hereford  cattle,  and 
for  the  advancement  of  his  private  interests  as 
a  breeder,  to  place  me  in  the  position  of  having 
asserted  certain  things  with  reference  to  Short- 
horns and  Herefords  which  I  have  never  said  or 
written,  and  which  Mr.  Miller  knew  I  never  in- 
tended to  say  and  did  not  believe.  During  the 
past  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  I  have  had  frequent 
occasion  to  write  something  of  these  cattle,  and 
scanning  this  matter,  Mr.  Miller  selects  isolated 
sentences  here  and  there,  which,  by  separating 
from  their  context  and  using  on  a  different 
subject  from  that  of  which  I  was  treating,  he 
attempts  to  make  me  say, .what  he  would  like 
to  have  me  say.  And  not  only  this,  but  when 
my  language  does  not  entirely  suit  him,  he 
does  not  hesitate  to  change  it — to  rewrite  my 
sentences — to  put  parts  of  different  sentences 
and  paragraphs  together;  and  make  up  such 
a  statement  as  he  pleases,  and  then  to  quote 
the  whole  as  my  words;  and  if  they  are  my 
words,  they  must,  of  course,  represent  my  opin- 
ions. In  the  last  issue,  now  before  me,  in  an 
article  on  'Beef  Breeds,'  he  says : 

"  'One  has  but  to  learn  from  the  Shorthorn 
journals  that  their  reputation  is  gone,  and  they 
may  account  for  it  by  bad  and  dishonest  prac- 
tices, bad  breeding  or  any  other  reason.  The 
fact  remains,  and  there  is  no  better  expression 
in  accounting  for  it  than  that  of  Mr.  Geo.  W. 
Rust,  in  a  letter  to  the  "Breeders'  Gazette,"  in 
one  of  the  earliest  issues,  in  which  he  says  that 
"farmers  had  heard  much  of  the  Shorthorn 
breed  of  cattle  and  of  their  ability  to  improve 
the  common  stock  of  the  country,  and  having 
tried  them  and  been  disappointed,  they  were 
seeking  some  other  breed  that  would  accomplish 
this  purpose."  ; 


"Now,  I  never  wrote  any  such  stuff  to  the 
'Gazette'  and  never  expect  to,  until  I  lose  all 
my  sense  of  honesty,  together  with  the  use  of 
my  eyes  and  my  ears.  And  I  do  not  remember 
to  have  written  but  one  article  over  my  proper 
signature  for  the  earlier  numbers  of  the  'Ga- 
zette,' and  I  find  but  this  one  in  looking  over 
the  files,  and  the  above  quotation  bears  evidence 
of  having  been  twisted  out  of  that  article.  It 
was  on  the  subject  of  the  Shorthorn  Herd  Book 
— an  entirely  different  subject  from  that  to 
which  Mr.  Miller  applies  my  language,  after 
having  perverted  it  to  suit  his  purpose.  It  will 
be  found  on  page  29,  of  Vol.  I ;  and  I  trust  I 
may  be  given  space  for  a  brief  extract  or  two. 


c.  B.  SMITH, 

Hereford  Park,  Fayette,  Mo. 

"I  had  stated  in  substance,  that  the  demand 
for  bulls  among  farmers  and  graziers  should 
bring  a  rich  reward  to  those  who  had  cultivated 
and  maintained  the  excellence  of  Shorthorn 
cattle;  but  breeders  found  themselves  brought 
into  competition  with  other  people  with  im- 
purely-bred [yet  these  were  recorded  as  pure — 
T.  L.  M.]  bulls  to  sell,  which,  in  the  unfor- 
tunate condition  of  the  records,  they  were  able 
to  substitute  and  sell  for  pure  Shorthorns.  And 
then  comes  the  following  paragraph : 

'  'But  time  tries  everything ;  and  the  people 
who  had  been  imposed  upon  with  spurious  cat- 
tle, and  those  who  had  been  deceived  into  sup- 
posing they  were  introducing  well-bred  bulls 


518 


HISTORY  OF  H E  R K FORD  CATTLE 


into  their  grazing  herds,  failed  to  realize  the 
anticipations  which  they  entertained.  They  had 
heard  and  read  much  of  the  excellence  of  Short- 
horn cattle,  and  felt  they  had  a  right  to  realize 
something  of  it  in  their  own  herds.  But  time 
brought  only  disappointment.  Unfortunately, 
however,  instead  of  placing  the  cause  of  failure 
where  it  belonged,  upon  the  Record,  upon  the 
rascals  who,  through  it,  had  perpetrated  the 
fraud  'upon  them,  they,  still  relying  upon  the 
fidelity  of  the  Record,  the  integrity  of  the  men 
who  sold  them  the  cattle,  and  the  purity  of  the 
animals  themselves,  committed  the  monstrous 
error  of  ascribing  their  failure  to  a  want  of 
merit  and  excellence  or  adaptability  in  the 
great  race  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  And  their  de- 
sire for  improvement  not  being  satisfied,  there 
immediately  sprang  up  a  desire  among  them 
for  some  other  breed  of  cattle  which  does  have 
the  power  to  favorably  impress  itself  upon  the 
stocks  with  which  it  is  interbred/ 

"So  far  as  the  quotation  Mr.  Miller  assumes 
to  make  from  me  is  based  upon  anything  I  have 
said  or  written,  it  is  based  upon  those  portions 
of  the  above  paragraph  which  are  printed  in 
italics.  It  will  be  observed  that  aside  from  the 
changing  of  expression,  he  purposely  omits  the 
context  and  matter  coming  between  the  portions 
which  he  pretends  to  take  in  such  a  way  as  to 
give  my  meaning  precisely  the  reverse. 

"I  need  not  comment  upon  the  unfairness  of 
this  sort  of  misrepresentation,  but  I  wonder 
whether  it  is  necessary  to  make  the  same  allow- 
ance for  other  things  which  the  same  gentleman 
states.  In  his  own  testimony  about  the  value 
and  merits  of  Hereford  cattle,  does  he  repre- 
sent the  real  bottom  facts,  as  accurately  as  he 
does  what  I  have  written?  He  publishes  from 
time  to  time  testimonials  and  letters  from  peo- 
ple showing  the  excellence  of  Hereford  cattle, 
and  I  wonder  if  he  transcribes  what  they  have 
written  with  the  same  candor  and  fairness  as 
he  displays  in  rewriting  my  sentences. 

"Is  it  necessary  to  resort  to  these  tricks  and 
subterfuges,  to  descend  to  this  jugglery  of 
words,  in  order  to  make  and  sustain  a  reputa- 
tion for  Hereford  cattle?  I  hope  not.  I  be- 
lieve the  cattle  to  be  better  than  one  would  infer 
from  the  tricks  and  tactics  to  which  Mr.  Miller 
finds  it  necessary  to  resort  in  their  behalf. 
They  ought  to  be  good  enough  to  make  their 
way  in  public,  holding  up  their  heads  with  all 
other  breeds,  and  standing  solely  upon  their 
merits,  with  all  the  facts  known,  and  every- 
body's experience  and  opinion  fairly  stated  and 
considered.  They  ought  to  be  good  enough  for 
this,  but  Mr.  Miller  seems  to  think  thev  need 


some  additional  support,  of  a  kind  which  he  is 
specially  qualified  to  give. 

"I  do  not  suppose  my  opinion  upon  the  com- 
parative merits  of  Hereford  and  Shorthorn  cat- 
tle is  worth  anything  to  anybody,  even  if  I 
have  given  the  matter  some  attention,  and  for 
that  very  reason  the  misrepresentations  of  Mr. 
Miller  are  the  more  exasperating. 

"GEO.  W.  RUST." 

OUR   REPLY. 

We  did  not  give  the  article  in  full  from 
which  we  quoted  in  January,  1882,  because  of 
its  length,  and  not  because  we  were  not  willing 
to  put  all  that  Mr.  Rust  had  said  before  our 
readers.  We  submit  that  the  article  as  a  whole 
is  more  damaging  to  the  Shorthorns  than  the 
quotations  that  we  made,  and  that  we  did  Mr. 
Rust  full  and  ample  justice  in  the  quotation 
by  saying,  "But  it  is  due  Mr.  Rust  to  say  that 
he  ascribes  this  failure  to  the  old  Herd  Books 
and  not  to  the  Shorthorn  race  of  cattle.  But 
the  fact  remains,  and  the  farmer  or  bullock 
breeder  does  not  care  whether  this  inability  of 
the  Shorthorn  race  of  cattle  to  improve  the 
common  and  native  cattle  of  the  country  comes 
from  an  original  defect  in  the  breed  or  the  ad- 
mitting of  bogus  Shorthorns  to  record,  and, 
therefore,  giving  them  a  diploma  to  go  forth  to 
deceive  the  purchaser,  or  whether  it  comes  from 
speculative  malpractice  in  breeding.  The  cause 
is  immaterial — the  fact  remains  the  same." 

We  have  always  .had  great  respect  for  Mr. 
Rust's  abilities,  fearlessness  and  integrity,  and 
we  may  have  occasion  to  still  further  quote 
from  what  he  may  say  or  what  he  has  said  in 
times  past.  Now,  if  it  is  true  that  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  tell  where  the  bogus  Shorthorns  are, 
and  where  the  true  ones  are,  it  is  immaterial 
how  this  difficulty  originated.  That  it  exists, 
Mr.  Rust  himself  admits,  and  he  is  still  writing 
in  the  current  numbers  of  the  "Gazette"  on  the 
inaccuracies,  errors  and  frauds  of  the  existing 
Herd  Book,  and  in  the  article  from  which  we 
quoted  he  was  urging  that  the  Herd  Book 
should  be  in  the  hands  and  under  the  control 
of  breeders  for  the  purpose  of  purifying  it  of 
existing  errors.  Since  that  time  the  Short- 
horn Society  has  bought  the  existing  Herd 
Books  with  all  these  widely  advertised  frauds 
and  errors  and  adopted  them  without  revision 
as  the  standard,  and  if  a  new  beginner,  or  an 
old  beginner,  wishes  to  select  an  animal  he 
must  go  to  that  record,  and  it  is  folly  for  Mr. 
Rust  or  anyone  else  to  undertake  to  claim 
merit  and  value  in  the  Shorthorn  breed  and 


HISTORY     OF     HERE  FOR  I)     CATTLE 


519 


still  admit  that  parties  have  been  selling  bogus, 
impurely  bred  animals,  and  that  the  Herd 
Books  have  made  a  record  of  these  until  it  is 
difficult  to  tell  which  are  pure  and  which  are 
impure. 

We  should  not  take  up  so  much  room  in  this 
matter  except  for  the  high  standing  that  Mr. 
Rust  has  occupied  in  the  live  stock  interest  of 
this  country.  No  man  knows  so  well  the  frauds 
that  have  been  committed  in  the  Shorthorn  in- 
terest as  does  Mr.  Rust.  No  man  understands 
better  the  great  damage  that  has  been  done  to 
the  breed  through  the  bad  practices  and  specu- 
lative tendencies  of  those  who  have  been  lead- 
ers in  the  Shorthorn  movement  for  years  past, 
and  it  is  true,  we  think,  that  no  man  has  done 
more  to  expose  these  frauds  than  Mr.  Geo.  W. 
Rust,  unless  it  is  ourselves.  And  we  will  here 
refer  to  what  we  said  of  Mr.  Rust  in  the  Febru- 
ary number  of  the  "Journal,"  page  77.  In 
speaking  of  the  Shorthorn  Herd  Book  he  says: 
"It  affords  no  means  of  ascertaining  any- 
thing beyond  the  names  of  the  various  animals 
in  the  successive  crosses  and  the  names  of  their 
breeders,  and  these  mere  names  repeated  in  a 
meaningless  way  from  volume  to  volume,  six, 
seven,  ten  or  twenty  crosses,  all  detailed  with 
careful  perspicuity,  long  lists  of  names  of  bulls 
and  cows  with  no  information  as  to  whether 
either  had  anything  beyond  their  paper  record 
to  show  they  were  Shorthorns." 

Later  he  says:  "I  made  the  statement  that 
Avhile  all  public  records  were  more  or  less  de- 
fective, the  system  of  Shorthorn  records,  while 
most  important  of  all  because  of  the  number 
and  amount  of  capital  invested  in  the  breed, 
was  worst  of  all." 

We  submit  the  foregoing  facts  to  the  public 
and  our  readers.  The  entire  article  from  which 
we  quoted  is  much  more  damaging  to  the  Short- 
horn interest  than  where  we  left  it.  While  it 
is  true  that  the  article  was  intended  to  discredit 
the  Herd  Book,  it  still  brought  out  most  clearly, 
and  from  the  most  authoritative  source,  the 
frauds  and  speculative  practices  of  those  per- 
sons who  had  been  engaged  in  breeding  and  sell- 
ing Shorthorns,  and  the  movement  which  Mr. 
Rust  hoped  would  remedy  these  evils,  instead  of 
purging  itself,  has  adopted  the  very  record 
which  he  condemned. 

Mr.  Rust  when  writing  this  correspondence, 
was  residing  in  Boulder,  Colorado,  where  he 
had  unsurpassed  opportunities  to  personally  in- 
spect the  sorry  state  Shorthorns  got  into  when 
left  to  rustle  for  themselves  on  the  open  range. 
Truly  a  more  forlorn  spectacle  cannot  exist  in 
the  eyes  of  a  cattleman  than  a  herd  of  Short- 
horns in  winter  on  the  range;  too  shiftless  to 


range   for   a   living  and   literally   waiting   for 
death. 

Our  quotations  of  Mr.  Rust  seemed  to  him 
to  make  it  imperative  that  he  get  something  in 
print  derogatory  to  the  Herefords  to  counteract 
the  light  we  had  set  him  in,  and  the  following 
is  republished  from  the  "Breeders'  Journal"  for 
June,  1884: 

Geo.  W.  Rust  gives  what  he  terms  some 
"Practical  Experiences"  as  to  the  Best  Plains 
Cattle,  and  is  somewhat  personal  in  his  re- 
marks ;  but  we  give  the  following  extracts  from 
the  article  in  question,  which  appeared  in  the 
"Breeders'  Gazette"  of  May  29th,  1884.  The 
article  referred  to  commences  by  saying: 

"I  always  enjoy  a  talk  with  Mr.  Carey 
Culver,  whom  I  call  my  neighbor,  although  he 
resides  twenty  odd  miles  away,  over  on  the  Big 
Thompson,  wlio,  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
Mahoney,  a  business  partner,  were  among  the 
earliest  introducers 
of  improved  cattle 
upon  the  plains,  be- 
cause he  has  had 
an  experience  ante- 
dating and  cover- 
ing more  years 
than  anyone  I 
know  about,  con- 
cerning the  adapta- 
bility of  different 
breeds  of  cattle  for 
use  on  the  plains, 
and  he  never  fails 
to  tell  me  some- 
thing which  inter- 
ests me. 

"He  was  at  my 
house  recently  and  I  had  a  more  than  usu- 
ally interesting  cattle  talk  with  him,  in 
which  he  gave  me  a  more  connected  ac- 
count of  his  cattle  operations  and  more  of  the 
results  of  his  experience  and  observation  in 
breeding  cattle  than  he  had  ever  felt  inclined 
to  impart.  I  showed  him  a  recent  number  of 
Mr.  T.  L.  Miller's  Hereford  ,  paper  (the 
'Breeders'  Journal')  in  which  that  gentleman 
states:  'We  think  Messrs.  Culver  &  Mahoney 
took  Herefords  first,  but  they  felt  that  the  price 
was  so  high  that  they  could  not  afford  to  buy, 
and  being  able  to  buy  Shorthorns  and  Scotch 
cattle  they  took  them,  and  this  has  been  true, 
we  know,  of  some  other  firms.' 

"I  expressed  my  sympathy  to  Mr.  Culver 
at  the  poverty  which  prevented  him  from  buy- 
ing such  cattle  as  he  felt  he  needed  in  his 
business." 

We    can    imagine    Mr.  Rust    meeting    Mr. 


MURRAY  BOOCOCK. 
'Castalia,"  Keswick,-  Va. 


520 


HISTOEY     OF    HEBEFOBD     CATTLE 


Culver  on  the  street  and  condoling  with  him 
upon  what  Mr.  Miller  had  said  as  to  his  pov- 
erty, and  inviting  him  to  his  house  to  show  him 
the  "Journal,"  and  warming  up  on  this  subject, 
hoping  thereby  to  elicit  something  in  favor  of 
the  Shorthorn  cattle.  We  would  say  in  refer- 
ence to  the  foundation  for  our  remarks  on  this 
that  somewhere  in  1874,  we  should  think,  we 
met  Mr.  Culver  at  his  home,  and  in  discussing 
the  propriety  of  buying  Herefords  he  said  that 
we  held  them  too  high;  that  he  could  buy 
Scotch  cattle  for  less,  and  he  thought  they 
would  do  him  just  as  well.  We  will  see  further 
on  whether  Mr.  Culver  was  correct  in  his  con- 
clusions in  1874.  It  is  not  Mr.  Culver  alone, 
but  the  ranchmen  state  distinctly  that  they  can- 
not afford  to  buy  thoroughbreds  (and  many  of 
these  are  perhaps  more  wealthy  than  Messrs. 
Culver  and  Mahoney),  and  therefore  buy 
grades,  and  when  they  cannot  afford  to  buy 
grade  Herefords  they  take  Shorthorns. 

Mr.  Eust  goes  on  to  state  that  Messrs.  Cul- 
ver and  Mahoney  bought,  in  1873,  Shorthorns, 
Scots  and  Herefords;  that  they  used  these  for 
about  four  years  in  their  herd  at  home  and  in 
Wyoming,  and  at  that  time  sold  to  Mr.  Alex. 
Swan  their  herd  of  range  cattle  at  $24  per  head, 
when  the  largest  price  that  had  been  paid  be- 
fore was  $16,  and  that  Messrs.  Swan  were  so 
well  pleased  with  the  Hereford  cross  that  they 
found  in  this  herd  that  they  said  to  Messrs.  C. 
&  M.  that  if  they  could  get  Hereford  bulls  and 
put  them  upon  their  cows  they  would  buy  all 
the  bulls  that  they  could  raise,  and  as  the  result 
of  this  proposition  Messrs.  C.  &  M.  bought  two 
bulls  for  themselves  and  one  for  a  neighbor",  Mr. 
Blore ;  that  Messrs.  Swan  took  the  crop  of  bulls 
and  sold  them  to  other  parties  (we  presume  at 
a  profit).  Two  of  the  steers  that  went  to 
Messrs.  Swan  in  the  herd  sale,  it  is  stated,  went 
to  John  B.  Sherman,  of  the  Chicago  Stock 
Yards,  and  were  shown  at  the  Fat  Stock  Show. 
(We  think  this  is  a  mistake,  but  as  to  the  qual- 
ity of  the  steers  there  is  no  question.) 

THE    HEREFORD    CROSS. 

Mr.  Eust  says  the  cross  of  the  Hereford 
upon  the  Shorthorn  cow  was  also  productive  of 
the  most  satisfactory  results.  These  Hereford 
bulls  that  Messrs.  C.  &  M.  bought  to  meet  the 
proposition  of  Swan  Brothers  to  raise  bulls  for 
them  were  bought  of  T.  L.  Miller,  and  Mr. 
Culver  persuaded  Mr.  Dick  Blore  to  buy  one 
also,  and  Mr.  Blore  has  been  so  well  satisfied 
of  the  advantage  of  using  a  Hereford  bull  in 
preference  to  a  scrub  that  he  keeps  a  Hereford 
bull  to  this  day,  and  he  walks  over  to  Mr. 
Culver's  fence  and  points  out  to  Mr.  C.  the 


grades  from  Culver's  Shorthorn  or  high-grade 
Shorthorn  cows  as  specimens  of  Hereford  breed- 
ing. 

This  is  fairly  quoting  Mr.  Eust  on  the  Here- 
ford cross  on  Shorthorn  cows  as  exhibited  on 
the  Big  Thompson.  We  will  now  follow  this 
herd  still  further  in  the  hands  of  the  Messrs. 
Swan.  /  Mr.  Eust  says  that  these  gentlemen 
(Messrs.  C.  &  M.)  bought  these  different  breeds 
of  bulls,  Shorthorns,  Scots  and  Herefords,  in 
1873,  and  that  in  about  four  years  they  sold 
to  Messrs.  Swan  for  $24  a  head,  when  the  high- 
est price  at  which  cattle  had  sold  before  had 
been  $16  per  head.  This  would  have  brought 
them  to  1877.  In  that  year  Mr.  Swan  came  to 
T.  L.  Miller  and  bought  about  fifty  Hereford 
bulls,  and  we  presume  and  have  always  under- 
stood that  his  purchase  was  occasioned  by  the 
very  good  results  that  he  found  of  the  Here- 
ford cross  upon  the  Culver  &  Mahoney  herd, 
and  it  appears  at  the  same  time  he  made  a 
proposition  to  C.  &  M.  for  all  the  Hereford 
bulls  they  would  raise. 

At  about  the  same  time  he  made  a  contract 
with  Mr.  C.  M.  Culbertson  for  his  crop  of 
grade  .bull  calves,  but  took  a  lot  of  thorough- 
breds, and  in  a  year  or  two  after  the  first  pur- 
chase from  T.  L.  Miller  he  bought  another 
lot  of  fifty,  and  again  in  1881  or  '82  a  similar 
lot.  These  were  some  of  the  results  that  grew 
out  of  Messrs.  Culver  &  Mahoney's  purchase  of 
Shorthorns,  Scotch  and  Hereford  thoroughbred 
bulls  in  1873,  and  the  Swan  interest  was  so  well 
pleased  with  the  result  of  these  operations  that 
in  the  fall  of  1882  they  went  to  England  and 
the  result  was  the  purchase  of  nearly  four  hun- 
dred cows  to  establish  a  herd  of  thoroughbreds 
at  or  near  Cheyenne,  and  again  in  1883  they 
brought  over  another  large  shipment,  reaching 
to  nearly,  or  quite,  three  hundred  head.  They 
are  probably  using  in  their  different  herds  five 
hundred  thoroughbred  Hereford  bulls,  and  a 
thousand  or  more  high  grade  Herefords. 

Messrs.  Culver  &  Mahoney  ought  to  be 
very  proud  of  the  great  results  that  have  come 
from  their  purchase  in  1873,  and  we  hope  that 
the  Hereford  breeders  of  America  will  appreci- 
ate these  efforts  of  Messrs.  C.  &  M.  and  that 
they  will  not  be  unmindful  of  their  obligations 
to  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Eust  for  opening  up  such  a 
mine.  Mr.  Eust  says,  near  the  close  of  his 
article,  "I  should  be  pleased  to  gather  from 
the  'Gazette'  the  real  experience  of  the  other 
firms  which  are  quoted  as  not  buying  Here- 
fords for  the  same  financial  reasons,  and  still 
more  gladly  would  I  give  if  the  true  inward- 
ness of  the  thing  could  be  arrived  at,  the  private 
opinions  and  the  bottom  experiences  of  those 
who  did  buy  Herefords  and  are  suspected 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEREFORD"  CATTLE 


521 


of  being  constrained  to  stay  with  them  for  the 
same  financial  reasons."  Perhaps  the  "Gazette" 
and  its  Shorthorn  patrons  were  satisfied  with 
what  Mr.  Bust  had  already  done,  and  asked  him 
to  leave  the  matter  for  Mr.  Miller  or  someone 
else  to  develop. 

Near  by  Messrs.  Culver  &  Mahoney's  home 
Mr.  Geo.  Zweck  has  a  herd  of  cattle,  and  the  first 
bulls  that  we  sent  to  the  plains  in  1873  were 
sold  to  Mr.  Geo.  Zweck,  a  man  who  is  fully 
posted  in  the  cattle  business.  These  bulls  were 
Plato  590,  of  American  Hereford  Eecord,  Duke 
of  Beaufort  744,  A.  H.  E.  All  of  these  bulls 
were  in  Mr.  Zweck's  possession  doing  good 
service  up  to  the  fall  of  1882. 

Plato  when  sold  was  three  years  old,  and  in 
the  summer  or  fall  of  1882  for  some  cause 
that  we  do  not  now  recollect,  died,  but  not  be- 
cause he  was  not  vigorous,  at  the  age  of  12 
years.  Both  of  the  other  bulls  were  still  in 
service,  the  Duke  of  Beaufort,  10  years  old, 
and  Hervey,  11  years  old. 

In  1876  or  1877  we  sold  to  Mr.  Zweck  an- 
other bull,  and  Mr.  Zweck  won  as  a  premium 
for  the  best  show  of  grade  Herefords  another 
Hereford  bull  that  we  offered  at  the  Colorado 
State  Fair,  taking  five  bulls  in  all.  One  of 
these  last  bulls  Mr.  Zweck  lost  by  eating  poison 
weed,  and  the  other  wore  out  to  a  good  old  age 
in  his  service;  the  other,  Major,  dropped  in 
1877,  by  Old  Success,  worked  over  ten  years 
and  was  a  bull  in  which  Mr.  Zweck  took  a  great 
deal  of  pride.  From  these  bulls  we  understand 
that  Mr.  Zweck  has  made  very  satisfactory  sales 
of  bulls,  from  that  time  to  the  present,  and  at 
last  report  we  had  of  him  he  had  something 
over  1,000  good  grade  Hereford  heifers,  the  get 
of  these  bulls,  and  he  was  negotiating  in  the 
fall  of  1882  for  ten  thoroughbred  Hereford 
bulls  to  put  into  his  herd.  We  urged  upon 
Mr.  Zweek  from  time  to  time  that  he  get  new 
bulls  for  this  herd,  and  have  said  to  him  that 
it  would  inure  very  largely  to  his  income  if  he 
would  do  so.  Mr.  Eust  refers  to  Mr.  Geo. 
Zweck  in  the  following  language : 

"A  neighbor  of  Mr.  Culver's,  Mr.  Geo.  Zweck, 
says  the  way  to  breed  good  Herefords  is  to  use 
Shorthorn  cows,  but  perhaps  Zweck  ought  not  to 
be  quoted,  although  he  has  handled  and  bred 
the  Herefords  and  their  grades  quite  extensively 
for  many  years,  for  George  is  now  getting  on 
the  fence  with  some  leaning  towards  Short- 
horns, and  has  lost  caste  with  T.  L.  Miller,  and 
perhaps  other  authorities,  and  Geo.  F.  Morgan 
declares  that  Mr.  Miller  asserts  that  Zweck 
never  had  any  pure  Herefords  from  him.  How- 
ever this  may  be,  Mr.  Zweck  has  had  three  or 
four  bulls  from  Mr.  Miller.  One  of  them, 


Plato,  had  little  short  horns,  standing  forward 
and  inclined  inward,  and  everybody  always  said 
he  had  Shorthorn  blood  in  him,  although  Zweck 
always  stoutly  maintained  that  he  was  straight 
Hereford  and  obtained  at  headquarters  of  the 
breed.  Another  Hereford  bull  owned  by  Mr. 
Zweck  was  a  prize  bull  offered  by  Mr.  Miller  for 
the  best  display  of  Hereford  calves  at  the  Colo- 
rado State  Fair.  Zweck  made  a  large  display 
and  carried  off  the  prize  in  high  glee.  He  is 
especially  displeased  at  being  told  now  that  his 
calf  was  not  pure." 

To  this  our  answer  at  the  time  in  the  "Breed- 
ers' Journal"  was: 

"Now,  all  that  Mr.  Bust  says  about  Mr. 
Zweck's  bulls  not  being  pure  is  made  up  from 
Shorthorn  sources.  Mr.  Zweck  is  not  on  the 
fence.  Mr.  Morgan  never  said  that  Mr.  Miller 
asserted  that  he  never  sold  Mr.  Zweck  any  thor- 
oughbred bulls;  Mr.  Miller  never  asserted  any 
such  thing,  and  Mr.  George  Eust  never  believed 
when  he  gave  these  statements  currency  that 
they  were  true ;  and  we  here  give  the  pedigrees 
of  each  of  these  four  bulls,  and  if  Mr.  Zweck 
will  give  us  the  name  of  the  other  bull  we  will 
publish  that. 

"Plato  (4843)  590,  A.H.E.  Bred  by  G.  W. 
Byers,  Nevada,  Ohio;  property  of  Geo.  Zweck, 
Longmont,  Colo.;  dropped  Oct.  27,  1870.  Sire, 
Guelph  461  (2023);  dam,  Beauty  2d  3;  g.d. 
Beauty  1st  7;  g.g.d.  Duchess  15;  g.g.g.d.  Count- 
ess 31;  g.g.g.g.d.  Venus  4th  61;  g.g.g.g.g.d.  Ve- 
nus 3d  109;  g.g.g.g.g.g.d.  Venus  2d  175; 
g.g.g.g.g.g.g.d.  Venus  251. 

"Duke  of  Beaufort  (4527)  744.  Bred  by  J. 
Humphries,  Elyria,  Ohio;  property  of  Geo. 
Zweck,  Longmont,  Colo.;  dropped  March  15, 
1872.  Sire  Marquis  of  Bath  745  (4764)  ;  dam 
Louisa  598;  g.d.  Princess  Louisa  595;  g.g.d. 
Princess  Eoyal  488 ;  g.g.g.d.  Victoria  478 ;  g.g. 

g.g.d. 491 ;  g.g.g.g.g.d. 

503 ;  g.g.g.g.g.g.d. 518. 

"Hervey  (4644)  815.  Bred  by  T.  L.  Miller, 
Beecher,  111.;  property  of  Geo.  Zweck,  Long- 
mont, Colo.;  dropped  March  6,  1873.  Sire 
Sir  Charles  543  (3434)  ;  dam  Sophia  754;  g.d. 
Blossom  532;  g.g.d.  Duchess  15;  g.g.g.d.  Count- 
ess 31;  g.g.g.g.d.  Venus  4th  61;  g.g.g.g.g.d. 
Venus  3d  109;  g.g.g.g.g.g.d.  Venus  2d«175;  g.g. 
g.g.g.g.g.d.  Venus  251. 

"Major  1027.  Bred  by  T.  L.  Miller,  Beecher, 
111. ;  property  of  Geo.  Zweck,  Longmont,  Colo. ; 
dropped  Feb.  2,  1877.  Sire  Success  2  (5031)  : 
dam  Fanny  541 ;  g.d.  Princess  Mary  786 ;  g.g.d. 
Princess  Eoyal  488 ;  g.g.g.d.  Victoria  478 ;  g.g. 

g.g.d. 491 ;  g.g.g.g.g.d. 503 ; 

g-g-g-g-g-g-d- 518. 

"Every  Hereford  breeder,  or  any  man  that  is 


522 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


at  all  acquainted  with  Hereford  breeding,  will 
see  by  these  pedigrees  that  they  were  among  the 
very  best  breeding  in  England  or  America,  and 
with  these  remarks  we  leave  Mr.  Rust  to  make 
what  he  can  out  of  it. 

"Near  by  Messrs.  Culver  &  Mahoney's  and 
Mr.  Zweck's,  say  twenty-five  miles  distant,  on 
the  road  to  Denver,  lived  a  Mr.  Church,  who 
bred  Herefords  before  Messrs.  Culver  &  Ma- 
honey  or  Mr.  Zweck,  and  we  presume  their 
preference  for  Herefords  was  largely  from  what 
they  saw  of  the  results  of  Church's  work.  Of 
Mr.  Church  Mr.  Rust  says,  in  speaking  of  a 
cow  that  had  come  into  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Culver  from  the  Church  herd: 

"  'Speaking  of  the  Church  Hereford  cow 
brings  to  mind  the  bad  luck  of  the  Church  herd. 
It  was  a  very  fine  one,  but  the  grass  on  the 
home  range  did  not  appear  to  maintain  it  well 
and  so  Mr.  Church  moved  it  over  onto  the  rich 
grass  on  the  slope  west  of  the  range,  and  the 
next  winter  most  of  them  died.  I  don't  know 
that  Shorthorns  would  have  done  any  better 
under  the  same  circumstances,  but  no  breed 
could  have  done  much  worse/ 

"We  would  say  in  reference  to  Mr.  Church 
that  he  bought  from  Mr.  Stone  of  Canada,  a 
Shorthorn  and  a  Hereford  bull,  as  early  as 
1870,  possibly  earlier,  and  he  went  over  into 
York  State  and  bought  two  Hereford  cows,  one 
of  which  had  a  Hereford  bull  calf  by  her  side. 
This  comprised  Mr.  Church's  investment  in 
Herefords,  and  his  experience  as  between  the 
Hereford  and  Shorthorn  led  him  to  discard  the 
Shorthorn  and  use  Herefords  solely.  His  ranch 
was  twelve  miles  north  of  Denver  on  the  road  to 
Longmont.  He  bred  them  on  that  range  up  to 
the  fall  of  1874,  we  think,  and  the  range  be- 
coming short  he  moved  them  east  of  Denver 
to  Hugo;  but  before  moving,  he  took  out  two 
or  three  car  loads  of  three-year-old  grade  Here- 
ford steers  that  he  sold.  They  went  to  Buffalo 
and  sold  on  the  market  with  no  other  feed  than 
they  had  taken  from  the  short  range,  at  seven 
cents  a  pound  live  weight,  and  brought  an  aver- 
age of  some  $90  at  three  years  old. 

"When  Mr.  Church  moved  his  cattle  to  Hugo 
other  ranchmen  made  great  objections  to  their 
coming  onto  that  range ;  but  they  went,  and  in 
the  spring  following  at  the  round-ups  the 
Church  cattle  were  in  so  much  better  condition 
than  any  others  that  nearly  all  of  the  ranchmen 
on  that  range  and  in  those  round-ups  became 
converted  to  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle.  Mr. 
Church  stayed  on  the~  range  near  Hugo  until 
he  moved  his  cattle  to  the  west  side  of  the 
mountains.  We  have  always  understood  that 
the  object  in  moving  was  to  reach  a  point  where 


he  could  keep  his  own  herd  by  themselves  and 
make  better  improvement,  and  get  the  benefit 
of  his  own  bulls  more  fully  than  he  could  on 
the  range  near  Hugo. 

"'We  have  met  a  gentleman  from  the  range 
since  this  letter  of  Mr.  Rust's  was  published, 
and  have  learned  that  Mr.  Church,  in  moving 
his  cattle,1  reached  a  point  of  the  range  which 
the  Indians  had  burnt  over,  and  relying  upon 
the  hardihood  of  the  cattle,  he  started  to  drive 
them  through  this  burnt  range  and  get  beyond 
it  to  where  he  could  find  feed;  that  he  drove 
for  some  six  days  without  feed  or  water,  and 
then,  not  knowing  how  much  further  he  would 
have  to  go,  he  turned  and  drove  them  back. 
This  resulted  in  a  great  loss,  and  the  next  win- 
ter was  a  severe  one,  with  heavy  snows,  which 
prevented  the  cattle  getting  any  feed,  and  a 
large  portion  of  the  remaining  cattle  were  lost, 
owing  largely  to  their  sufferings  on  the  burnt 
range.  This  we  suppose  to  be  a  true  version  of 
the  Church  loss,  but,  of  course,  Mr.  Rust  did 
not  understand  anything  about  these  facts,  or 
he  would  have  stated  them  and  not  left  his 
Shorthorn  friends  to  build  an  argument  on  the 
loss  being  occasioned  by  ordinary  circumstances. 
So  much  for  that  part  of  Mr.  Rust's  state- 
ment. 

"There  is  in  Estes  Park,  perhaps  thirty  or 
forty  miles  from  Messrs.  Culver  &  Mahoney's, 
another  herd  of  Hereford  cattle,  known  as  the 
'James  herd  of  Herefords.'  There  have  been 
connected  in  this  herd  with  Mr.  James  Messrs. 
Ewart  &  Hart,  and  the  last  season  Messrs. 
Ewart  &  Hart  bought  out  the  James  interest  in 
the  Herefords,  as  we  understand.  Mr.  Hart 
was  at  Beecher  last  fall  with  a  view  to  buying 
Hereford  bulls  to  give  fresh  blood  to  this  herd. 
He  did  not  buy  at  Beecher,  but  we  understand 
that  he  bought  elsewhere,  and  he  proposed  to 
sell  the  bulls  that  they  had  been  using. 

"In  the  May  number  of  the  'Journal/  on  page 
305,  Messrs.  Ewart  and  Hart  offer  a  choice  lot 
of  grade  Hereford  bulls  well  bred,  well  marked, 
and  in  fine  condition,  and  four  choice  thorough- 
bred Hereford  bulls  for  sale;  and  in  sending 
their  advertisements  they  said  nothing  of  any 
losses  that  might  have  been  had." 

In  the  winter  Mr.  James  was  at  Beecher  look- 
ing for  Hereford  bulls,  and  (1[  368)  was  buy- 
ing a  large  number  of  cows  and  heifers  in  Iowa, 
largely  of  the  Shorthorn  blood,  to  take  to  Colo- 
rado to  establish  a  new  herd.  He  did  not  buy 
his  Hereford  bulls  at  Beecher,  but  he  bought 
them  of  Mr.  T.  J.  Lewis,  of  Odebolt,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Rust  says:  "The  James  herd  of  Here- 
fords and  high  grades  in  Estes  Park  is  said  to 
have  lost  100  head  out  of  140  during  the  past 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


523 


winter,"  and  ho  says  ho  "does  not  know  that 
Shorthorns  would  have  done  any  better  under 
the  same  circumstances,  but  no  breed  could 
have  done  much  worse." 

We  wrote  a  letter  of  inquiry  to  Mr.  James 
which,,  with  his  reply,  we  give  as  follows: 

BEECHEB,  ILL.,  May  31,  1884. 
Mr.  W.  E.   James,  Hotel-keeper,  Estes  Park, 

Colo. : 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  a  report  written  by  Geo. 
W.  Rust,  from  Boulder,  that  the  James  herd  of 
Herefords  and  high  grades  have  lost  100  out 
of  140  head  of  cattle.  Please  advise  me  what 
foundation  there  is  for  such  report,  and  the 
circumstances  and  oblige.  I  understand  you 
bought  a  lot  of  thoroughbred  bulls  from  Mr. 
T.  J.  Lewis,  of  Odebolt,  Iowa.  Any  informa- 
tion in  reference  to  the  cattle  interest  will  be 
appreciated.  My  bulls  have  all  been  sold  that 
are  old  enough  for  service. 

Very  truly  yours,          T.  L.  MILLER. 

ESTES  PARK,  COLO.,  June  7,  1884. 
Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  Beecher,  111. : 

My  Dear  Sir: — Yours  of  May  31st  just  at 
hand  and  contents  noted.  I  know  no  reason 
for  such  a  report,  as  there  has  been  no  such  loss 
in  Estes  Park.  In  fact,  100  head  will  more 
than  cover  the  whole  loss  of  the  Park.  My  loss 
was  twenty-seven  head  out  of  144  head  of  Iowa 
heifers,  and  most  of  those  were  heifers  that  got 
injured  in  shipping.  Yet,  we  have  had  a  very 
hard  winter  for  this  part  of  the  country.  I 
believe  the  loss  of  cattle  to  be  very  large  in 
North  Park,  as  the  snowfall  was  very  heavy 
in  that  Park  and  laid  on  the  ground  for  about 
three  months.  Our  Hereford  cattle  have  done 
very  well  indeed  the  past  winter,  and  there  has 
been  a  lively  inquiry  for  young  animals,  both 
thoroughbred  and  grades,  but  they  could  not 
be  found  sufficient  for  the  demand,  which  ought, 
and  shortly  will,  stimulate  the  breeding  of 
more  Hereford  cattle. 

Yes,  I  with  my  friend,  Mr.  P.  J.  Pauly,  Jr., 
bought  fifteen  head  of  thoroughbred  Herefords 
from  T.  J.  Lewis,  of  Odebolt,  Iowa,  and  I -wrote 
you  from  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  of  my  purchase, 
stating  that  I  should  not  be  back  to  Beecher  on 
that  trip.  I  think  I  wrote  you  on  the  29th  day 
of  December.  Glad  to  see  that  the  demand  has 
been  good  for  thoroughbred  stock.  I  remain 
yours  sincerely  in  anything  that  can  be  truth- 
fully said  or  done  for  the  white-face  cattle. 
Yours  respectfully,  '  W.  E.  JAMES. 

In  Vol.  V,  page  593,  of  the  "Breeders'  Jour- 
nal," we  republished  the  following  letter  from 


Mr.  W.  E.  Campbell  to  the  "Breeders'  Gazette": 
"Much  has  been  said  of  late  through  your 
columns  in  reference  to  Shorthorns  and  Here- 
fords as  range  cattle  by  Geo.  W.  Rust,  and  others 
who  have  had  little  practical  experience  with 
rival  breeds  upon  the  plains,  where  cattle  are 
compelled  to  rustle  for  a  living,  not  wholly 
when  the  air  is  soft  and  balmy  and  the  grass 
green  and  abundant,  but  when  it  is  dry  and 
hard  and  even  covered  with  snow  for  days  and 
perhaps  weeks  at  a  time,  the  thermometer  indi- 
cating 20  degrees  or  more  below  zero,  driven 
before  pitiless  winds  or  forced  to  seek  shelter 
beneath  the  rugged  banks  of  hollows  and  ra- 
vines, with  only  snow  for  a  bed  and  an  angry 
sky  for  a  cover.  These  are  the  conditions 
through  which  all  range  cattle  are  compelled 
to  pass  or  perish;  and  this  is  why  our  ranch- 
men have  been  testing  the  merits  of  rival  breeds, 
and  have  generally  adopted  the  Herefords  on 
account  of  their  hardihood,  activity  and  self- 
reliance  in  time  of  need.  This,  coupled  with 
their  aptitude  to  fatten  on  grass  without  other 
feed,  and  their  wonderful  impressiveness  as 
sires,  will  always  make  the  white-faces  more 
popular  than  any  other  breed  with  our  ranch- 
men. 

"I  was  once  as  staunch  an  advocate  of  Short- 
horns as  my  friend  Mr.  Rust.  Being  familiar 
with  them  from  early  childhood  I  almost  lived 
and  swore  by  them,  and  I  was  one  of  the  first 
men  to  attempt  the  improvement  of  Texas  and 
range  cattle  in  the  Indian  Territory  by  the  use 
of  thoroughbred  Shorthorn  bulls.  My  atten- 
tion was  first  called  to  the  Herefords  by  the 
early  articles  of  T.  L.  Miller  in  a  paper  pub- 
lished in  your  city,  and  though  I  thought  his 
claims  very  extravagant  and  unreasonable,  I 
decided  to  test  their  merits  at  my  own  expense 
for  my  own  satisfaction  and,  notwithstanding 
the  abuse  and  criticism  I  then  received  for  us- 
ing my  own  sweet  counsel,  I  have  never  had 
cause  to  regret  my  experiments,  one  -of  which 
I  will  relate  to  your  readers  just  as  the  facts 
occurred,  and  they  can  draw  their  own  con- 
clusions. 

"After  making  a  number  of  small  tests  that 
were  decidedly  favorable  to  the  Herefords,  I 
determined  to  test  the  breeds  thoroughly  on  a 
rigid  and  extended  plan.  I  therefore  went  East 
and  bought  a  carload  of  twenty-six  Shorthorns* 
and  a  carload  of  twenty-five  Herefords  and 
shipped  them  on  the  same  train  to  the  terminus 
of  the  railroad,  and  then  drove  them  some 
ninety  miles  to  my  ranch,  where  they  were  all 
turned  loose  with  my  ranch  cattle.  When  the 
heat  of  summer  came  the  Shorthorns  could  be 
seen  standing  along  the  streams  or  in  the  shade, 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


while  the  Herefords  were  busy  grazing  or  rust- 
ling around,  endeavoring  to  obey  the  first  and 
most  important  commands  of  scripture — in  ref- 
erence to  multiplying  and  replenishing  the 
earth.  Both  breeds  were  allowed  to  remain  on 
the  open  range  the  entire  winter  without  any 
artificial  food  or  shelter  of  any  kind,  and  were 
compelled  to  rustle  for  a  living  or  die.  The 
winter  proved  to  be  one  of  unusual  severity, 
and  before  spring  came  almost  fifty  per  cent  of 
my  beloved  Shorthorns  had  died,  and  the  re- 
mainder were  but  reeling  skeletons.  With  the 
Herefords  the  test  was  perfectly  satisfactory, 
and  every  one  of  the  twenty-five  showed  up  in 
good  shape,  a  number  of  them  being  fit  for  the 
butcher's  block  by  the  10th  of  May.  This  and 
previous  tests  satisfied  me  that  Mr.  Miller's  ex- 
travagant claims  for  the  white-faces  were  noth- 
ing short  of  facts  when  applied  to  them  as  range 
cattle:  and  I  have  been  a  friend  to  them  ever 
since. 

"Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  I  am  still  a 
friend  of  the  Shorthorns,  and  think  them  a 
grand  and  useful  race  of  cattle  in  their  proper 
place ;  but  experience  compels  me  to  differ  with 
my  friend  Rust,  and  to  say  most  emphatically 
that  their  place  is  not  on  the  plains.  The  Here- 
ford bull  is  king  of  the  range,  and  Mr.  Rust 
will  live  to  hear  him  bellow  triumphantly  over 
every  grazing  region  from  the  snow-capped 
peaks  of  Mexico  on  the  south  to  the  British 
possessions  on  the  north. 

"(Signed)  W.  E.  CAMPBELL  (fl  369)." 

Few  men  have  had  the  long  and  varied  expe- 
rience of  Mr.  Campbell,  and  at  this  writing 
(1898)  he  is  still  ranching  and  breeding  Here- 
fords in  the  vicinity  of  his  early  range  experi- 
ence. It  is  a  pleasure  to  us,  giving  the  utmost 
satisfaction,  to  recall  the  countless  friends  of 
the  Hereford,  who  have  become  their  staunch 
advocates  after  ample  experience  with  other 
breeds,  that  cannot  be  marred  by  even  a  very 
few  contrary  incidents.  We  have  yet  to  learn 
of  a  single  Hereford  man  who  has  abandoned 
his  breed  for  another. 

We  commend  this  correspondence  of  Mr. 
Campbell's,  selected  for  republication  here  from 
countless  articles  of  less  merit,  because  he  was 
and  is  a  master  of  the  range  business  and  he 
deals  directly  with  facts.  We  ever  had  a  con- 
tempt for  flowery  or  caustic  rhetoric  such  as 
is  here  used  by  Mr.  Rust  and  has  been  used  by 
Shorthorn  advocates  constantly  and  by  some 
ephemeral  champions  of  the  Herefords. 

This  correspondence  came  out  in  the  "Breed- 
ers' Gazette"  and  was  republished  in  the 
"Breeders'  Journal"  in  1884 : 


To  the  "Gazette" : 

Theories  invented  by  professional  "quill 
drivers"  look  very  well  on  paper;  but  as  I  am 
not  skilled  in  this  profession  I  am  compelled 
to  rely  wholly  upon  facts  and  actual  experience, 
to  judge  of  the  superiority  of  any  breed  as 
range  cattle,  and  therefore  will  not  attempt  to 
theorize  upon  Mr.  G.  W.  Rust's  theories  in  your 
issue  of  October  2,  but  will  cheerfully  give 
further  details  as  per  his  request,  though  I  fear 
his  controversies  with  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller  have  so 
embittered  him  against  the  Herefords  that  it  is 
impossible  for  him  to  look  upon  them  or  their 
friends  with  any  degree  of  fairness.  So  far  as 
I  could  learn,  the  twenty-five  Herefords  and  the 
twenty-six  Shorthorns  referred  to  in  my  former 
article  were  fed  and  handled  in  substantially 
the  same  manner  up  to  trie  time  of  their  pur- 
chase, and  were  allowed  to  run  in  open  pasture 
for  sixty  or  seventy  days  prior  to  their  ship- 
ment, after  which  they  were  turned  in  with 
my  range  cattle  as  heretofore  stated.  Now  it 
may  be  that  the  twenty-five  Herefords  rustled 
round,  and  selected  all  the  choicest  morsels  of 
grass  and  therewith  put  on  a  thick  armor  of 
tallow  which  withstood  the  fiercest  storms  of 
winter,  while  the  unsuspecting  Shorthorns  were 
quietly  snoozing. 

But  be  this  as  it  may,  twelve  of  the  Short- 
horns died  and  the  remaining  fourteen  were  as 
poor  as  crows,  and  had  not  shed  their  old  coat 
when  the  spring  round-ups  came. 

On  the  other  hand,  every  one  of  the  twenty- 
five  Herefords  lived  and  were  in  good  flesh,  and 
as  sleek  as  moles  at  the  roundup.  If  one  breed 
is  as  hardy  as  the  other,  as  Mr.  Rust  claims, 
why  was  the  mortality  so  great  among  the  Short- 
horns when  there  was  none  at  all  among  the 
Herefords,  on  the  same  range  and  under  pre- 
cisely the  same  circumstances? 

I  am  willing  to  admit  my  experience  is  some- 
what limited,  as  1  have  only  handled  cattle  on 
the  plains  for  sixteen  short  years,  and  that  tests 
made  by  such  an  amateur  as  myself  are  very 
tame  affairs,  when  compared  with  the  theories 
of  one  who  has  had  long  experience  in  cattle 
matters  in  the  way  of  quill-driving.  (ff  370.) 

In  conclusion  I  will  say,  for  five  or  six  years 
past  I  have  been  steadily  supplanting  my 
Shorthorn  bulls  with  Whitefaces,  and  last  year 
alone  I  disposed  of  over  200  head  of  the  aris- 
tocratic "red,  white  and  roans,"  and  hope  to 
never  own  another.  The  Herefords  are  good 
enough  for  me,  either  on  the  broad  prairie 
ranges,  in  our  tame  pastures,  or  in  the  feed 
yard. 

Bv  the  way,  I  will  state  that  I  fed  a  car  load 
of  Shorthorn  bulls  last  winter,  including  one 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


525 


disabled  Hereford,  all  of  which  had  been  in 
service  on  my  ranch  up  to  November  1st.  The 
Hereford  received  an  injury  about  October  15th 
which  resulted  in  a  stricture,  and  in  consequence 
had  to  be  thrown,  cut  open  and  operated  upon 
by  a  veterinarian  at  three  different  times.  Not- 
withstanding these  disadvantages  and  the  tor- 
tures connected  therewith,  he  laid  on  flesh  much 
more  rapidly  than  the  Shorthorns,  and  when 
the  lot  were  sold  in  Kansas  City,  the  Hereford 
brought  one  and  three-quarter  cents  more  per 
pound  than  the  Shorthorns,  and  all  were  sold 
to  the  same  party. 

Mr.  Rust  will  in  all  probability  theorize 
again,  and  theoretically  prove  to  your  readers 
that  these  surgical  operations  were  an  advant- 
age to  the  Hereford,  that  it  relieved  him  of  a 
vast  amount  of  bad  blood  which  enabled  him  to 
fatten  more  rapidly  and  evenly,  and  to  lay  on  a 
superabundance  of  flesh  in  the  most  valuable 
parts,  and  had  it  not  been  for  this  favorable 
chain  of  circumstances  the  Shorthorns  might 
have  out-sold  him  in  the  market. 

W.  E.  CAMPBELL. 

THAT  EXPERIENCE  OF  MR.  CAMPBELL'S. 

To  the  "Gazette" : 

I  have  not,  I  believe,  manifested  any  dis- 
position to  underrate  the  experience  or  ques- 
tion the  accuracy  of  your  correspondent,  Mr. 
W.  E.  Campbell.  And  having  mentioned 
my  name,  in  relating  his  experience  with 
Hereford  and  Shorthorn  cattle,  in  such  a 
way  as  to  invite  my  examination  of  his  state- 
ments, I  think  he  should  have  done  me  the 
courtesy  to  have  treated  \vhat  I  said  in  reply 
with  the  same  candor  with  which  I  treated  what 
he  had  said. 

The  only  object  I  have  in  the  discussion  of 
these  questions,  and  the  only  object  anyone 
should  have,  is  to  get  at  the  facts.  If  there  is 
one  breed  of  cattle  superior  to  all  others,  it 
would  be  interesting  to  ascertain  which  breed 
it  is;  but  we  will  never  arrive  at  that  knowl- 
edge without  a  most  careful  scrutiny  of  all  the 
facts  and  experiences  which  lead  up  to  it.  If 
there  are  localities  where  one  breed  is  more 
successful  than  other  breeds,  or  purposes  for 
which  one  breed  is  better  adapted  than  other 
breeds,  these  facts  should  be  shown,  and  they* 
can  only  be  arrived  at  by  a  patient  and  candid 
examination  of  the  experiences  of  individuals. 
What  I  have  said  about  the  comparative  claims 
of  the  several  breeds  has  been  dictated  by  a 
desire  to  bring  out  the  real  bottom  facts,  in 
each  case,  and  not  from  any  desire  to  advance 
personal  pecuniary  interests,  for  I  have  none 
whatever  in  the  issue,  (fl  371.) 


Mr.  Campbell  states  that  he  turned  out  a  car 
load  each  of  Hereford  and  Shorthorn  bulls ;  the 
Herefords  grazed  well  during  the  summer,  while 
the  Shorthorns  did  not.  The  next  winter  was 
one  of  unusual  severity,  and  about  half  the 
Shorthorns  died,  while  all  the  Herefords  came 
through  in  excellent  shape.  This  I  believe  was 
about  the  substance  of  the  statement  of  Mr. 
Campbell  to  which  my  attention  was  directed, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  every  word  of  it  is  true, 
and  had  it  stood  alone  by  itself  I  might  have 
been  disposed  to  accept  it  as  conclusive  on  the 
point  of  indicating  a  superiority  of  one  breed 
over  another  in  hardiness,  but  it  did  not  stand 
alone,  and  I  was  bound  to  consider  it  in  connec- 
tion with  other  facts  and  experiences.  In  the 
first  place,  it  appeared  from  Mr.  Campbell's 
own  statement  that  he  had  for  many  years  pre- 
viously used  Shorthorn  bulls,  and  while  he 
claimed  to  have  found  the  Herefords  more  sat- 
isfactory, he  did  not  state  that  in  his  long  ex- 
perience of  sixteen  years,  he  had  ever  before 
experienced  losses  anywhere  approximating  the 
case  under  review,  so  that  even  in  his  own  ex- 
perience this  case  seemed  to  be  exceptional. 
Then  I  knew  scores  and  scores  of  men  who  had 
used  Shorthorn  bulls  with  satisfaction  upon  the 
plains,  and  without  any  special  loss,  and  some 
who  preferred  them  to  Herefords  after  having 
given  both  a  trial.  And  under  all  the  circum- 
stances I  could  not  but  regard  the  case  detailed 
by  Mr.  Campbell  as  exceptional  and  its  results 
as  due  to  something  else  besides  a  difference  in 
the  hardiness  of  the  breeds.  And  I  suggest 
that  perhaps  it  was  caused  by  some  difference 
in  the  manner  in  which  the  two  lots  of  bulls 
had  been  raised  and  treated;  that  animals 
reared  mainly  upon  corn,  are  not  well  adapted 
for  immediate  range  use,  as  compared  with  ani- 
mals raised  upon  grass.  But  it  was  mere  theory, 
it  is  true,  in  my  supposition,  that  this  may 
have  been  the  trouble  here,  for  it  may  have  been 
something  else,  but  my  theory  appears,  for  all 
I  can  see,  to  be  as  good  as  Mr.  Campbell's,  for 
he  does  not  say  he  had  any  positive  knowledge 
on  this  subject,  or  that  having  it  in  mind  he 
made  special  inquiry  on  that  point  in  purchas- 
ing. He  simply  does  not  know  or  has  not  been 
informed  that  there  was  any  difference  in  the 
previous  handling,  and  on  the  strength  of  that 
theorizes  there  might  have  been.  But  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, if  he  desires  to  impress  his  conclusions 
upon  the  public  as  good,  safe  rules  for  other 
men  to  follow  in  their  business,  will  surely  not 
attempt  to  deny  that  the  manner  in  which  bulls 
are  raised  is  a  matter  of  some  importance,  and 
the  attempt  to  sneer  at  it  in  mere  theory  will, 
I  am  satisfied,  prejudice  his  position  more  than 


526 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


mine.  People  in  this  country  who  have  ex- 
amined and  tested  the  matter  to  their  satisfac- 
tion, are  firmly  convinced  that  the  manner  in 
which  bulls  are  raised  does  have  very  much  to 
do  with  their  adaptability  for  plains  use,  and  if 
the  matter  is  new  to  Mr.  Campbell  I  trust  he 
will  not  dismiss  it  as  a  mere  theory  but,  like  an 
impartial  investigator,  look  into  it  with  the 
hope  that  after  sixteen  years'  experience  he  may 
yet  find  "some  strange  things  under  the  sun." 

There  was  another  thing  referred  to  in  my 
previous  letter,  to  which  Mr.  Campbell  makes 
no  reply.  I  referred  to  the  necessity  in  all 
cases  of  comparisons,  where  accurate  results 
were  desired,  that  there  should  be  an  equality 
of  blood.  Whether  it  was  secured  in  this  case 
or  not,  the  public  does  not  know,  for  Mr.  Camp- 
bell gives  no  information  as  to  where  or  of 
whom  he  purchased  either  class  of  bulls  or 
whether  they  were  both  the  best  and  most  robust 
of  their  kind.  I  know  Mr.  Campbell  has  an 
ambition  to  own  as  good  Herefords  as  anybody, 
and  I  understand  his  herd  will  compare  favor- 
ably with  the  best  in  the  land,  and  if  I  am  not 
mistaken  in  the  matter  he  has  had  an  ambition 
for  place  as  a  successful  exhibitor  of  Herefords 
where  the  competition  was  the  strongest.  This 
is,  of  course,  all  right,  and  I  am  glad  it  is  so. 
But  when  he  was  using  Shorthorns,  did  he  have 
an  equal  ambition  to  own  the  best  of  that  breed, 
and  was  his  experience  based  upon  careful  tests 
as  to  what  the  best  could  do? 

Mr.  Campbell  expresses  a  fear  that  my  "con- 
troversies with  T.  L.  Miller  have  so  embittered 
me  against  the  Herefords  that  it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  look  upon  them  or  their  friends  with 
any  degree  of  fairness,"  and  yet,  in  the  very  ar- 
ticle to  which  he  is  replying,  I  had  referred 
to  having  seen  a  few  days  before  "a  grand  herd 
of  Hereford  cows  and  calves  at  grass"  at  George 
Morgan's,  and  in  the  issue  before  that,  had  re- 
viewed that  Hereford  herd  at  length,  and  in 
such  terms  as  to  elicit  from  Mr.  Morgan  person- 
ally the  expression  that  it  was  the  fairest  and 
best  article  on  a  Hereford  herd  of  cattle,  which 
had  appeared  in  the  American  press  for  many 
a  day  (ft  372).  However  that  may  be,  Mr. 
Campbell  may  rest  assured  that  no  man  can  so 
embitter  me  against  any  breed  of  cattle,  that  I 
cannot  and  will  not  recognize  their  merit  when 
I  see  them.  My  experience  is  not  so  great,  per- 
haps, as  that  of  Mr.  Campbell,  and  I  may  not 
perceive  some  things  so  quickly,  but  while  I 
may  not  agree  with  him  in  many  things,  I  trust 
he  will  not  regard  me  as  seeing  but  one  side 
of  any  question.  I  should  have  had  no  con- 
troversies with  T.  L.  Miller,  nor  had  occasion 
to  say  many  things  which  have  been  said,  if  he 


had  not  sought  by  persistent  misquotation  to 
make  me  appear  as  denying  all  merit  in  the 
Shorthorn,-  just  as  lately  he  would  place  me  in 
the  attitude  of  denying  all  merit  in  the  Here- 
ford. I  am  certainly  entitled  to  standing  room 
somewhere,  and  as  1  have  never  been  the  enemy 
of  either  I  have  the  right  to  occupy  my  own 
ground  as  the  friend  of  both,  criticizing  accord- 
ing to  what  I  believe  fair  and  just,  and  accord- 
ing to  merit  in  all  cases,  whether  as  to  the  cattle 
themselves  or  the  methods  of  those  who  are 
pushing  their  claims  before  the  public,  and  en- 
tirely in  this  spirit  of  independence  and  im- 
partiality I  must  again,  repeat  that  so  far  as  I 
have  been  able  to  make  up  my  mind,  from  the 
experience  of  a  large  number  of  people  whose 
opinions  I  have  sought  on  this  question  (and 
who  have  not  been  altogether  harmonious  in 
their  views,  some  holding  to  one  breed  and 
some  to  another),  I  cannot  see  that  there  is  any 
perceptible  grounds  for  honest  preference  be- 
tween Herefords  and  Shorthorns  for  plains  use 
on  the  score  of  hardiness;  that  is,  where  animals 
themselves  are  in  all  respects  equal  and  equally 
conditioned  for  the  work.  But  it  is  undeniable 
that  there  are  some  Herefords  better  for  this 
purpose  than  some  Shorthorns ;  and  it  is  equally 
true  that  there  are  some  Shorthorns  better  for 
this  purpose  than  some  Herefords.  But  while 
I  believe  both  to  be  sufficiently  hardy,  there 
may  be  some  difference  as  to  their  feeding  qual- 
ities, to  which  I  have  sought  to  direct  the  atten- 
tion of  Hereford  breeders,  as  the  question  of 
importance.  And  this  has  been  the  main  pur- 
pose I  have  had  in  view,  and  have  continually 
brought  to  the  front,  and  I  do  not  think  be- 
cause I  have  urged  the  consideration  of  this 
question  that  my  friendship  for  the  Herefords 
should  be  challenged.  How  will  they  feed? 
Not  wholly  upon  the  plains,  but  as  compared 
with  each  other,  how  will  they  feed  when  taken 
to  the  States  to  be  finished?  For  their  beha- 
vior there  will  be  a  very  important  element  in 
determining  values. 

GEO.  W.  RUST. 

THE  PLAINS  CATTLE  PROBLEM. 

To  the  "Gazette" : 

It  is  not  creditable  to  Mr.  W.  E.  Campbell's 
candor  that  he  still  declines  to  consider  on  its 
merits  and  continues  to  denounce  as  mere  the- 
ory what  I  had  said  about  the  manner  of  rear- 
ing and  previous  treatment  affecting  the  hardi- 
hood and  usefulness  of  bulls  brought  upon  the 
plains.  It  is  not  a  mere  theory,  and  the  fact 
can  be  abundantly  verified  from  the  experience 
of  any  ranchman  who  has  cared  to  investigate 
the  matter.  I  regard  the  instance  cited  bv  Mr. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


527 


Campbell  some  time  since,  from  his  own  expe- 
rience, where  two  lots  of  bulls,  Herefords  and 
Shorthorns,  were  turned  upon  the  range  to- 
gether— the  Herefords  all  thriving  and  proving 
useful  and  valuable,  while  the  Shorthorns  did 
poorly  and  many  of  them  dying  the  first  win- 
ter— I  regard  this  experience  of  Mr.  Campbell 
as  abundantly  establishing  the  fact  that  the 
manner  in  which  bulls  have  been  raised  and 
treated  has  very  much  to  do  with  the  value  of 
bulls  when  brought  upon  the  range.  I  say  his 
experience  proves  this  position,  because  there 
appears  to  be  no  other  reason  why  the  results 
attending  the  introduction  of  these  two  lots  of 
bulls  should  have  been  essentially  different,  the 
experience  of  others  not  justifying  the  pre- 
sumption that  there  is  such  a  material  difference 
in  the  breeds  as  would  account  for  the  results. 
And  if  necessary  I  could  name  many  cases  in 
which  the  facts  support  my  position  in  this  mat- 
ter. Not  to  go  outside  of  my  own  county  I 
can  say  that  Mr.  Carey  Culver  purchased  of  the 
Illinois  breeder  Mr.  Gillette,  last  December, 
some  Shorthorn  bulls  which  had  been  raised 
upon  grass;  turned  them  into  enclosed  fields 
where  they  roughed  it  all  winter  with  the  other 
cattle,  and  came  through  to  the  spring  in  fine 
shape  and  increased  in  weight.  His  brother, 
Robert  Culver,  brought  in  at  the  same  time  Gal- 
loway hulls  purchased  at  public  sale  at  Chicago, 
and  evidently  highly  fed,  and  he  had  to  feed 
them  all  winter;  one  of  them  could  scarcely  be 
brought  through  at  all,  and  none  of  them  were 
of  any  account  until  midsummer.  At  the  same 
time  Mr.  Hart  brought  in  some  Hereford  bulls, 
purchased  of  an  Iowa  breeder  of  high  standing, 
who  had  probably  pushed  them  along  on  corn, 
and  they  had  to  be  kept  up  and  fed  all  winter, 
and  they  came  through  in  such  wretched  shape 
that  Geo.  Zweck,  who  kept  one  of  them  for  its 
use  until  it  was  taken  away  July  1,  was  unable 
to  secure  calves  from  him,  and  had  to  send  his 
cows  to  another  bull.  These  three  lots  of  bulls, 
representing  these  three  breeds,  came  into  this 
county  within  about  ten  days  of  each  other  last 
December,  and  were  all  kept  within  a  radius 
of  ten  miles,  and  the  difference  I  have  related 
of  their  hardihood  and  vigor  shows  that  the 
previous  treatment  to  which  they  were  sub- 
jected, was  the  important  matter  in  determin- 
ing their  immediate  and  permanent  usefulness, 
and  that  so  far  as  mere  hardiness  is  concerned 
the  breed  counts  for  nothing  (fl  373). 

1  am  afraid  Mr.  Campbell  does  not  care  to 
profit  either  by  his  own  experience  or  the  expe- 
rience of  others  else  he  would  hasten  to  exam- 
ine so  important  a  matter  as  this  as  soon  a.* 
suggested,  instead  of  attempting  to  "sneer  it 


down  the  wind"  as  a  mere  theory.  And  while 
unwilling  to  open  his  own  eyes  to  all  the  facts, 
he  does  not  appear  to  be  willing  that  the  public 
shall  have  the  benefit  of  them.  Believing  that 
he  had  the  very  best  Herefords  which  he  could 
buy,  1  asked  whether  he  was  equally  liberal  and 
careful  in  his  selections  of  Shorthorns,  and 
whether  the  unfavorable  experiences  he  relates 
of  Shorthorns  were  based  upon  trials  with  the 
best  Shorthorns  he  could  buy.  But  in  his  reply 
he  evades  this  point  and  fails  to  give  the  pub- 
lic the  means  of  estimating  at  its  worth  the  per- 
sonal experience  which  he  had  advanced  as 
showing  the  relative  merits  of  these  breeds  of 
cattle.  In  a  discusssion,  where  the  demonstra- 
tion of  truthful  facts  should  be  the  only  object, 
this  sort  of  evasion  or  concealment  of  important 
matters  is  not  to  be  commended.  No  one  should 
endeavor  to  win  his  case  on  technicalities.  And 
besides  1  am  told  that  Mr.  Campbell,  in  giving 
his  experience,  has  only  given  a  part  of  it,  and 
that  a  long  time  ago  he  confessed  to  Mr.  Pliny 
Nichols.,,  in  Iowa,  after  haying  purchased  two 
Hereford  bulls,  that  one  of  them  died  before  he 
got  him  home,  or  very  shortly  after,  and  that  he 
had  previously  owned  still  another  which  had 
done  him  no  good.  As  a  candid  gentleman  Mr. 
Campbell  should  have  stated  such  matters  as 
these.  To  withhold  them  is  to  treat  the  public 
unfairly.  In  getting  no  benefit  from  two  out 
of  three,  it  would  be  interesting  to  know 
whether  it  was  considered  due  to  the  breed  or 
to  the  manner  in  which  these  individuals  had 
been  handled  before  he  got  them. 

In  his  last  letter  Mr.  Campbell  remarks: 
"In  the  language  of  Napoleon  I  will  say,  'I 
have  but  one  lamp  by  which  my  feet  are  guided, 
and  that  is  the  lamp  of  experience.'  r' 

I  do  not  believe  Napoleon  ever  said  it.  Pat- 
rick Henry  had  been  in  his  grave  many  years 
before  the  great  Corsican  donned  the  purple, 
and  I  do  not  believe  he  ever  had  occasion  to  rob 
the  dead  American  of  his  laurels.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell is  unfortunate.  His  literary  experience 
and  observation  do  not  appear  to  have  been 
more  careful  and  accurate  than  his  observations 
and  experiences  with  cattle,  and  both  are 
equally  in  need  of  correction.  I  am  not  at  all 
surprised  at  the  confession  of  Mr.  Campbell 
that  he  has  been  studying  the  cattle  question  by 
lamplight.  It  was  quite  evident  that  his  range 
of  vision  was  very  limited,  and  the  light  he  was 
enjoying  very  feeble.  Perhaps  he  cannot  stand 
a  stronger  light,  but  if  he  can,  I  would  advise 
him  to  throw  away  his  lamp,  and  come  out  into 
the  daylight  where  he  can  see  everything,  and 
some  things  at  least,  in  their  true  relations  to 
each  other.  GEO.  W.  RUST. 


528 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD    CATTLE 


MORE  OF  MR.  CAMPBELL'S  EXPERIENCE. 

To  the  "Gazette": 

In  reply  to  Mr.  G.  W.  Rust's  letter  which  ap- 
peared in  your  issue  of  December  4th,  I  will 
say  my  former  letter  was  written  away  from 
home  while  awaiting  the  arrival  of  a  train, 
hence  Mr.  Rust's  previous  letter  was  not  before 
me.  I  have  since  referred  to  it  and  find  every 
essential  point  fully  answered  by  well-authenti- 
cated facts.  Had  the  gentleman  but  known  my 
views  in  reference  to  the  proper  manner  of 
breeding  and  rearing  bulls  for  range  use,  he 
would  have  saved  himself  the  trouble  of  writing 
a  whole  column  to  convince  the  public  of  my 
stupidity  in  not  rushing  headlong,  at  break- 
neck speed,  to  catch  on  to  his  wise  suggestion. 
I  have  never  deemed  it  necessary  to  dispute  self- 
evident  facts,  which  seems  to  be  Mr.  Rust's 
strong  forte,  from  which  he  discharges  his 
heavy  theoretical  guns.  Now,  in  order  to  dis- 
abuse the  gentleman's  perverted  mind  and  to 
set  him  right  on  the  point  in  question,  I  will 
quote  the  following  from  one  of  my  letters  that 
went  the  rounds  of  the  public  press  years  ago, 
at  which  time  (according  to  Mr.  Rust's  views) 
I  was  a  competent  judge : 

"The  weather  by  this  time  has  become  ex- 
ceedingly hot,  and  the  aristocratic  bovine  dukes 
and  princes  that  have  so  suddenly  been  deprived 
of  elegant  quarters  and  epicurean  diets  begin  to 
languish  and  dwindle  away  until  there  is 
nothing  left  but  an  unsightly  rack  of  hair  and 
bones.  The  result  is  nothing  more  than  could 
have  been  expected  under  the  circumstances. 
These  animals  have  been  bred  and  fed  to  sell, 
without  any  regard  to  their  future  usefulness. 
Many  of  them  have  been  in  the  stalls  all  their 
lives,  up  to  the  very  day  of  their  shipment,  and, 
as  a  natural  result,  have  accumulated  soft, 
spongy  flesh  and  but  little  sinew,  bone  or  mus- 
cle, so  essential  to  all  range  cattle.  Such  ex- 
perience has  led  many  ranchmen  to  believe  that 
thoroughbreds  are  not  hardy  or  profitable  for 
the  plains,  when  in  fact  the  fault  should  have 
been  placed  upon  the  breeder's  shoulders.  The 
truth  is,  no  cattle  are  more  hardy  than  the 
thoroughbreds,  when  properly  bred  and  reared, 
and  none  so  profitable  to  the  ranchman.  The 
stall-fed,  pampered  bulls  that  have  never  felt 
the  summer's  heat  or  winter's  cold,  never  have 
and  never  can  give  satisfaction  when  taken  to 
the  plains.  Our  ranchmen  cannot  use  too  much 
care  in  the  selection  of  their  bulls.  In  reality 
the  bulls  are  half  their  herds,  for  upon  them 
depends  the  number  and  quality  of  their  in- 
crease. They  should  select  good,  hardy  young 
bulls,  showing  plenty  of  masculine  vigor  and 


constitution,  and  such  only  as  carry  plenty  of 
flesh  and  show  an  aptitude  to  fatten  without  be- 
ing tied  up  in  the  stalls  and  stuffed.  Bulls  of 
this  character  that  have  been  raised  in  open  air 
always  have  been  profitable  and  given  the  best 
of  satisfaction  to  western  ranchmen." 

So  much  for  my  stupidity  and  Mr.  Rust's 
recent  discovery.  He  contends  that  one  breed 
is  as  hardy  as  another,  which  he  knows  is  not 
true.  Would  it  not  be  ridiculous  to  contend 
that  the  beautiful  little  Jerseys  were  as  hardy 
as  the  shaggy-coated  West  Highlanders  or  Gal- 
loways? 1  assure  you  the  difference  between 
the  Shorthorns  and  Herefords  is  as  well  estab- 
lished, and  this  marked  distinction  has  resulted 
from  the  different  manner  in  which  they  were 
bred  and  reared.  Furthermore,  Mr.  Rust's  own 
•  writings  justify  this  conclusion.  I  am  glad  he 
has  named  Mr.  Gillette  in  this  connection,  and 
he  might  have  added  the  names  of  William 
Warfield,  the  Messrs.  Potts,  Col.  Harris  of  this 
state,  and  a  few  other  intelligent  gentlemen  who 
have  labored  hard  and  unceasingly  to  build  up 
and  improve  the  Shorthorns  by  breeding  for  in- 
dividual worth,  constitution  and  the  butcher's 
block,  which  is  the  ultimatum  of  all  beef  ani- 
mals. Unfortunately,  while  these  gentlemen 
were  trying  to  improve  the  Shorthorn  race, 
thousands  of  their  fellow  breeders  were  as  ener- 
getically breeding  down,  breeding  pedigrees  in- 
and-in,  and  individual  merit,  constitution  and 
vitality  out,  until  the  entire  race  was  almost 
engulfed  and  the  country  flooded  with  wheez- 
ing, coughing,  consumptive  weeds,  unfit  for 
use  in  any  herd.  This  is  very  near  the  lan- 
guage once  applied  to  Shorthorns  by  Mr.  Rust, 
and  fully  explains  why  Shorthorns  have  proven 
so  inferior  to  other  breeds  when  put  to  the  test 
in  the  open  plains. 

Mr.  Rust  is  very  anxious  to  know  how  it 
happened  that  I  lost  one  of  my  first  Hereford 
bulls,  and  why  it  was  that  a  previous  one  for  a 
time  did  no  good.  He  says,  "As  a  candid  gen- 
tleman, Mr.  Campbell  should  have  stated  such 
matters  as  these."  Now  that  I  have  been  placed 
on  the  witness  stand,  I  shall  give  my  evidence, 
from  which  I  trust  Mr.  Rust  will  extract  solid 
comfort.  The  first  animal  referred  to  was 
killed  in  my  absence  by  an  irritable,  half-wit- 
ted wretch  by  the  name  of  Magee,  who  lived  on 
an  adjoining  farm.  The  bull  was  a  good  one 
and  I  wished  I  had  more  of  the  same  sort.  The 
latter,  that  he  alleges  did  me  no  good,  was  tem- 
porarily disabled  by  the  formation  of  a  fibrous 
tumor,  which  I  removed  by  the  use  of  the  knife 
(I  have  done  the  same  with  a  number  of  Short- 
horns), after  which  he  proved  a  vigorous 
server  and  an  excellent  getter.  After  leaving 


HISTOKY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


529 


my  hands  he  was  used  for  several  years  by  Geo. 
Hendricks,  who  only  parted  with  him  to  pre- 
vent in-breeding.  He  was  next  purchased  by 
Col.  W.  R.  Colcord,  and  now  stands  at  the 
head  of  his  herd  of  Shorthorns,  and  though  well 
advanced  in  years  he  is  still  active  as  and  vigor- 
ous as  a  calf,  and  is  giving  perfect  satisfac- 
tion. The  Colonel  is  as  clever  a  gentleman  as 
ever  left  the  blue  grass  regions  of  Kentucky, 
and  if  desired  I  have  no  doubt  he  would  be 
pleased  to  give  further  particulars  concerning 
this  aged  bovine  monarch  of  the  plains. 

Mr.  Rust, -like  Geo.  Morgan's  friend,  "Red, 
White  and  Roan,"  evades  the  principal  ques- 
tions at  issue,  and  now  that  the  hunting  and 
trout-fishing"  has  been  monopolized  by  Mr. 
"Red,  White  and  Roan/'  he  pitches  into  me  per- 
sonally, and  virtually  says  my  literary  attain- 
ments are  inferior  to  his,  and  that  my  hat  band 
is  smaller  than  the  one  worn  by  him,  which  is 
certainly  very  strong  argument  in  favor  of 
Shorthorns  as  range  cattle,  all  of  which  I  am 
willing  to  concede  rather  than  neglect  the  cattle 
or  quarrel  over  so  trifling  a  matter.  He  is  not 
even  satisfied  with  this,  but  accuses  me  of 
studying  the  cattle  business  by  lamplight.  A 
grave  charge  indeed,  but  nevertheless  true.  I 
confess  even  more.  I  have  studied  it  by  the 
glimmering  light  of  tallow  candles,  in  lonely 
and  isolated  dugouts,  far  beyond  the  reach  of 
civilization;  by  silvery  starlight,  while  making 
my  tedious  nightly  rounds  guarding  slumber- 
ing herds,  when  the  country  was  infested  by 
hostile  savages;  by  brilliant  sunlight,  when  my 
herds  were  slowly  wending  their  way  northward 
through  the  burning  sands  of  a  southern  clime. 

Yes,  I  have  studied  the  cattle  business  by  the 
light  of  as  fierce  and  vivid  death-dealing  light- 
ning as  ever  flashed  from  an  angry  sky,  and  a 
time,  too,  when  comrades  were  laid  low  in  death 
by  the  fury  of  the  storm.  When  the  artillery 
of  heaven  made  the  very  earth  tremble  by  the 
force  of  her  cannonading  and  peals  of  thunder, 
that  scattered  my  herds  in  the  wildest  and  most 
terrific  stampedes.  Yes,  my  lessons  in  the  cat- 
tle business  were  all  learned  in  the  stern  school 
of  experience,  and  of  course  cannot  be  com- 
pared to  Mr.  Rust's  theories  or  "book  larnin'." 

W.  E.  CAMPBELL. 

MATTERS    AFFECTING   USEFULNESS    OF   PLAINS 
CATTLE. 

To  the  "Gazette": 

There  is,  I  presume,  no  occasion  for  further 
discussion  between  W.  E.  Campbell  and  myself, 
he  having,  in  the  matter  at  issue  between  us, 
acknowledged  in  his  last  letter  that  the  position 
I  had  been  endeavoring  to  maintain  was  cor- 


rect. I  had  stated  that  the  manner  in  which 
bulls  were  raised  had  more  to  do  than  anything 
else,  with  their  practical  usefulness  and  vigor 
upon  the  plains,  and  that  to  this,  more  than 
the  matter  of  breed,  was  due  the  conflicting 
experience  of  individuals  with  the  different 
kinds  of  bulls.  Mr.  Campbell  would  not  listen 
to  any  such  talk,  and  denounced  it  as  mere 
theory.  After  considerable  discussion  back  and 
forth,  which  I  trust  has  not  been  wearisome  to 
your  readers,  Mr.  Campbell  concedes  that  the 
position  I  had  assumed  was  correct;  that  the 
manner  in  which  bulls  are  reared — as  to 
whether  pampered,  housed  and  forced  to  early 
and  excessive  growth,  on  corn  and  other  con- 
centrated foods — does  affect  their  usefulness 
and  capacities  for  plains  life.  And  he  even 
goes  further  and  submits  an  extract  written 
by  himself  and  published  years  ago,  in  which 
the  same  idea  was  advanced.  This  is  all  right; 
I  claim  no  originality  in  the  idea.  The  "the- 
ory" is  a  sound  one,  and  so  long  as  it  is  ad- 
mitted, I  am  quite  willing  that  Mr.  Campbell 
shall  himself  have  the  credit  of  having  first 
conceived  it.  It  is  certainly  worthy  of  the  "ex- 
perience" of  which  we  have  heard  so  much, 
and  of  the  study  of  the  cattle  problem  under 
the  discouraging  and  appalling  conditions  lie 
describes.  Having  brought  him  to  the  point 
of  publicly  confessing  what  he  knew  all  the 
time  to  be  facts,  I  congratulate  him  upon  his 
candor  and  bid  him  good-by. 


The  difference  in  the  breed  of  bulls  for  use 
on  the  plains,  so  far  as  the  points  of  present 
discussion  extend,  appear  to  me  to  be  much 
overestimated.  The  only  point  which  has  been 
seriously  urged  is  one  of  hardiness.  And  con- 
sidering the  fact  that  the  loss  among  plains 
cattle,  with  all  the  vicissitudes  and  inclemen- 
cies to  which  they  are  exposed,  are  practically 
as  small,  if  not  smaller,  than  the  losses  upon 
the  farms  and  cultivated  fields  east,  it  cannot 
be  contended  that  a  matter  of  increased  hardi- 
ness in  plains  cattle  is  one  of  very  great  im- 
portance, as  compared  with  some  other  matters. 
A  very  trifling  difference  in  quality  or  weight 
would  cut  much  more  figure  in  the  profits  of 
the  ranchman  than  anything  he  could  possibly 
secure  through  increased  hardiness  in  cattle  al- 
ready hardy  enough  for  the  practical  purposes 
of  their  surroundings.  A  very  large  proportion 
of  these  plains  cattle,  almost  all  of  them  in 
fact,  save  those -brought  from  Texas  and  the 
regions  bordering  upon  the  Gulf,  have  a  strong 
admixture  of  Shorthorn  blood — not  as  much 
as  they  ought  to  have,  but  still  more  or  less  of 
it.  And  their  hardiness,  so  far  as  the  require- 


530 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


ments  of  those  plains  are  concerned,  or  capa- 
bilities of  demonstrating  the  point,  being  suffi- 
cient, it  is  difficult  to  understand  the  necessity 
of  looking  further  on  that  score.  A  good  many 
Herefords  have  been  introduced,  and  the  in- 
fluence of  this  blood  can  be  seen  here  and  there, 
but  not  so  widely  disseminated  and  tried  as 
the  Shorthorns;  as  a  general  thing  the  Here- 
ford blood  has  had  the  advantage  of  being  rep- 
resented upon  the  range  by  animals  more  deeply 
bred  than  the  animals  representing  the  Short- 
horn blood.  That  is  to  say,  a  great  many  of 
the  animals  brought  upon  the  range  and  classed 
as  of  Shorthorn  blood  have  had  but  a 'meager 
proportion  of  that  blood,  while  of  those  brought 
upon  the  range  and  classed  as  Herefords,  most 
of  them  have,  until-  recently  a't  any  rate,  been 
fairly  crossed  with  that  blood.  There  appears 
to  be  no  lack  of  hardiness  in  the  range  animals 
showing  Hereford  blood,  and  in  this  respect 
they  are  fully  equal  to  those  owning  Shorthorn 
blood,  but,  I  do  not  believe,  any  better.  If  in 
the  years  to  come  experience  shall  finally  indi- 
cate a  permanent  preference  for  one  breed  over 
another  it  will  be,  I  am  satisfied,  not  on  the  score 
of  hardiness,  but  to  difference  in  maturity, 
quality  and  kindly-  submission  to  feeding  oper- 
ations farther  east. 

But  while  the  treatment  of  bulls  before  they 
are  brought  upon  the  plains  has  much  to  do 
with  their  usefulness,  the  manner  in  which  the 
ranchman  conducts  his  business  will  have 
much  to  do  with  the  satisfaction  derived  from 
their  use  and  is  a  factor  which  accounts  for 
much  of  the  diversity  in  the  related  experiences 
of  individuals,  with  the  various  breeds.  On 
one  range,  for  instance,  either  belonging  to  the 
owner  or  his  neighbors,  an  unusually  large  per- 
centage of  steers  are  maintained,  which  very 
materially  reduces  the  calf  crop,  and  this  is 
sometimes  wrongfully  imputed  to  want  of  vigor 
on  the  part  of  the  bulls.  Another  range  is  not 
favorably  situated  as  to  water,  and  animals  have 
to  travel  far  to  get  it,  and  become  more  widely 
scattered,  and,  in  consequence,  the  bulls  do  not 
have  as  free  and  constant  companionship  with 
the  cows  as  on  ranges  where  the  cattle  find  their 
food  and  water  nearer  together.  Then  some 
ranchmen  turn  their  bulls  upon  the  open  range 
and  expect  them  to  stay  there  the  whole  year 
round,  the  same  as  other  kinds  of  stock.  The 
result  is  that  the  bulls  are  working  more  or 
less  the  whole  year,  which  tells  on  them  strong- 
ly, and  then  the  calves  come  at  all  seasons, 
many  are  lost  before  the  owner  ever  sees  them, 
and  the  shortage  in  the  crop  is  charged  to  the 
inefficiency  of  the  bulls.  If  the  owner  happens 
to  inspect  the  stock  and  compares  experiences 


with  some  other  ranchman  who  separates  his 
bulls  from  the  herd  during  a  portion  of  tl^e 
year,  and  feeds  them  during  the  most  inclement 
season,  he  will  be  apt  to  acquire  a  very  unfavor- 
able impression  concerning  his  own  bulls  and 
what  they  can  accomplish.  But  about  the  last 
thing  he  will  do,  will  be  to  ascribe  the  difference 
to  the  treatment  which  his  bulls  receive.  It 
is  very  poor  policy,  especially  with  thorough- 
bred bulls  of  high  type,  to  require  them  to 
make  a  living  the  whole  year  round  on  the 
range.  If  they  rough  it  through,  it  detracts 
from  their  condition  for  service  the  next  season, 
and  with  good  bulls  it  does  not  pay.  A  great 
many  ranchmen  have  discovered  this  and  are 
careful  to  bring  in  their  best  bulls  where  they 
need  not  be  exposed  to  the  vicissitudes  which 
may  come  to  other  cattle. 

I  have  it  from  a  personal  acquaintance  re- 
siding near  Mr.  Campbell  that  this  is  his  prac- 
tice, and  that  he  is  careful  to  gather  up  his 
thoroughbred  Hereford  bulls  from  the  range  at 
the  close  of  each  season  and  bring  them  into  the 
ranch,  where  they  can  be  cared  for  during  the 
winter,  and  brought  into  proper  condition  for 
next  season's  work.  The  practice  should  be 
commended.  No  other  course  will  secure  the 
full  advantages  which  should  be  secured  from 
the  use  of  thoroughbred  bulls. 

GEO.  W.  RUST. 

OF  THE  SAME  OPINION  STILL. 

To  the  "Gazette" : 

Mr.  Geo.  W.  Rust,  in  his  article  in  your  issue 
of  January  1,  says:  "There  is,  I  presume,  no 
occasion  for  further  discussion  between  Mr.  W. 
E.  Campbell  and  myself."  Thus  far  he  is  emi- 
nently correct.  The  Herefords  have  been  shown 
to  be  superior  to  Shorthorns,  not  only  as  hardy, 
impressive  range  cattle,  but  as  feeders  also;  and 
furthermore  that  they  bring  more  per  pound 
when  sent  to  market.  All  these  facts  have  been 
demonstrated  by  actual  tests  made  by  wealthy 
and  reputable  stockmen,  the  names  of  whom  I 
have  already  given,  and  not  by  theories  in- 
vented by  correspondents  who  practically  know 
nothing  of  the  subject  at  issue. 

To  more  fully  explain  my  position  I  will 
state:  Several  years  ago  I  bought  a  herd  of 
Texas  cows  and  calves  for  $18  for  each  cow  and 
calf.  Allowing  the  calves  to  be  worth  $6  per 
head,  the  cows  cost  $12  per  head.  Some  of 
these  cows  escaped  from  the  common  herd  and 
lodged  with  my  fine  herd  some  ten  miles  away, 
and  thus  were  accidentally  bred  to  Hereford 
bulls,  and  afterwards  dropped  calves  that  were 
as  shapely  and  Avell  marked  as  thoroughbreds 
and  when  yet  yearlings  weighed  from  1,016  to 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


531 


1,2  GO  pounds  each.  The  lightest,  a  heifer  that 
had  suffered  severely  from  pinkeye  and  had 
been  on  grass  all  summer,  was  sold  to  a  Chi- 
cago butcher  for  eight  cents  a  pound,  amount- 
ing to  $81.20.  1  sold  two  others  for  $165  and 
the  heaviest  one  for  $100,  which  (to  me  at 
least)  are  satisfactory  dividends  on  my  $12 
Texas  cow  investment,  topped  by  a  Hereford 


cross. 


I  have  bred  some  good  Shorthorn  grades  on 
the  range,  and  have  taken  more  prizes  at  fat 
stock  shows  with  them  than  any  other  ranch- 
man in  the  land.  In  fact,  the  only  time 
my  Shorthorn  grades  ever  met  defeat  was  when 
they  came  in  competition  with  a  carload  of 
range  cattle  that  had  Hereford  blood  in  their 
veins.  The  moment  I  saw  them  I  knew  defeat 
was  inevitable,  and  I  received  a  second  pre- 
mium very  complacently.  I  have  never  seen  any 
Shorthorn  grades  from  the  range  that  could 
compare  with  grade  Here  fords,  either  for 
weight  or  quality  off  grass,  or  that  would  bring 
as  much  per  pound  when  sent  to  market,  and 
these  are  the  reasons  why  I  prefer  the  White- 
faces.  Furthermore,  I  am  willing  to  show  half- 
breed  Herefords,  out  of  these  little  $12  Texas 
cows,  against  an  equal  number  of  half  or  even 
three-fourths  bred  Shorthorns,  owned  and  bred 
on  the  range  by  exhibitor,  at  any  railroad  point 


within  fifty  or  100  miles  from  Caldwell,  for  a 
purse  of  $500,  the  money  to  be  donated  to  any 
charitable  enterprise  the  exhibitors  or  judges 
may  designate. 

Mr.  Rust  claims  I  have  conceded  his  position 
as  correct,  though  he  knows  such  is  not  the  case. 
In  my  last  I  showed  that  it  was  simply  ridicu- 
lous to  claim  that  one  breed  was  as  hardy  as 
another,  and  gave  good  reasons  for  this  conclu- 
sion, namely,  the  manner  in  which  they  (the 
breeds)  have  been  bred  and  reared,  not  for  the 
past  twenty-four  hours  or  twenty-four  weeks, 
as  Mr.  Rust  teaches,  but  for  generations,  or  a 
term  of  fifty  or  one  hundred  years. 

I  further  assigned  reasons  why  the  Short- 
horns in  particular  were  inferior  to  other  breeds 
when  put  to  the  test  on  the  open  range.  I  stated 
that  "the  majority  of  Shorthorn  breeders  had 
followed  the  family  or  fashion  craze  for  years, 
breeding  pedigrees  in-an-in,  and  individual 
merit,  constitution  and  vitality  out,  until  the 
country  was  flooded  with  wheezing,  coughing 
weeds  unfit  for  use  in  any  herd."  If  this  is 
conceding  the  correctness  of  Mr.  Rust's  opinion 
(and  he  has  so  stated)  there  is  certainly  no  need 
of  further  argument.  I  therefore  respond  to 
his  courteous  "good-by"  with  an  humble  bow 
and  a  hearty  farewell  shake. 

W.  E.  CAMPBELL. 


532 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

CONCLUSION — THE  PRESENT  AND  FUTURE 


OPEN  BATTLE  OP  BREEDS  BENEFICIAL  TO  ALL.     BEWARE  OF  SUBTLE  MANIPULATION. 


It  has  come  to  be  the  settled  principle  of  the 
advanced  nations  that  they  go  to  war  only  to 
obtain  peace.  That  is  to  say,  that  in  the  case 
of  the  more  intelligent  and,  therefore,  leading 
nations,  the  sacrifices  of  war  are  followed  by 
the  establishment  of  a  beneficent  peace  that  is 
generally  worth  all  the  cost.  Justifiable  war 
is  a  duty. 

The  "Battle  of  the  Breeds"  has  likewise  been 
beneficial  beyond  measure  to  all  sound  cattle 
interests.  Our  position  in  the  "Battle  of  the 
Breeds,"  and  that  of  our  predecessor,  the  Here- 
ford champion,  Mr.  William  H.  Sotham,  was, 
likewise,  one  of  duty  and  not  of  pleasure.  Each 
in  turn  maintained  a  sturdy  fight,  and  put  up 
with  all  the  hardships  and  trials  incident  to 
battle.  Yet,  we  dare  say  that  the  efforts  of  both 
-were  prompted  by  a  well-founded  knowledge 
that  ultimately  we  must  accomplish  great  good ; 
not  simply  to  the  Hereford  cause  but  to  the 
whole  cattle  interest,  and  therefore  to  agricul- 
ture generally. 

At  the  time  we  joined  in  the  fight  that  Mr. 
Sotham  had  been  maintaining  singlehanded  for 
over  two  score  years,  we  found  that  the  better 
class  'of  Shorthorns  were  kept  in  the  back- 
ground, and  the  efforts  of  leading  Shorthorn 
breeders  were  directed  towards  forcing  upon  the 
Shorthorn  breeders  an  inferior  type  of  Short- 
horns and  this  at  fabulous  prices.  Our  efforts, 
directed  as  they  were  towards  bringing  a  more 
compact  type  into  public  favor,  by  proving  the 
Herefords  and  their  type  the  more  practical 
and  profitable  for  beef  production,  were  in  no 
wise  intended  to  menace  the  Shorthorn  breed, 
but  rather,  it  was  a  crusade  directed  particu- 
larly against  the  selfish  wishes  and  ill-conceived 
plans  of  those  Shorthorn  breeders  who  were 
booming  what  Mr.  Sotham  aptly  characterized 
as  the  "Bates  mania." 

Unfortunately  for  the  Shorthorn  interest, 
the  breeding  of  the  Bates  family  of  Shorthorn 
cattle  had  gotten — as  the  saying  was — into  the 
hands  of  "men  with  more  money  than  brains/' 


or  rather,  as  we  would  put  it,  into  the  posses- 
sion of  "men  of  means  without  practical  cattle 
experience."  Or,  in  other  words,  the  Short- 
horns were  the  pets  and  playthings  of  men  who 
bred  for  pedigree  rather  than  individuality. 
These  men,  and  others  less  opulent,  who  aped 
them,  were  free  handed  in  spending  money  with 
agricultural  papers  to  puff  and  flatter  them  in 
their  vain  desires  to  appear  as  benefactors  to 
American  agriculture. 

We  have  shown  conclusively  that  beginning 
with  the  first  agricultural  paper,  viz.,  "The 
Albany  Cultivator,"  then  the  "Ohio  Farmer," 
the  "Michigan  Farmer,"  the  "National  Live 
Stock  Journal,"  the  "Live  Stock  Record,"  the 
"Farmers'  Magazine,"  etc.,  down  to  the  "Breed- 
ers' Gazette,"  as  they  were  each  in  turn  estab- 
lished, all  were  controlled  in  the  interest  of  the 
Bates  Shorthorn,  and  the  early  files  of  the  last 
named  journal,  though  now  unquestionably  the 
leading  agricultural  journal  of  the  world,  prove 
that  it  was,  in  its  incipiency,  fostered  by  the 
Bates  clique,  though  run  ostensibly  in  the  whole 
Shorthorn  interest. 

Most  of  these  papers,  still  in  existence,  under 
different  management,  now  emphatically  con- 
demn what  they  formerly  advocated,  and  stren- 
uously deny  their  partiality  for  any  particular 
breed.  Yet,  regardless  of  denials,  it  must  be 
noticed  that  the  old  "first  love"  prevails  very 
marked  in  some  instances.  We  can  see  some 
reason  for  this,  in  their  self  interest,  because, 
although  the  Hereford  is  now  acknowledged 
the  beef  breed  par  excellence,  and  his  type  has 
been  as  far  as  possible  appropriated  and  adopt- 
ed by  the  meritorious  families  of  Shorthorns; 
yet,  the  Shorthorn  advertisers  predominate  and 
there  has  been  extreme  effort  on  the  part  of 
certain  of  these  editors  to  collect  and  publish 
favorable  Shorthorn  data  that  would  be  com- 
mendable, were  they  not  by  comparison  ex- 
tremely and  unwarrantedly  negligent  in  their 
efforts  to  collect  and  publish  similar  informa- 
tion in  regard  to  the  Herefords. 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


533 


The  Hereford  men  nowadays  are  very  lib- 
eral advertisers,  by  reason  of  which  they  have 
been  allowed  to  toot  their  own  horns  unmo- 
lested, but  it  is  a  most  notable  fact  that  even 
yet  certain  leading  live  stock  papers  of  their 
own  motion  do  comparatively  nothing  toward 
collecting  and  publishing  Hereford  data,  while 
sparing  no  pains  or  expense  to  perfect  and  pub- 
lish their  knowledge  of  Shorthorns.  Even  the 
Angus  have  had  a  goodly  share  of  editorial  in- 
terest exhibited  in  them,  and  correspondents 
have  been  paid  to  dig  up  their  family  history 
in  a  connected  and  extended  way  that  has  not 
been  accorded  to  the  Herefords. 

This  state  of  affairs  has  made  our  Hereford 
History  a  necessity  to  the  Hereford  breed.  As 
a  matter  of  course,  we  have  had  to  republish 
the  history  of  many  things  that  were  unpleas- 
ant at  the  time  of  their  occurrence,  yet  a  history 
is  a  history,  and  we  have  always  been  in  the 
habit  of  calling  things  by  their  right  names  and 
stating  facts  in  their  utmost  baldness.  If,  in 
our  work,  we  say  or  have  said  anything  offen- 
sive of  offending  Shorthorn  breeders  or  their 
offending  friends,  we  entertain  the  sincere  be- 
lief that  it  has  been  to  the  benefit  of  the  Short- 
horn breed,  for  in  placing  the  Hereford  promi- 
nently before  the  American  beef  raiser  we  have 
as  is  now  everywhere  conceded,  compelled  a 
modification  and  improvement  of  the  Short- 
horn breed  of  cattle. 

To  our  certain  knowledge.  Scotch  Shorthorns 
(for  years  the  most  meritorious  family  of  the 
breed)  in  the  days  when  we  were  making  our 
hardest  fight  for  the  Herefords,  so  lacked  ap- 
preciation that  the  breeders  of  these  plebeian 
but  splendid  beef  cattle,  were  compelled  to 
make  steers  of  their  bulls,  and  place  them  in 
their  feed  lots.  To  meet  the  Herefords  in  the 
show  ring,  a  demand  sprung  up  for  Scotch  cat- 
tle when  the  victories  of  the  Duke  of  Richmond 
and  his  get  in  the  show  ring  were  the  only 
bright  spots  in  the  Shorthorn  campaign.  It 
was  the  Herefords  that  forced  value  into  the 
Scotch  blood  for  show  ring  purposes,  yet  for  a 
while,  though  splendid  Scotch  animals  brought 
hundreds  each,  at  the  same  time,  Bates'  Dukes 
and  Duchesses  —  manifestly  inferior  to  the 
Scotch  in  every  beefing  particular — sold  for  as 
many  thousands. 

As  the  result  of  persistent  Hereford  aggres- 
sions, all  things  are  changed  to-day,  and  now 
we  see  in  the  Shorthorn  breed  the  highest  prices 
paid  for  individual  excellence  in  animals 
that  formerly  were  considered  "unfashionable 
blood,"  their  only  danger  now  appearing  to  be 
in  the  direction  of  a  "Scotch  craze,"  based  on 
the  similar  erratic  lines  of  the  "Bates  mania," 


but  the  competition  between  breeds  may,  we 
think,  be  trusted  to  keep  them  within  bounds. 

The  effective  assistance  rendered  to  the  beef 
interests  by  the  National  Shows,  and  the  im- 
petus to  State  Shows,  given  by  the  intelligent 
use  of  the  funds  of  the  Hereford,  Shorthorn, 
and  Angus  Associations,  will,  we  trust,  tend  to 
keep  down  any  craze  in  either  of  these  breeds 
for  special  lines  of  blood  not  identified  with  the 
excellence  of  the  individual.  In  this  intelli- 
gent fostering  of  a  great  industry,  we  note  with 
pride  the  Hereford  breeders  leading  the  way. 

Were  some  of  those  who  now  most  ardently 
support  "individual  merit"  in  Shorthorns,  as 
against  "pedigree  fads,"  to  rise  up  too  quickly 
to  criticize  this,  the  closing  work  of  our  life,  we 
should  of  necessity  be  obliged  to  quote  some- 
what further  from  their  favoring  connection 
with  the  grave  errors  of  Shorthorn  history,  and 
if,  in  the  quotations  we  have  made,  anything 
be  said  that  is  unpleasant  to  anyone  that  is  or 
was  connected  with  the  Shorthorn  interest,  our 
plea  in  extenuation  is  that  only  by  such  plain 
statements  of  facts  are  the  best  interests  of 
cattle  breeding  subserved. 

The  Hereford  movement  in  America,  in 
which  we  are  accorded  the  leading  position,  not 
only  brought  the  Hereford  into  notice  but 
helped  the  Shorthorn  breed  as  it  never  was  able 
to  help  itself.  This  being  conceded  on  all  sides, 
we  may  be  pardoned  for  making  some  sug- 
gestions. 

Appreciation  is  all  there  is  in  life.  The 
Hereford  Society. has  in  many  instances  been 
liberal  in  the  matter  of  encouraging  Hereford 
breeders  by  the  disbursement  of  prize  money, 
but  when  the  matter  is  given  thought,  I  am 
sure  I  will  be  endorsed  in  saying,  that,  though 
unintentional,  perhaps,  through  their  associa- 
tion they  have  been  ungenerous  in  other  direc- 
tions. 

In  a  previous  chapter,  the  brief  list  of  con- 
tributors of  a  testimonial  purse  to  Wm.  H. 
Sotham  for  his  many  years'  championship  of 
sound  cattle  interests  is  an  instance.  Though 
not  at  any  time  a  man  of  wealth,  there  never 
lived  a  more  independent  man;  and  having 
some  mind  of  our  own,  we  can  feel  for  the  vete- 
ran when  at  a  later  meeting  of  the  Hereford 
breeders,  he  appeared  before  it  with  the  inten- 
tion of  returning  the  purse,  because  it  had  been 
said  that  it  was  a  "charity."  Nothing  could 
have  fired  the  old  man's  indignation  further. 
Happily  the  leading  Hereford  breeders  appre- 
ciated Mr.  Sotham's  work,  and  having  his  con- 
fidence, were  able  to  convince  him  that  paltry 
as  the  purse  was,  it  was  presented  in  the  spirit 
of  appreciation  for  his  work,  and  a  resolution 


534 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


was  passed  unanimously  in  accordance  with 
these  assurances. 

That  was  in  the  days  of  individual  subscrip- 
tion before  the  Association  owned  the  Herd 
Book,  or  had  any  fixed  source  of  revenue.  To- 
day, it  is  different.  With  an  overflowing  treas- 
ury, the  liberality  of  Hereford  breeders  should 
yet  show  itself  in  an  appropriate  monument, 
expressive  of  appreciation  for  the  great  work 
Mr.  Sotham  did.  The  Shorthorn  Association 
should  join  in  this  movement,  for  Mr.  Sotham 
was  ever  a  friend  of  their  best  cattle  and  solici- 
tous of  the  true  interests  of  the  Shorthorn 
breed.  Likewise,  the  Angus  had  his  good  will, 
for  they  were  favorites  with  him,  while  the  lit- 
tle West  Highlander  was  probably  his  ideal  of 
a  perfect  beef  animal.  While  Mr.  Sotham  ad- 
vocated particularly  the  Hereford  breed,  it  was 
because,  as  a  breed,  they  had  a  higher  standard 
of  uniform  excellence  than  any  other  breed; 
their  standard  if  equalled  at  all  by  any  other 
breed  being  approached  only  by  its  best  speci- 
mens. 

Our  own  experience  at  the  recent  meeting 
(1899)  of  the  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breed- 
ers' Association,  leads  us  the  more  to  believe 
that  a  man's  work  may  not  be  appreciated  at  its 
full  value  during  his  lifetime,  or  while  jealous 
contemporaries  hold  the  machinery  of  organi- 
zation. We  fully  appreciated  Mr.  Sotham's  work 
during  his  lifetime,  but,  in  the  stress  of  the 
fight,  we  were  unable  to  stop  and  bind  up  his 
wounds,  although  it  was  fully  in  our  heart  to 
do  so ;  but  time  presses  and  waits  for  no  man, 
and  we  are  thus  tardily  doing  our  very  best  to 
have  the  works  of  Mr.  Sotham  appreciated. 
Feeling  that  Mr.  T.  F.  B.  Sotham  would  ap- 
preciate this  recognition  of  his  father's  work 
for  the  improvement  of  American  cattle  we 
can  state  that  our  unpleasant  experience  at  the 
recent  meeting  resulted  unexpectedly  in  one 
source  of  gratification,  for  it  led  us  to  confer 
with  Mr.  Sotham,  through  which  conference 
we  agreed  with  him  upon  the  revision  and  pub- 
lication of  our  work,  independent  of  any  un- 
friendly censorship. 

As  was  known  to  many  members  of  the  Here- 
ford Cattle  Breeders'  Association,  we  agreed 
with  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Associa- 
tion to  write  a  History  of  Hereford  Cattle  for 
the  Association.  We  entered  into  this  work 
in  no  narrow  mood,  but  with  a  love  for  the 
labor  and  a  broad  feeling  of  assurance  that  we 
were  equipped  better  than  anyone  else  to  do 
this  work,  and  in  the  firm  belief  that  such  a 
work  was  needed  and  would  be  appreciated. 
After  spending  a  year  upon  the  work,  we  found 
that  at  our  time  of  life  it  was  a  much  greater 


and  more  arduous  task  than  we  had  estimated ; 
several  years  having  passed  since  we  had  retired 
from  active  business.  While  the  money  that 
we  had  agreed  uy)on  with  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee as  compensation  would  have  been  a  con- 
venience, we,  at  no  time,- felt  as  though  we  were 
working  for  a  money  consideration.  As  we  got 
into  the  work,  reviewing  our  past  struggles  and 
triumphs,  we  renewed  our  youth  in  a  revival  of 
our  interest  in  beef  cattle  improvement.  The 
splendid  enthusiasm  of  the  Hereford  men  at 
their  shows  was  encouraging. 

When,  therefore,  we  came  to  the  meeting 
with  several  hundred  pages  of  manuscript,  ready 
to  show  what  we  had  accomplished  and  to  out- 
line what  we  further  wished  to  do  in  comple- 
tion of  the  work,  we  suggested  to  the  Executive 
Committee  that  we  could  use  a  part  of  the  com- 
pensation, and  were  pained  on  meeting  the 
committee  to  learn  that  our  work  was  by  them 
considered  a  mere  dollars-and-cents  matter,  and 
that  even  when  completed  we  could  have  no 
assurance  that  the  work  would  be  published. 
At  any  rate  the  Executive  Committee  crawled 
behind  a  technicality,  and  although  they  as- 
sumed unbridled  authority  in  many  directions 
in  other  matters  they  pleaded  that  they  had  no 
authority  to  turn  over  any  part  of  the  money 
until  the  entire  work  was  completed. 

To  show  how  utterly  devoid  of  sincerity  the 
committee's  plea  was  I  would  add  that  a  little 
later,  in  honeyed  phrases,  they  offered  to^take 
the  data  and  uncompleted  work  as  we  then  had 
it,  and  pay  the  full  amount  of  money  ($500) 
for  it,  uncompleted.  The  design  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  ruler  was  so  plainly  evident 
that  we  would  not,  under  any  circumstances, 
allow  our  work  to  go  into  his  hands  to  be  re- 
vised and  edited ;  and  therefore  we  resolved  to 
cancel  our  agreement  with  the  Hereford  Asso- 
ciation. Our  friends,  however,  were  not  con- 
tent to  let  the  matter  remain  in  this  condition, 
and  it  was  brought  before  the  meeting,  but  the 
Executive  Committee,  carrying  in  proxy  votes 
"the  power  of  the  Association,  was  enabled,  by 
an  empty  subterfuge  of  alleged  business  prin- 
ciple, to  defeat  what  was  unquestionably  the 
will  of  the  Association. 

It  is  beyond  our  comprehension  how  the 
American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Associa- 
tion continues  to  submit  to  the  rule  of  a  com- 
mittee of  three  men  who  are  known  to  be  domi- 
,  nated  by  one  of  its  members.  The  Executive 
Committee  of  the  American  Hereford  Cattle 
Breeders'  Association,  as  now  (1899)  con- 
structed, amounts  to  one-man  rule,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  that  man, 
as  the  head  of  the  Executive  Committee,  is  the 


HIST OK Y  OF  HEKEFORD  CATTLE 


535 


ruler  of  the  Association.  The  forbearance  and 
conciliatory  spirit  in  the  great  majority  of  the 
Hereford  Association  are  matters  for  wonder, 
as  well  as  for  great  congratulation.  The  Con- 
stitution and  By-Laws  of  the  Association  were 
unquestionably  good  and  sufficient  for  the  time 
when  they  were  made.  It  was  well  to  have 
then,  and  it  is  well  to  have  now,  and  I  hope  we 
always  will  have  the  most  stringent  rules  in  re- 
gard to  registration,  and  the  firmest  safeguards 
against  those  rules  being  thoughtlessly  or  hastily 
changed;  but  the  other  by-laws  and  all  other 
business,  outside  of  the  registration  rules,  should 
be  subject  to  the  will  of  the  majority  at  meet- 
ings, and  not  subject  to  the  will  of  a  single  man 
and  his  clique,  as  it  has  been  and  will  be  under 
existing  conditions,  or  until  some  leader  rises 
up,  and  facing  the  unpleasant  and  demoralizing 
situation,  declares  the  facts  to  each  member  of 
the  Association.  It  has  been  demonstrated 
that  the  Executive  Committee  as  at  present 
constructed  will  not  relinquish  their  power  with- 
out a  struggle,  so  that  it  is  not  difficult  to 
prophesy  that  their  narrow,  selfish  policy  will, 
in  time,  make  a  revolution  imperative. 

When  we  think  of  what  the  Hereford  breed 
of  cattle  is,  in  the  importance  of  its  relation 
to  the  beef  interests  of  the  world,  we  are  amazed 
that  a  few  Hereford  breeders  will  come  together 
once  a  year  at  the  annual  meeting  to  listen  to 
the  same  old  sort  of  a  report,  and  to  act  upon 
cut-and-dried  business  prepared  for  them  by 
the  Executive  Committee  in  the  same  old  way, 
and  to  which  cut-and-dried  preparation  they  are 
limited  in  the  action  and  business  of  the  con- 
vention. Much  against  the  will  of  an  offensive 
oligarchy,  the  association  elected  Mr.  T.  F.  B. 
Sotham  (^377)  president  at  the  recent  meet- 
ing (1899).  We  mistake  the  character  of  Mr. 
Sotham,  and  he  will  not  be  true  to  his  position 
as  champion  of  the  Herefords,  or  worthy  of 
his  father,  if  he  does  not  throw  light  on  this 
"clique"  and  the  subtle  errors  of  their  way. 

The  Executive  Committee  passes  upon  all 
constitutional  legislation  to  be  submitted  to  the 
Association.  If  they  decline  to  submit  the  prop- 
osition of  a  member  that  proposition  cannot 
come  before  the  meeting.  If  they  condescend 
to  present  such  proposition  they  present  it  in 
a  form  that  must  be  adopted  or  rejected  with- 
out the  changing  of  a  single  word.  This  sys- 
tem except  as  concerns  rules  for  registration 
is  absurd,  silly,  and  ought  not  to  be  tolerated. 
The  idea  of  a  body  of  men  of  the  character, 
intelligence  and  wealth  of  the  American  Here- 
ford Cattle  Breeders'  Association  submitting  to 
any  such  little  narrow  plan  is  preposterous,  and 
I  am  convinced  from  much  communication  with 


the  members  of  the  Association  that  the  system 
needs  only  to  be  aired  properly  by  a  well-mean- 
ing, loyal  and  influential  breeder  to  insure  a 
prompt  and  profitable  change.  We  therefore,  in 
closing,  devote  a  little  space  to  this  matter. 

Why  should  the  Hereford  interests  submit  to 
any  such  narrow  control  ?  We  concede  that  the 
members  of  the  present  (1899)  Executive  Com- 
mittee may  be  considered  just  as  intelligent  and 
worthy  as  any  other  members  of  the  Association, 
but  we  insist  they  are  not  more  so.  There  never 
was  a  body  of  men  constituted  that  has  more 
good  material  for  effective  work  than  the  Amer- 
ican Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Association,  and 
the  Association  falls  very  far  short  of  its  duty 
in  not  availing  itself  of  this  material.  There 
is  positively  no  good  to  be  gained  and  an  op- 
portunity for  much  harm  in  giving  any  man  a 
life  tenure  of  office.  The  course  for  many  years 
has  been  for  the  annual  meeting  to  assemble  in 
Chicago  on  one  evening  in  November,  ostensibly 
at  8  o'clock,  although  it  is  nearer  9  before  the 
meeting  is  called  to  order;  and  when  the  clock 
nears  11  there  has  always  been  an  urgent  and 
very  apparent  desire  on  the  part  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committeemen  to  have  the  business  over 
and  an  adjournment  agreed  to.  The  business 
has  consisted  of  the  reports  of  the  Executive 
Committee  and  Treasurer,  the  latter  being  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee.  They 
report  their  work  of  the  last  year,  and  propose 
their  work  for  the  ensuing  year,  merely  asking 
the  sanction  of  a  necessary  appropriation.  If 
they  can  possibly  get  these  reports  adopted  and 
agreed  to  in  full,  at  one  stroke,  the  plain  desire 
of  the  Executive  Committee  is  then  fully  car- 
ried out.  Committee  matters  of  interest  to 
breeders,  discussions  of  what  would  be  helpful 
to  them  in  their  work,  matters  that  can  only 
be  elucidated  by  full  and  complete  discussion, 
that  would  make  the  conventions  of  the  Asso- 
ciation interesting  and  profitable,  are  ignored, 
that  a  cut-and-dried  program  may  be  carried 
through  in  the  most  expeditious  manner  pos- 
sible. The  better  acquaintance  of  Hereford 
breeders,  the  discussion  of  their  experiences,  the 
reading  of  appropriate  papers,  and  the  free  and 
full  discussion  of  pertinent  Hereford  matters, 
such  as  breeding  problems,  feeding  experiments, 
judging  systems,  selection  of  judges,  etc.,  would 
create  and  renew  such  general  interest  that  the 
accruing  benefits  would  make  a  general  desire 
for  the  longest  sessions  convenient  rather  than 
the  shortest  farces  possible. 

We  have  no  more  pecuniary  interest  in  the 
Herefords,  and  of  more  than  eighty  years  of  life 
we  have  spent  thirty  in  the  Hereford  interest, 
and  therefore  know  that  we  can  say  what  we 


536 


are  saying  without  anyone  rightly  feeling  that 
we  have  "an  ax  to  grind."  On  this  matter  we 
write  as  we  have  in  the  rest  of  our  work,  without 
any  hidden  meaning.  Straightforwardness  has 
ever  been  our  method.  When  we  began  prepar- 
ing this  work,  knowing  that  it  must  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  Executive  Committee,  and  know- 
ing well  each  member  of  that  committee,  to 
meet  what  we  conceived  would  be  their  require- 
ments we  were  constrained  to  clothe  our  words 
with  a  little  of  that  hateful  subtlety  which  has 
ever  characterized  our  opponents  from  without 
as  well  as  within  the  Hereford  camp.  But 
when  we  felt  obliged  to  cancel  our  agreement 
with  the  Executive  Committee  we  were  relieved 
of  a  distressing  position,  and  we  at  once  deter- 
mined to  renounce  subtlety  and  all  its  works, 
and  confine  our  efforts  to  those  methods  and  to 
that  system  of  language  which  had  ever  been 
inseparable  from  our  work. 

We  know  with  what  reluctance  a  Hereford 
breeder  would  take  up  the  leadership  of  a  cru- 
sade against  existing,  offensive  and  retarding 
conditions  and  dangerous  tendencies  in  the 
American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Associa- 
tion. No  one  rushes,  without  grave  provoca- 
tion, into  a  family  row.  The  Association,  even 
under  the  prevailing  system,  has  been,  as  if 
ought  to  be,  in  the  advance  of  any  similar  or- 
ganization. But  the  system  makes  for  one  man 
control  and  an  autocrat  generally  resents  the 
slightest  criticism,  and  having  control  of  the 
machinery  of  the  Association  uses  it  more  or 
less  effectively  to  the  detriment  of  his  critics. 
An  octogenarian,  however,  out  of  business, 
speaking  for  the  good  of  others  in  a  cause  he 
loves  so  well,  need  fear  nothing,  even  if  he 
speaks  freely.  Incidents  illustrating  our  mean- 
ing may  be  enumerated,  but  one  will  suffice. 

It  was  the  habit  of  the  Treasurer  of  the 
American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Associa- 
tion up  to  1898  to  give  a  personal  bond,  the 
strength  of  which  up  to  that  time,  we  are  safe 
in  saying,  was  never  properly  investigated.  Now 
we  do  not  question  the  validity  or  sufficiency 
of  the  bond,  but  call  attention  to  the  careless- 
ness of  the  Association  in  regard  to  it. 

Let  us  go  further.  The  Treasurer's  bond  was 
passed  upon  by  the  Executive  Committee,  of 
which  the  Treasurer  was  the  active,  leading  and 
ruling  member.  Again,  a  large  surplus  fund 
amounting  to  $20,000  had  accumulated,  which 
the  Association  ordered  to  be  kept  invested  in 
IT.  S.  bonds.  With  the  consent  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee,  of  which  the  Treasurer  was 

THE  PREVAILING  MEMBER,  this  Surplus  W8S  kept 

by  the  Treasurer  for  many  years  in  unregis- 
tered United  States  Government  bonds.  These 


bonds  needed  no  endorsement,  being  exactly  the 
same  as  cash,  thus  placing  the  entire  funds  of 
our  Association  at  the  disposal  of  and  for  the  use 
and  benefit  of  the.  Treasurer  without  interest, 
upon  a  personal  bond  furnished  to  and  passed 
upon  by  the  Executive  Committee,  which  was 
essentially  himself.  We  consider  it  fortunate 
for  the  Hereford  Association  that  our  Treasurer 
was  able  to  weather  the  panic  of  '93.  We  have 
no  reason,  however,  to  believe  him  any  more 
honest  than  the  treasurer  of  the  Shorthorn  As- 
sociation, who,  as  is  well  known,  became  finan- 
cially embarrassed,  and,  doing  his  best,  turned 
over  real  estate  of  questionable  value  to  the 
Shorthorn  Association  in  lieu  of  a  similar 
amount  of  cash.  Again,  in  the  office  of  the 
Treasurer  there  was  no  systematic  accounting 
system.  We  are  not  specifically  charging  dis- 
honesty on  the  part  of  the  Treasurer.  We  mere- 
ly call  attention  to  the  looseness  of  the  Associa- 
tion's system  and  to  the  chances  for  loss  occa- 
sioned by  this  delegation  of  all  power  to  the 
Executive  Committee  trio,  without  a  proper  and 
annual  accounting.  Many  another  breeder 
tossed  in  the  financial  storm  and  paying  high 
rates  of  interest  would  doubtless  have  been  able 
to  profit  greatly  by  the  free  use  of  this  great 
sum  of  ready  money  in  the  hands  of  the  Treas- 
urer. 

Now,  let  us  illustrate  by  a  little  unwritten 
history  how  badly  this  loose  system  acts  for  any 
individual  who  may  have  enough  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  Hereford  breed  and  its  Associa- 
tion to  make  suggestions  for  the  improvement 
of  the  system  of  this  all-powerful  and  criticism- 
hating  committee. 

The  late  Mr.  G.  W.  Henry,  of  Chicago,  and 
Mr.  C.  B.  Smith  (fl  378),  of  Fayette,  Mo.,  were 
particularly  friendly  in  their  relations.  When 
Mr.  Smith  was  elected  President  of  the  Associa- 
tion— like  other  presidents,  he  had  to  learn  that 
the  office  of  President  of  the  American  Hereford 
Cattle  Breeders'  Association  was  intended  for 
a  mere  figurehead;  that  in  fact  the  President 
had  no  duties,  or  at  most  very  simple  ones,  for 
which  ample  preparations  were  made  that  they 
might  be  performed  by  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee in  case  the  figurehead  neglected  them.  Mr. 
Smith,  however,  happily  for  Hereford  interests, 
decided  that  in  the  estimation  of  the  Associa- 
tion the  President's  office  held  some  import- 
ance. He  therefore  took  it  upon  himself  to  in- 
vestigate somewhat  of  the  condition  and  practice 
in  the  office  of  the  Association.  In  the  first 
place  it  was  found  that  the  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer were  not  the  employes  of,  nor  are  they  re- 
sponsible to  the  Association.  They  belong,  un- 
der the  constitution,  body  and  soul  to  the  Exec- 


HISTORY     OF    HEREFORD     CATTLE 


537 


utive  Committee.  They  must  make  all  reports 
to  the  Executive  Committee,  are  responsible  to 
that  committee,  and  hold  their  offices  by  the 
power  and  command  of  that  committee.  In  the 
second  place  he  found  the  office  was  located  at 
Independence,  and  that  aside  from  its  being  the 
office  of  the  Hereford  Association  it  was  the 
office  of  the  Treasurer,  and  also  of  the  Hereford 
cattle  breeding  firm  of  which  the  Treasurer  was 
the  active  partner. 

Further,  it  was  discovered  that  the  funds  of 
the  Association  were  kept  in  the  private  bank 
accounts  of  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and 
that  the  machinery  of  the  Hereford  office  was 
used  to  conduct  the  private  commission  busi- 
ness of  the  Secretary  and  the  business  of  the 
Treasurer's  firm.  Further  investigation  showed 
a  lack  of  system  in  the  methods  of  the  office, 
and  particularly  a  very  lax  and  unbusinesslike 
system  of  accounts.  Still  further  investigation 
showed  the  unregistered  bonds,  equivalent  to 
greenbacks,  added  to  the  cash  in  the  hands  of 
the  Treasurer.  Having  the  best  of  will,  and 
we  may  say  without  fear  of  contradiction,  a  sin- 
cere friendship  for  both  the  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Mr.  Smith  was  extremely  reluctant 
to  take  action,  but  being  himself  an  expert  ac- 
countant and  a  business  man,  experienced  with 
and  high  in  the  esteem  of  great  corporations, 
he  felt  that  action  on  his  part  was  a  duty,  and 
thus  he  conferred  with  his  friend,  Mr.  Henry, 
also  a  business  man  of  high  standing  and  fa- 
miliar with  corporations.  In  the  kindliest  and 
friendliest  way  possible  they  quietly  but  plainly 
laid  some  of  the  facts  as  they  saw  them  before 
both  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  suggesting  vari- 
ous changes  in  the  system  of  accounting  in  both 
Secretary's  and  Treasurer's  office,  and  insisting 
that  the  Treasurer  should  at  once  exchange  the 
unregistered  bonds,  that  were  as  negotiable  as 
greenbacks,  for  bonds  registered  in  the  name 
of  the  American  Hereford  Breeders'  Associa- 
tion; such  bonds  not  being  transferable  with- 
out the  signature  of  the  President  in  addition 
to  that  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Association. 
Wilfully  misconstruing  the  motives  and  dis- 
trusting the  evident  faith  and  good-will  of 
Messrs.  Smith  and  Henry,  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee appointed  two  breeders,  neither  of  whom 
were  accountants,  as  an  auditing  committee  to 
pass  upon  the  accounts  of  the  Association, 
which  committee  made  a  report  dated  January 
12,  1898.  We  do  not  call  in  question  the  hon- 
esty of  that  report,  and  it  is  not  particularly 
our  intention  to  call  in  question  the  honesty  of 
the  existing  administration,  but  we  do  say  that 
the  appointment  by  the  Executive  Committee 
of  an  auditing  committee  to  pass  upon  their 


own  work  is  a  farce  too  silly,  after  sober 
thought,  to  be  countenanced  by  a  body  of  men 
as  intelligent  as  the  members  of  the  Hereford 
Cattle  Breeders'  Association. 

We  need  not  prolong  the  details  of  this  mat- 
ter, and  would  not  have  presented  it  at  all  in 
this,  a  history  of  Hereford  cattle,  were  it  not 
for  our  firm  belief  that  the  Hereford  breed  of 
cattle  is  to  be  the  prevailing  and  leading  breed 
in  the  improvement  of  the  world's  beef  cattle; 
and  that  being  the  case,  that  the  organization 
of  the  breeders  of  Hereford  cattle  must  wield 
great  influence  upon  the  breed,  and  therefore 
any  failures  and  mistakes  would,  in  the  end, 
have  a  bad  effect  upon  the  beef  interest  of  the 
country,  and  therefore  upon  its  agriculture. 

We  feel  that  most  members  of  the  American 
Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Association  take  too 
lax  a  view  of  their  duties  and  responsibilities, 
and  of  their  individual  importance  in  the  great 
work  of  uplifting  American  agriculture.  We 
say  this  with  the  welfare  of  the  breeders  of 
Hereford  cattle  sincerely  at  heart.  We  say  this 
because  the  members  of  the  American  Hereford 
Cattle  Breeders'  Association  annually  receive 
from  the  Secretary  a  circular  letter  announcing 
the  date  of  annual  meeting  and  giving  copies 
(sanctioned  by  the  Executive  Committee)  of 
rules  to  be  adopted  or  rejected  at  the  coming 
meeting,  and  accompanying  this  they  receive  a 
blank  proxy,  and  too  little  importance  has  been 
attached  by  members  to  those  proxies.  The 
great  majority  of  the  proxies  fell  into  the  waste 
basket,  with  the  proposed  rules,  members 
promptly  deciding  there  was  nothing  to  be  done 
at  the  meeting  to  interest  them,  or  to  be  worth 
the  expense  incurred  in  attending.  This  would 
be  well  were  it  not  that  other  members,  noting 
the  name  of  the  Secretary  printed  in  large  let- 
ters at  the  head  of  the  proxy,  have  felt  that 
some  attention  should  he  paid  to  it,  and  though 
taking  no  personal  interest  in  the  meeting  have 
endorsed  their  name  on  the  proxy  and  returned 
it  to  the  Secretary;  and  enough  have  usually 
done  this  to  place  the  power  in  the  hands  of 
the  Secretary  to  accomplish  at  the  meeting 
whatever  his  will  might  be,  regardless  of  the 
will  of  those  Hereford  breeders  who  think 
enough  of  the  Hereford  breed  and  its  organiza- 
tion to  pay  their  money  to  attend  the  meeting 
in  person.  These  proxies  the  Secretary  would, 
of  course,  divide  among  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee trio,  and  their  clique,  in  order  that  on  the 
face  of  the  returns  the  power  of  one  man  might 
not  be  too  offensively  visible. 

We  are  glad  that  we  can  say  that  in  most 
instances  this  power  has  been  used  in  the  inter- 
est of  projects  redounding  ultimately  to  the 


538 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


good  of  the  Hereford  breed,  for  in  the  main  no 
one  can  gainsay  the  fact  that  the  Hereford  As- 
sociation has  done  a  great  deal  of  good,  but  ii 
might  have  done  and  can  do  more,  for  this 
power  unwittingly  invested  in  the  Secretary, 
who  is  the  employee  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee, has  also  been  abused,  to  the  detriment  of 
the  Association's  best  interests.  Note  the  case 
which  we  have  introduced,  viz.,  that  of  ex-Presi- 
dent Smith,  for  the  death  of  Mr.  Henry  left 
Mr.  Smith  to  work  out  these  desirable  results 
alone.  Neither  Mr.  Smith  nor  Mr.  Henry  de- 
sired to  make  public  the  condition  of  the  As- 
sociation's office,  preferring  that  the  necessary 
changes  be  made  without  the  knowledge  of  the 
general  public,  or  even  of  any  large  number 
of  members  of  the  Association,  .and  they  were 
so  made.  Much  that  was  thus  secretly  sug- 
gested by  Messrs.  Henry  and  Smith  was  as  se- 
cretly adopted  in  the  Hereford  office.  But  nev- 
ertheless those  who  made  the  suggestions  in- 
curred the  bitterest  enmity  of  those  who  adopted 
those  suggestions,  and  here  lies  the  point  that 
we  wish  to  make,  and  we  trust  that  it  will  not 
be  lost  in  the  coming  and  yet  more  prosperous 
years  of  the  society.  Let  no  one  deceive  him- 
self; the  open,  boldly  honest  way  may  be  the 
unpleasant  way,  but  it  is  the  only  sensible,  safe 
and  enduring  way. 

Ex-President  Smith  and  Mr.  Henry  made 
their  suggestions,  as  we  have  said,  quietly  and 
in  good  faith  as  true  friends  of  the  Association's 
officers,  and  not  in  the  slightest  sense  as  their 
enemies.  They  made  their  suggestions  in  the 
truest  interest  of  those  officers  of  the  Hereford 
breeders  and  the  Hereford  breed.  They  partic- 
ularly wanted  the  officers,  to  whom  the  sugges- 
tions were  made,  continued  in  office;  because 
they  had  always  had  faith  in  the  honesty  of 
those  officers  and  because  they  wanted  no  hint 
of  fraud  or  irregularity  to  get  before  the  public 
or  even  before  the  Association  itself,  and  thus 
important  changes  were  made  in  the  system  and 
finances  of  the  American  Hereford  Cattle 
Breeders'  Association,  diplomatically  and  with- 
out those  who  so  thoroughly  deserved  it  being 
publicly  criticized.  Mr.  Henry,  unfortunately 
for  the  Hereford  breed,  died  at  Kansas  City, 
where  he  went  to  attend  and  put  life  (as  none 
but  he  could)  into  a  public  sale  of  Herefords, 
and  the  resentment  of  the  Treasurer  and  Sec- 
retary and  their  associates  did  not  affect  him. 
Ex- President  Smith,  therefore,  came  in  for  the 
brunt  of  their  hatred.  How  they  have  been 
wreaking  their  spite  upon  Mr.  Smith  can  best 
be  judged  by  others.  We  have  been  too  far 
from  the  scene  of  leading  Hereford  operations 
to  discuss  this,  but  we  have  been  creditably  in- 


formed that  the  spite  has  been  exhibited  in 
every  possible  way,  and  with  most  virulent 
venom. 

The  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  As- 
sociation has  never  had  a  thorough  or  proper 
investigation  and  auditing  of  its  accounts  by 
an  expert  accountant  since  its  organization, 
though  we  are  advised  that  the  Shorthorn  As- 
sociation has  of  late  years  had  an  expert  ac- 
countant, appointed  by  an  outside  and 
unquestioned  authority,  namely,  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Chicago,  which  duly  appointed 
expert  having  at  his  first  investigation  gone  to 
the  very  beginning  of  the  Association's  accounts 
has,  to  this  sound  foundation,  annually  there- 
after added  each  succeeding  year's  accounts. 
Here  is  the  one  lone  instance  which  we  can  copy 
with  profit  from  our  friends  of  the  Shorthorn 
camp. 

In  discussing  this  matter  we  have  referred  to 
a  point  which  we  wish  to  illustrate,  and  this 
point  is  illustrated  throughout  the  entire  his- 
tory of  our  work,  as  well  as  throughout  the 
history  of  our  predecessor,  the  Hereford  cham- 
pion, W.  H.  Sotham.  This  point  is  the  fact 
that  open  war  in  the  end  produces  greater, 
more  lasting,  and  more  beneficent  results  than 
any  subtle  scheme  of  diplomacy.  Messrs.  Smith 
and  Henry  accomplished  great  good  quietly  by 
diplomacy,  but  the  result  of  that  diplomacy, 
while  beneficial  to  the  Hereford  Association, 
has  been  pointed  to  as  the  beneficent  work  of 
officers  who  would  not  inaugurate  reforms  of 
their  own  motion,  but  who  were  actually  com- 
pelled by  the  force  of  circumstances  to  bring 
about  this  result;  while  at  the  same  time,  those 
officers  have  used  their  offices  and  their  personal 
influence  as  far  as  possible  to  harm  the  diplo- 
mat. Verily,  diplomacy  will  react,  for  there  is 
no  enemy  like  the  one  that  poses  as  your  friend ; 
we  ever  preferred  an  open  foe. 

Here  at  last  let  me  make  the  main  point, 
which  this  entire  matter  is  intended  to  bring 
out:  Let  the  Association  create  wider  and 
freer  councils  and  broaden  the  scope  of  its 
work;  let  the  annual  meetings  of  the  Hereford 
Association  be  of  such  interest  as  will  bring 
out  the  largest  attendance.  Let  the  program  be 
filled  with  discussions  that  will  benefit  every 
participant  in  the  meeting.  Let  it  be  assumed 
that  more  than  one,  or  three  members,  have  wis- 
dom and  brains.  Let  these  meetings  discuss 
openly,  frankly  and  with  spirit  every  matter  of 
interest  appertaining  to  the  good  of  the  Here- 
ford breed  and  the  beef  interest.  Change  the 
constitution  and  by-laws  at  once,  that  sugges- 
tions may  be  made  and  publicly  discussed,  that 
no  individual  need  suffer  for  doing  a  good  to 


HISTORY     OF     HEREFORD     CATTLE 


539 


the  Association  and  breed.  Let  the  majority 
rule.  No  loyal  Hereford  man  need  fear  to  pre- 
sent his  case  and  abide  by  the  decision  of  a  true 
Hereford  majority.  No  man  is  worthy  of  a 
Hereford  office  who  is  afraid  of  such  majority 
and  resorts  to  proxies. 

We  submit  this  matter  reluctantly  to  a 
book  that  will  go  before  the  world  as  a  History 
•of  Hereford  Cattle,  but  we  have  endeavored  to 
make  this  book  of  wider  interest  than  an  ordin- 
ary history ;  to  make  it  valuable  for  the  future 
as  well  as  the  past,  and  to  give  the  light  of  the 
past  for  the  better  illumination  of  the  future. 


There  is  no  fear  of  the  future  if  the  menace  of 
a  "close  corporation"  be  subdued.  In  this  as  in 
all  other  things  we  speak  plainly,  in  words  of 
no  uncertain  meaning.  The  Hereford  breed  of 
cattle  have  nothing  to  fear  from  any  competitor 
on  the  score  of  absolute  inherent  merit.  In- 
telligence and  honesty  in  the  future  conduct  of 
the  Hereford  breed  will  make  their  improve- 
ment steady,  maintaining  their  present  lead  by 
keeping  them  apace  with  any  improvement  pos- 
sible to  other  breeds,  and  consequently  keeping 
them  in  the  forefront  of  beef  cattle  for  all  time, 
in  the  future  as  in  the  past. 


THE  END. 


APPENDIX 


541 


APPENDIX. 


THE  LATE  MR,  MILLER,  OF  ILLINOIS,  LT.  S.  A. 

HOW    HE    BENEFITED    HEREFORD    BREEDERS. 


It  will  doubtless  be  with  a  feeling  of  sincere 
regret  that  many  breeders  and  others  interested 
in  Hereford  cattle  will  receive  the  news  of  the 
death  of  that  veteran  champion  of  the  breed  in 
America,  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  which  took  place  at 
De  Funiak  Springs,  Florida,  U.  S.  A.,  on 
March  15,  1900,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 

Mr.  Miller  had,  in  spite  of  his  great  age, 
been  in  the  enjoyment  of  excellent  health,  un- 
til a  short  time  before  his  death,  when  he  had  a 
severe  fall  in  the  street,  causing  concussion  of 
the  brain.  Although  the  serious  nature  of  the 
accident  was  apparent  from  the  first,  he 
lingered  on  for  some  six  weeks,  until  congestion 
of  the  lungs  supervened,  and  was  the  imme- 
diate cause  of  death. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Connecticut,  but 
early  in  life  settled  in  Chicago,  and  engaged 
successfully  in  the  insurance  business.  He  then 
made  one  of  those  kaleidoscopic  changes  in 
business,  so  frequently  made  in  America  and 
the  Colonies  and  so  rarely  with  success  in 
England,  and  exchanged  city  life  for  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  For  this  purpose  he  removed 
to  Beecher,  where  he  had  a  large  farm,  about 
thirty  miles  from  Chicago,  built  a  large  house 
and  elaborate  farm  buildings.  It  was  here, 
having  discovered  the  merits  of  the  breed,  that 
he  established  and  carried  on  for  many  years, 
his  famous  herd  of  Hereford  cattle. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he  was  prac- 
tically the  pioneer  of  the  breed  in  America, 
and  it  was  mainly  due  to  his  persistent  advocacy 
of  their  good  qualities  that  American  farmers 
realized  how  well  suited  to  their  purpose  the 
Herefords  were,  both  as  a  pure  breed  and  also 
for  crossing  with  native  cattle.  This  result  he 
achieved  in  the  face  of  the  strong  opposition 
of  the  Shorthorn  influence,  which  was  at  that 
time  paramount  in  the  United  States. 

Breeders  in  this  country  have  cause  to  re- 
member with  gratitude  his  untiring  and  suc- 
cessful efforts  to  make  the  Herefords  widely 


known  on  the  other  side  of  Atlantic,  for  his 
action  was  the  means  of  bringing  about  the 
great  boom,  of  some  years  back,  which  enabled 
those  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  possess 
pure  pedigree  herds  to  reap  a  golden  harvest. 

In  1883  he  visited  England,  accompanied  by 
Mrs.  Miller  and  their  niece,  and  bringing  with 
him  his  rock-away  carriage,  pair  of  black  horses, 
and  American  harness,  with  which  to  drive 
about  the  country  and  visit  the  principal  breed- 
ers. This  turn-out  excited  a  great  deal  of  in- 
terest and  curiosity  wherever  it  appeared. 
Among  those  who  entertained  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller  were  Lord  Bateman  at  Shobden  Court, 
Mr.  J.  H.  Arkwright,  Hampton  Court,  Mr.  T. 
Duckham,  at  Baysham  Court,  Messrs.  Goode, 
at  Ivingtonbury,  Mr.  J.  Price,  Pembridge,  Mr. 
T.  Powell,  at  the  Bage,  etc. 

The  home  breeders  availed  themselves  of  Mr. 
Miller's  presence  in  England,  to  show  their 
appreciation  of  the  valuable  work  he  was  doing, 
by  presenting  him  with  a  public  testimonial, 
in  recognition  of  his  efforts.  On  August  1st, 
he  was  entertained  at  a  public  dinner,  at  the 
Green  Dragon  Hotel,  Hereford,  at  which  a  very 
large  and  representative  gathering  assembled, 
to  do  him  honor,  including  Lord  Glanusk — 
then  Sir  J.  R.  Bailey — who  was  in  the  chair, 
Lord  Bateman,  Lord  Coventry,  the  county 
members,  etc.  The  chairman  then  presented 
to  him,  on  behalf  of  the  subscribers,  a  beauti- 
fully illuminated  address,  signed  by  one  hun- 
dred breeders,  and  a  purse  of  £200.  A  silver 
cup  was  also  presented,  to  his  able  lieutenant, 
Mr.  Geo.  Morgan. 

Characteristically,  he  declined  to  spend  tho 
money  in  silver  plate,  but  bought  with  it  a  num- 
ber of  animals,  which  he  took  on  with  him  and 
which  were  known  as  the  "Testimonial  Herd." 
Successful  though  he  was,  fortune  was  not  al- 
ways kind  to  him.  Twice  over,  the  costly  and 
handsome  buildings  on  his  farm  were  burned 
to  the  ground.  The  first  time  they  were  struck 


APPENDIX 


543 


by  lightning  and  the  second  conflagration  was 
believed  to  be  the  work  of  an  incendiary.  Ulti- 
mately he  disposed  of  all  his  Herefords,  and 
sold  the  Beecher  property. 

In  order  to  escape  the  cold  winters  of  the 
North,  the  last  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 
Florida.  An  indefatigable  worker  always,  his 
energies  were  by  no  means  confined  to  looking 
after  his  farm  and  the  breeding  of  cattle.  He 
became  the  mainstay  of  the  church  at  Beecher 
and  of  its  pastor  at. a  time  when  the  little  com- 
munity was  too  poor  to  provide  for  their  own 


A    FARM    SALE. 

Movable  amphitheater.     Weavergrace  Farm  of  T.  F.  B. 
Sotham. 


religious  requirements.  But  his  religious  activ- 
ities did  not  consist  solely  in  giving  liberal 
financial  support,  for  both  in  Chicago  and 
Beecher  he  was  ever  a  regular  and  earnest  Sun- 
day school  teacher.  No  stress  of  weather  or  bad- 
ness of  roads  sufficed  to  keep  him  and  his 
faithful  wife — whom  he  always  found  an  able 
seconder  in  all  his  plans — from  his  work  in 
connection  with  the  church.  He  contributed 
largely  to  the  agricultural  press,  and  eventually 
himself  established  a  printing  office  and  ran  a 
newspaper  mainly  in  the  interest  of  Herefords 
for  some  years,  and  to  which  he  subsequently 
added  a  monthly  publication.  It  was  also  at 
Beecher,  under  his  own  editorship,  much  of  the 
work  being  done  by  his  own  hands,  that  he 
started  the  "American  Herd  Book  of  Hereford 
Cattle,"  and  continued  until  the  work  became 
too  large  to  be  carried  on  by  private  enterprise, 
and  was  therefore  transferred  to  the  manage- 
ment of  the  society  in  Chicago. 

Altogether  he  was  a  fine  specimen  of  the 
type  of  men  who  have  made  the  United  States 
the  great  and  prosperous  and  progressive  nation 
that  it  is  to-day.  A  man  of  strong  will  and 
untiring  energy,  he  put  his  hand  to  many 


things,  and  to  none  without  some  measure  of 
success.  At  an  age  when  most  men  are  content 
to  rest,  he  was  still  strenuously  working,  and 
the  last  work  of  his  life,  a  task  which  he  had 
only  just  completed  when  he  met  with  his  fatal 
accident,  was  to  write  a  "History  of  Hereford 
Cattle,"  thus  showing  that  his  old  interest  in 
the  "white  faces"  had  not  abated.  Of  him  it 
may  truly  be  said,  as  Chas.  Dickens  once  said 
of  himself,  "that  he  never  put  one  hand  to 
anything,  on  which  he  could  not  throw  his 
whole  self." — Hereford  (Eng.)  Times. 

RESOLUTIONS. 

Unanimously  adopted  by  a  rising  vote  of 
the  American  Hereford  Cattle*  Breeders'  Asso- 
ciation at  Chicago,  December  5,  1901 : 

WHEREAS,  Through  the  mysterious  working 
of  a  Divine  Providence,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  enterprising  of  the  pioneer  members 
of  this  association,  Mr.  T.  L.  Miller,  has  been 
summoned  to  other  fields;  therefore,  be  it  re- 
solved by  this  association,  in  Annual  Conven- 
tion assembled : 

First.  That  we  freely  and  unhesitatingly 
accord  to  him  the  position  of  originator  and 
leader  in  the  propaganda  of  the  Hereford  in 
America. 

Second.  That  to  his  enterprise  and  courage 
is  largely  due  the  position  the  Herefords  have 
attained  in  this  country. 

Third.  That  as  a  breeder  of  Herefords  and 
a  citizen,  we  commend  him  and  deplore  his 
loss. 

Fourth.  That  we  condole  with  his  family 
in  their  bereavement  and  sympathize  with  them 
in  their  affliction. 

Fifth.  That  this  association  appropriate 
the  sum  of  $500  to  ereet  a  monument  as  a 
tribute  to  his  memory. 

Sixth.  That  these  resolutions  be  spread 
upon  the  minutes  of  this  meeting. 

CHARLES  GUDGELL, 
W.  S.  VAN  NATTA, 
T.  F.  B.  SOTHAM, 

Committee. 

Chicago,  111.,  December  5,  1901. 

DEATH    OF    T.    L.    MILLER. 

Mr.  T.  L.  Miller  died  on  Thursday,  March 
15,  1900,  at  De  Funiak  Springs,  Fla.,  at  the 
ripe  age  of  83  years.  To  the  cattle  breeding 
world  he  was  universally  known  as  T.  L.  Miller, 
of  Beecher,  111.,  and  his  Highland  Stock  Farm 
was  the  Mecca  of  all  admirers  of  Hereford 
cattle  for  manv  vears. 


APPENDIX 


545 


Supplementing,  enlarging  and  succeeding 
the  work  of  their  first  importer,  the  late  Wm.  H. 
Sotham,  Mr.  Miller  may  truthfully  be  said  to 
have  done  more  for  the  upbuilding  and  dis- 
semination of  the  Hereford  cattle  than  any 
other  man  who  has  connected  himself  with  the 
breed.  There  were  some  differences  between 
Mr.  Sotham  and  Mr.  Miller,  mainly  growing 
out  of  some  methods  of  procedure  during  the 
thick  of  the  "Battle  of  the  Breeds,"  and  be- 
cause these  two  old  generals  were  so  alike  and 
forceful  in  their  temperament.  Nevertheless, 


was  always  a  lover  of  farm  life,  and  after  a 
very  successful  business  career  in  Chicago,  he 
retired  to  Highland  Farm,  at  Beecher,  111.,  a 
tract  of  1,000  acres,  which  he  improved  by 
tiling  and  careful  cultivation  and  embellished 
with  the  most  extensive  suite  of  farm  buildings 
ever  attempted  up  to  that  time.  The  famous 
Miller  barn  with  its  double-headed  wind-mill 
was  the  talk  of  the  live  stock  world  until  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  only  to  be  succeeded  by 
another  more  modern  and  convenient  structure 
two  hundred  feet  square.  It  is  doubtful  if  this 


AT  T.   F.   B.   SOTHAM'S   SALE,   1896. 
Weavergrace  Farm. 


my  father  frequently  told  me  before  his  death 
that  Mr.  Miller  had  done  a  noble  and  un- 
paralleled service  for  the  Hereford  breed  of 
cattle  and  for  all  sound  cattle  interests,  while 
several  years  ago  Mr.  Miller  wrote  me  that, 
"during  the  thick  of  the  fight  I  could  not  stop 
to  bind  up  the  old  man's  wounds,  but  now  that 
the  battle  is  won,  I  will  tell  you  what  will  no 
doubt  interest  you:  All  the  information  I  had 
to  make  my  fight  for  the  Herefords  I  got  from 
your  father  and  his  writings." 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  the  East,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, I  believe.  After  receiving  a  fair  edu- 
cation, he  was  employed  in  a  butcher  shop,  and 
later  carried  on  the  business  for  himself.  He 


Miller  barn  has  ever  been  equaled  for  capacity 
and  convenience,  nor  can  it  ever  be  surpassed 
as  an  ideal  cattle  home. 

No  abler  advocate  ever  championed  the  cause 
of  improvement  in  cattle.  Like  my  father,  he 
was  a  fighter  when  it  took  a  fighter  to  make  an 
impression  on  existing  erroneous  prejudices  and 
preferences.  What  the  tenacious  fighter  in  the 
courts  of  law  of  to-day  adds  to  the  value  of  an 
attorney,  were  the  qualities  essential  to  the  suc- 
cessful consideration  by  the  court  of  American 
cattle  opinion,  brought  to  the  Hereford  breed 
by  T.  L.  Miller.  There  was  jealousy  of  him 
among  those  who  should  have  been  his  guileless 
friends,  but  pinned  down  to  a  fair  estimate  of 


UNIVERSITY 

OF      .... 


A  P  P  E  N  D  I  X 


547 


the  work  of  T.  L.  Miller,  no  cattleman  whose 
opinion  is  worth  having,  ever  failed  to  give  Mr. 
Miller  that  great  measure  of  praise  and  appre- 
ciation he  had  fearlessly  and  honorably  earned. 
Breeders  of  Hereford  cattle  to-day,  with  their 
breed  the  acknowledged  leading  beef  improver, 
with  their  organization  leading  all  others  in 
willing  submission,  with  all  the  homage  paid 
to  breed  and  breeders  that  proves  again  the  old 
adage  that  "nothing  succeeds  like  success,"  can- 
not from  the  very  nature  of  the  present  situa- 
tion understand  the  bitterness  of  the  fight  that 
waged  during  "the  battle  of  the  breeds/'  when 
Herefords  were  denied  a  classification  in  the 
premium  lists  of  the  fairs,  when  space  in  the 
agricultural  press  was  denied  to  Hereford  writ- 
ers, when  the  strong  arm  of  a  George  Morgan 
was  compelled  to  intervene  to  prevent  bodily 


at  Lafayette,  Ind.  Although  there  was  no 
class  for  Herefords,  Mr.  Miller  took  his  show 
herd  there  for  exhibition.  He  was  not  allowed 
to  compete  with  Shorthorns,  but  the  Board  of 
Directors  met  and  voted  him  a  special  purse, 
and  promised  a  class  for  Herefords  next  year. 
Messrs.  Culbertson,  Earl  and  Van  Natta  there, 
for  the  first  time,  saw  the  Hereford  cattle.  Mr. 
Culbertson  and  Mr.  Van  Natta  bought  their 
first  Herefords  soon  after  of  Mr.  Miller,  and 
I  think  the  same  is  true  of  Mr.  Earl. 

Under  the  able  management  of  Geo.  F.  Mor- 
gan, Mr.  Miller's  herd  won  great  distinction, 
beating  herds  of  all  breeds,  including  the  im- 
ported Herefords  of  some  of  the  contemporary 
breeders  above  mentioned.  His  great  sire  was 
"Success,"  whose  lithograph  in  colors  adorns 
thousands  of  farmers'  homes  throughout  the 


THE  VETERAN  FEEDER,  JOHN  LETHAM, 
Goodenow,  111.,  and  his  two  champions.     (Photo  from  life.) 


violence  to  such  men  as  T.  L.  Miller.  All  well 
enough  is  it  to-day  to  chime  and  re-echo  in  the 
effulgent  light  of  a  supreme  peace  secured  by  a 
universal  acknowledgment  of  Hereford  merit, 
but  let  us  never  forget  that  the  Hereford  breed 
owes  the  greater  part  of  the  security  of  its  posi- 
tion to  the  efforts  of  T.  L.  -Miller,  in  his  in- 
cisive, insistent,  never-faltering,  effective  meth- 
ods, by  which  he  compelled  the  cattle  world  to 
investigate  and  the  powers  that  were  to  ac- 
knowledge the  merits  of  Hereford  cattle. 

The  Hereford's  merit  is  easy  to  see  if  only 
people  have  a  chance  to  see  and  try  for  them- 
selves. Chas.  M.  Culbertson,  Adams  Earl  and 
W.  S.  Van  Natta  were  all  naturally  Shorthorn 
men;  the  first  Herefords  they  ever  saw  were 
T.  L.  Miller's.  It  came  about  in  this  way.  The 
Tippecanoe  County  Fair  was  then,  as  now,  held 


country.  I  well  remember  with  what  pride  and 
satisfaction  Mr.  Miller  showed  me  the  splendid 
matrons  of  his  herd  by  "Old  Success"  on  the 
occasion  of  my  last  visit  to  Highlands.  Like 
my  father,  Mr.  Miller  loved  Hereford  cattle 
better  than  wealth,  ease  or  life  itself.  No  effort 
of  labor,  no  sacrifice  of  time  or  means  was  too 
great  for  him  to  render  in  the  interest  of  the 
Hereford  breed.  Not  getting  a  fair  hearing  in 
the  agricultural  press  he  founded  a  paper  of  his 
own,  "The  Breeders'  Journal,"  and  maintained 
it  at  great  sacrifice  of  time,  labor  and  money — 
a  paper  that  was  widely  read,  and  copies  of 
which  are  kept  by  Hereford  breeders  to-day,  as 
priceless  souvenirs  of  a  crisis  long  and  happily 
past. 

When  the  depression  came,  it   caught  Mr. 
Millej  as  it  has  caught  many  another  honest, 


SI 


APPENDIX 


549 


earnest  worker,  striving  for  principles  and  facts, 
rather  than  for  greed  and  mammon.  He  had 
been  trying  for  years  to  induce  the  Farwells 
to  put  Herefords  on  their  great  3,000,000-acre 
range  in  Texas,  had  contracted  with  them  (or 
one  of  them)  to  furnish  them  a  thousand  bulls 
at  a  fair  price,  when  his  difficulties  overtook 
him,  and  Mr.  John  V.  Farwell  bought  the  en- 
tire herd  at  a  song,  singing  it  himself,  and 
figuratively  buried  it  on  the  great  Capitol 
Eanch  in  Texas.  No  records  were  kept  of  the 
increase,  and  so  when  recently  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  restore  the  herd  to  the  records, 


book  will  show  that,  beginning  with  Youatt,  all 
the  books  ever  written  on  the  breeds  of  cattle 
have  been  biased  toward  and  in  favor  of  other 
breeds.  In  Mr.  Miller's  work,  we  will  have 
the  exploits  of  the  breed  portrayed  by  a  Here- 
ford advocate  and  breeder.  1  consider  it  a 
godsend  that  in  the  ripeness  of  his  years  he 
was  spared  with  robust  health,  and  keen,  clear 
intellect,  thus  to  complete  and  round  out  his 
work,  and  for  the  thousandth  time  again  place 
the  Hereford  breed  and  fraternity  under  lasting 
obligations  to  him. 

The  immediate  cause-  of  Mr.  Miller's  death 


ALBION  (15027)  76960. 
The  great  Enclish  sire  and  prize  winner.     (Photo  from  life.) 


only  a  few  of  the  remaining  old  cows  could  be 
identified,  and  thus  it  is  that  the  blood  of  Mr. 
Miller's  Highland  Herefords  was  largely  sub- 
merged in  the  flood  derived  from  the  latter 
importations. 

Mr.  Miller's  last  work  was  practically  com- 
pleted— a  modern  histo^  of  Hereford  cattle. 
This  is  a  work  of  vast  importance  to  the  breed- 
ers of  Hereford  cattle.  It  is  the  first  authorita- 
tive history  of  the  Herefords  ever  written  by  a 
loyal  Hereford  breeder.  It  is  a  labor  of  love. 
Hereford  breeders  have  too  long  taken  their 
literature  from  writers  who  are  distinctively 
at  heart  advocates  of  other  breeds.  Mr.  Miller's 


was  an  accidental  fall.  He  caught  his  heel  in 
the  sidewalk  and  fell,  never  after  gaining  full 
consciousness.  Four  children  survive  him. 
Interment  took  place  at  Evanston,  111.,  from 
the  home  of  his  daughter,  on  Sunday,  March 
18,  1900.  I  have,  as  President  of  the  Amer- 
ican Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Association,  re- 
quested of  the  family  the  privilege  for  our 
association  of  erecting  the  monument  to  mark 
his  last  resting  place — a  duty  and  privilege 
alike  that  is  all  that  it  is  possible  for  us  to  do 
for  him  as  a  last  mark  of  our  respect  and  appre- 
ciation.— T.  F.  B.  SotJitiin.  in  Breeders'  Gazette, 
March  21,  1900. 


<J  S 
W  o 


A  P  P  E  N  D  1  X 


551 


A  TRIBUTE  TO  T.  L.  MILLER. 

For  those  of  you  who  had  the  privilege  of 
personal  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Miller,  my 
heart  is  full  of  sympathy,  realizing  as  I  do  that 
your  loss  must  be  greater  than  mine — and  mine 
is  great — for  our  acquaintance  was  one  of  cor- 
respondence. Nevertheless,  the  kindly  nature, 
the  broad,  public  spirit,  the  generous  impulse 
which  shone  from  those  pages  from  the  hand 
of  T.  L.  Miller,  with  a  reality  and  magnetism 
never  to  be  forgotten,  lent  counsel  and  en- 
couragement to  one  of  the  youngest  breeders 
in  the  Hereford  Association  in  his  daily  fight — 
not  only  in  the  "battle  of  the  breeds,"  but  in  the 
"pioneer"  work  of  developing  and  promoting 
the  great  live  stock  industry  of  the  South. 
More  than  all  others,  Mr.  Miller  has  been  in 
sympathy  and  in  touch  with  my  work  and  I 
publish  his  first  letter  as  an  example  of  a  noble, 
generous  spirit,  in  the  hope  that  its  suggestions 
may  help  other  breeders  whose  experience  may 
not  yet  be  ripened  into  years  of  silver-gray. 

Mr.  T.  F.  B.  Sotham  appreciates  the  neces- 
sity of  steadfast  devotion  to  one's  aims  and 
principles  in  the  up-hill  but  winning  fight  for 
good  cattle,  and  probably  Mr.  Sotham  is  best 
< nullified  of  any  breeder  living  to  do  justice  to 
Mr.  Miller — and  Mr.  Sotham  has  done  so  ad- 
mirably. 

After  Mr.  Miller's  retirement  from  his  active 
business  to  the  milder  climate  of  Florida,  he 
sa\v  the  possibilities  of  the  successful  raising 
of  goo'd  beef  cattle  in  the  South,  and  labored 
constantly  for  the  advancement  of  this  project. 
He  believed,  and  he  knew  when  he  believed, 
that  the  breed  par  excellence  best  suited  to  the 
climatic  and  other  conditions  in  the  Southern 
States  is  the  Hereford,  that  the  South  is  eager 
for  an  improvement  on  their  small  stock  and 
that  the  Hereford — "native"  cross — is  the  one 
to  produce  the  desired  result.  Mr.  Miller  had 
already  secured  agreements  with  the  L.  &  N". 
railroad,  the  Plant  System,  and  the  Florida 
( Vntral  to  give  free  transportation  on  pure-bred 
stock  into  that  territory  and  expected  other 
roads  to  do  the  same.  He  was  also  promoting 
Hereford  interests  in  other  equally  broad- 
minded  ways,  and  I  am  glad  to  have  the  oppor- 
tunity of  paying  this  tribute  of  admiration 
and  respect  to  one  about  whom  it  may  be  said : 

To  those   who  know  thee  not,  no  words  can 

paint ; 
And  those  who  know  thee,  know  all  words  are 

faint ! 

— Murray  Boocock,  in  Breeders'  Gazette,  April 
11,  1900. 


Mr.  Boocock  (fl  379)  forwards  the  following 
letter  for  publication,  written  to  him  by  Mr. 
Miller  from  De  Funiak,  Fla.,  under  date  of 
March  23,  1898: 

"I  notice  your  purchase  of  the  $3,000-bull  at 
Emporia.  This  brings  you  and  your  letter  of 
July  1  before  me  again,  and  gives  you  promi- 
nence among  Hereford,  breeders.  How  long  have 
you  been  breeding  Herefords?  The  late  Hon. 
John  Merryman,  Cockeysville,  Md.,  was  one  of 
the  earlier  breeders.  I  think  he  commenced  in 
the  fifties — his  widow  and  son  are  both  breeders 
now,  as  I  presume  you  know. 

"Permit  me  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact 
that  in  Herefordshire,  England,  the  breeders 
there  carry  a  given  number  of  cows,  it  may  be 
twenty  to  sixty — as  many  as  they  care  for — 
never  more,  never  less — and  after  a  cow  has  two 
to  four  calves  she  is  turned  off  and  a  heifer 
has  taken  her  place.  Cows  thus  treated  bring 
close  to  steer  price  for  beef.  Could  Virginia 
or  Pennsylvania  adopt  this  plan  they  would 
find  a  profitable  business.  This  refers  to  the 
average  farmer,  who  would  keep  common  cows 
and  use  a  Hereford  bull.  If  I  were  in  Virginia 
or  Pennsylvania,  I  would  cultivate  such  trade. 

"Say  with  twenty  cows,  there  would  be  ten 
steers  a  year  to  go  off.  At  two  years  old  they 
would  weigh  1,200  to  1,400  pounds,  and  when 
the  heifers  come  of  age  he  would  turn  off  twen- 
ty beeves  a  year,  or  say  close  to  $1,000; "in  this 
way  he  would  improve  his  farm.  He  may  let 
his  calves  run  with  the  cows  until  six  months 
old,  or  wean  and  use  the  milk,  feeding  skim 
milk  to  calves.  There  is  no  better  butter  cow 
than  the  Hereford. 

"This  is  what  Eastern  farmers  need.  If  you 
would  cultivate  such  a  trade  and  make  Wash- 
ington your  market,  I  think  you  would  find  it 
a  success." — Breeders'  Gazette,  April  11,  1900. 


It  was  singularly  appropriate  that  among  the 
pall  bearers  at  the  funeral  of  the  late  T.  L. 
Miller,  held  at  Evanston,  111.,  March  18,  1900, 
were  Mr.  T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  President  of  the 
Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Association;  Mr. 
George  F.  Morgan,  the  veteran  Hereford  breed- 
er, who  assisted  Mr.  Miller  in  his  early  days  as 
a  Hereford  breeder,  and  Mr.  Tom  Smith,  long 
manager  of  Mr.  Miller's  Highland  Farm  and 
herd  at  Beecher,  111.,  and  prominent  now  as  a 
breeder  of  Hereford  cattle.-^Breeders'  Gazette, 
March  28,  1900. 


552 


FAG-SIMILE  OF  LETTER  FROM  T.  L.  MILLER 
TO  T.  F.  B.  SOTHAM. 


APPENDIX 


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COPY  OF  FOREGOING  FAC-SIM1LE 
LETTER. 

De  Funiak  Springs,  Fla.,  April  14,  189!). 
T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  Esq.,  Chillicothe,  Mo. 
Dear  Tom: 

I  rec.  yours  of  Mar.  30. 
I  am  reading  up  the  record  of  my  fight  for 
the  Herefords,  and  have  just  met  the  following, 
written  in  Feb.,  '82. 

The  History  of  Mr.  Sotham  and  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Herefords.  Although  he  did  not 
receive  an  immediate  and  direct  success,  his 
work  had  a  great  influence,  and  made  the  way 
easier  for  us.  I  have  found  all  along  those 
who  were  Hereford  men  from  what  they  knew 
of  his  cattle. 

I  met  a  man  of  seventy  years,  who  said  of 
the  Herefords,  they  are  the  best  cattle  I  ever 
knew.  When  I  asked,  what  do  you  know  of 
them,  his  reply  was,  I  bred  and  owned  them 
forty  years  ago  in  Vermont.  The  cows  were 
the  best  I  ever  owned,  and  the  young  things 
were  always  ready  for  the  butcher. 

I  have  met  his  cattle  on  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, carrying  goods  where  horses  could  hardly 
travel.  I  met  a  Mr.  Bowen  at  the  Centennial 
from  New  York  state,  who  introduced  himself 
and  had  a  good  word'for  them.  What  do  you 
know  of  them,  I  asked.  Says  he,  I  bred  them 
years  ago  from  the  Sotham  importation,  and 
when  I  asked  him  why  he  did  not  continue 
them,  he  said  the  Shorthorn  influence  was  too 
strong  for  him ;  and  he  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence  and  enterprise. 

That  Shorthorn  influence  has  put  its  foot 
upon  many  a  movement  that  let  alone  would 
have  bettered  the  country. 

The  Hon.  John  Merryman  of  Maryland 
started  his  herd  from  the  Sotham  importation, 
and  forty-seven  of  this  herd  went  to  Messrs.  A. 
A.  Crane  &  Son  of  Osco  in  this  state,  in  Jan. 
The  Shorthorn  men  and  editors  have  called 
Mr.  Sotham  a  failure.  He  was  not  a  failure; 
our  work  has  been  easier  for  what  he  did.  He 
made  a  record  that  time  cannot  deface  or  dim. 
He  made  a  case  and  placed  it  on  record  that 
was  perfect  in  its  detail  and  make-up.  The 
work  that  he  did  I  have  used  and  felt.  The 
friends  that  he  made  have  been  my  friends.  I 
have  used  the  facts  he  gathered.  When  attacks 
have  been  made  upon  me,  I  could  not  always 
stop  to  say  where  my  ammunition  came  from, 
but  I  am  now  where  I  have  reached  a  breathing 
place. 

Gathering  up  this  data  of  his,  I  am  placing 
it  on  record,  and  passing  it  to  his  credit,  a  fight 
of  forty  years  from  the  prime  of  life  to  old  age. 


Starting  with  the  best  race  of  cattle  and  the 
best  specimens  of  that  race,  for  it  will  be  no- 
ticed that  in  the  record  we  are  bringing  up 
none  of  his  opponent's  question  the  merit  of 
his  cattle,  they  try  to  rob  him  by  claiming  the 
merits  as  belonging  to  a  Shorthorn  cross.  Start- 
ing as  I  may  say  with  the  best  breed  and  the 
best  specimens  of  the  breed,  with  a  friend  in 
the  person  of  the  Hon.  Erastus  Corning  of 
ample  means;  with  those  prospects  and  the 
skill  necessary  to  carry  out  the  enterprise  to 
a  large  success,  those  Shorthorn  men  were  en- 
abled, by  force  of  numbers  and  the  control  of 
the  press  and  the  New  York  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, to  destroy  those  prospects  and  retard  this 
Hereford  movement  for  40  years. 

But  while  they  were  able  to  do  this,  they 
have  never  been  able  to  break  his  spirit.  He 
has  stood  for  forty  years  as  defiant  and  aggres- 
sive as  though  he  had  Erastus  Corning  and  a 
herd  of  Herefords  behind  him.  He  has  stood 
in  their  path  as  faithfully  and  fearlessly  as  the 
angel  stood  in  the  path  of  Balaam. 

Wrhile  I  was  in  the  thick  of  the  fight,  I  could 
not  stop  to  bind  up  his  wounds;  I  could  not 
stop,  as  perhaps  I  ought,  to  notice  his  aid. 

He  has  perhaps  had  occasion  to  feel  that  I 
neglected  him,  and  that  same  fearlessness  that 
has  kept  his  face  towards  his  old  enemies,  led 
him  to  strike  at  me  occasionally.  I  should  have 
been  glad  that  it  were  not  so,  but  I  have  no 
enmity. 

I  at  my  first  breathing  place,  gather  up  his 
record  and  give  it  to  his  generation,  and  I  will 
place  the  Hereford  flag  in  his  hands  and  the 
Hereford  crown  on  his  head. 

Well,  Tom,  that  is  what  I  wrote  and  pub- 
lished in  Feb.,  '82.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that 
1  from  1839 — and  during  this  Albany  contro- 
versy— took  the  Albany  Cultivator,  and  kept 
the  files.  Truly  yours.  T.  L.  MILLER. 


THE  ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  THE  APPEN- 
DIX. 

In  accordance  with  the  announcement  at  the 
introduction,  in  addition  to  the  copious  illus- 
trations pertinent  to  the  body  of  this  work  a 
number  of  full-page  reproductions  of  photo- 
graphs from  life  of  choice  specimen  Herefords 
of  different  ages  and  both  sexes  are  herewith 
included.  It  has  been  thought  best  to  confine 
these  specimen  illustrations  to  photographs 
from  life  rather  than  from  drawings,  as  it  is 
believed  that  they  will  give  more  accurate  rep- 
resentations of  Hereford  anatomy,  and  thus 
train  the  inexperienced  eye  to  a  knowledge  of 


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APPENDIX 


559 


.the  formation  of  a  good  Hereford,  so  that  all 
readers  of  Mr.  Miller's  History  may  reap  full 
benefit  of  its  teachings,  and  be  enabled  to  take 
fullest  advantage  of  the  merits  of  Hereford 
blood. 

It  is  believed  the  illustrations  comparing 
prime  beef  with  that  found  in  the  ordinary 
markets  will  serve  a  particularly  useful  pur- 
pose. 

Few  people  realize  that  it  is  impossible  to 
have  a  real  prime  beefsteak  on  their  tables 
unless  the  animal  from  which  it  was  taken 
possessed  some  of  the  blood  of  our  improved 
beef  breeds. 


CHANGE     IN     ADMINISTRATION      OF 
THE    AMERICAN    HEREFORD    CAT- 
TLE  BREEDERS'   ASSOCIA- 
TION. 

In  Chapter  XLIII  of  this  history,  on  "The 
Present  and  Future  of  the  Hereford,"  Mr. 
Miller  criticizes  the  old  administration  of  the 
Hereford  Association  affairs  by  an  Executive 
Committee  of  three,  that  was  provided  for  in 
the  Association's  by-laws.  Members  of  this 
committee  were  elected  for  terms  of  three 
years,  one  member  being  elected  each  year, 
their  terms  thus  interlapping  and  forming  an 
endless  chain. 

Since  Mr.  Miller's  death,  a  private  investiga- 
tion by  prominent  members  of  the  Association 
showed  that  this  committee  and  the  by-laws 
creating  it  were  unauthorized  by  law,  and  a 
subsequent  appeal  to  the  courts  of  Illinois  (un- 
der whose  laws  the  Association  was  chartered), 
brought  about  an  official  investigation  which 
declared  the  committee  illegal,  resulting  in  the 
resignation  of  the  entire  Executive  Commit- 
tee and  its  officers  in  January,  1902,  and  the 
assumption  of  the  administrative  duties  of  the 
Association  by  its  legally  authorized  Board  of 
Directors. 

Adhering  to  the  charter  of  the  Association, 
the  law  vests  all  administrative  authority  in  a 
Hoard  of  five  directors,  who  shall  be  elected 
annually  For  terms  of  one  year,  and  the  laws 
of -Illinois  compel  this  Board  to  assume  and 
discharge  these  duties,  making  them  responsi- 
ble for  the  conduct  of  the  Association. 

Coming  into  this  responsibility  unexpectedly 
and  without  desire  or  effort  on  their  part,  the 
Hoard  of  Directors  reluctantly  assumed  con- 


trol, and  at  this  time  (July,  1902)  have  cor- 
rected much  of  the  error  Mr.  Miller  essayed  to 
point  out. 

The  unfortunate  dissensions  which  brought 
about  the  aforesaid  investigation,  and  the  re- 
sultant shifting  of  authority,  naturally  engen- 
dered considerable  feeling  in  the  Association, 
so  that  the  Board  of  Directors  was  obliged  to 
assume  its  rightful,  but  unsought  and  unex- 
pected power,  under  very  unpleasant  circum- 
stances. It  is  due  them  to  say  that  they  took 
up  their  duties,  inspired  by  that  loyalty  to 
Hereford  interests  that  is  common  to  the  Here- 
ford fraternity  in  general,  and  which  has  ever 
been  the  great  source  of  the  Association's 
strength.  There  is  a  reasonable  hope  enter- 
tained generally  by  the  members  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, that  a  wise  administration  by  the  di- 
rectors will  result  in  a  fair  and  lasting  reunion 
into  one  intelligent  and  aggressive  association 
of  the  factions  caused  by  the  temporary  breach. 

Mr.  Miller  pointed  out  the  evils  of  the  proxy 
system.,  which  unfortunately  without  new  laws 
cannot  legally  be  entirely  abolished.  The 
proxy  system  has  been  the  root  of  most  Asso- 
ciation evils,  not  only  in  the  Hereford  society, 
but  in  countless  others,  and  the  tendency  on 
the  part  of  many  members  of  the  Hereford  As- 
sociation is  to  refuse  to  give  proxies.  The 
trouble  about  proxies  is  that  they  are  too  often 
given  for  one  purpose  and  voted  for  another. 
Proxies  are  largely  used  by  the  holder  to  pro- 
mote his  own  selfish  interests.  It  is  safe  to  say 
that  hundreds  of  proxies  have  been  voted  di- 
rectly opposite  from  the  way  the  members  giv- 
ing them  would  have  voted,  had  they  been  per- 
sonally present.  As  a  general  proposition, 
those  members ,  who  do  not  care  to  go  to  the 
expense  or  trouble  of  attending  the  annual 
meeting,  ought  to  be  satisfied  with  the  will  of 
the  majority  of  those  who  do  attend,  and  not 
put  a  weapon  in  the  hands  of  the  minority  to 
defeat  the  will  of  those  members  who  do  pay 
their  money  and  expend  their  time  to  attend. 
If  every  member  of  the  Association  who  cannot 
attend  the  annual  meetings  in  person  will  re- 
fuse to  be  represented  by  proxy,  Hereford  dis- 
sensions will  be  annihilated  for  all  time,  for,  as 
Mr.  Miller  truly  said:  "No  loyal  Hereford 
man  need  fear  to  present  his  case  and  abide  by 
the  decision  of  a  true  Hereford  majority." 
And,  "No  man  is  worthy  of  a  Hereford  office 
who  is  afraid  of  such  majority  and  resorts  to 
proxies." 


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UNIVERSITY 


BUTCHER'S  DIAGRAM.     A  SIDE  OF  GOOD  GRADE  HEREFORD  BEEF. 


.  high-class  carcasses.    1.  The  Round.    2.  The  Rump.    3.  The  Sirloin  or  Broad  Loin.    4.    The  Short 
"he  Flank.    6.  The  Navel  Piece.  -7.  The  Ribs.    8.  The  Chuck,  or  Shoulder  Roast. 
9.  The  Brisket.    10.  The  Neck.    11.  The  Shank. 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS— "THE  ROUND." 
Taken  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer.    (See  Fig.  l  of  butcher's  diagram.)  " 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS-"  THE  ROUND." 
Taken  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock.    (See  Fig.  l  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS—"  THE  RUMP." 
From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer.    (See  Fig.  2  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS— "THE  RUMP." 
From  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock.    (See  Fig.  2  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


OF  TH 

UNIVF 


BUTCHEE'S  TEEMS—"  THE  LOIN." 
From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer.    (See  Fig.  3  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHEE'S  TEEMS— "THE  LOIN." 
From  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock.    (See  Fig.  3  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


TI408 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS—"  THE  PORTERHOUSE." 
From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer.    (See  Fig.  4  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS— "THE  PORTERHOUSE." 
From  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock.    (See  Fig.  4  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TEEMS— "THE  PORTERHOUSE  END." 

(The  cut  that  divides  the  fore  quarter  from  the  hind.    See  Fig.  4  of  butcher's  diagram.) 
From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer. 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS-  "THE  PORTERHOUSE  END." 

(The  cut  that  divides  the  fore  quarter  from  the  hind.    See  Fig.  4  of  butcher's  diagram.) 
From  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock. 


BUTCHEK'S  TERMS— "THE  RIBS." 
From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer.    (See  Fig.  7  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS—"  THE  TUBS." 
From  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock.    (See  Fig.  7  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS— "THE  CHUCK,  OR  SHOULDER  ROAST." 
From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer.    (See  Fig.  8  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS— "THE  CHUCK,  OR  SHOULDER  ROAST." 
From  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock.    (See  Fig.  8.  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS— "THE  BRISKET." 
From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer.    (See  Fig.  9  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS— "THE  BRISKET." 
From  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock.    (See  Fig.  9  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS— "THE  SHANK." 
From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer.    (See  Fig.  11  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS-" THE  SHANK." 
From  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock.    (See  Fig.  11  of  butcher's  diagram.) 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS— "THE  KIDNEY  FAT. 

From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer. 


BUTCHER'S  TERMS—"  THE  SHOULDER  CLOD." 

From  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer.    The  shoulder  is  ordinarily  classed  as  cheap  meat,  but  in  a  good  Hereford  carcass  this 

shoulder  is  better  meat  than  the  loin  of  an  ordinary  carcass. 


CHOICE  HEREFORD  ROAST. 

Selected  by  Louis  Pfaelzer,  fie  celebrated  Chicago  butcher,  as  a  model  of  that  class  of  beef  demanded  by  the  very  best  American 
and  English  trade.    The  supply  of  this  class  of  be?f  never  equals  the  demand  and  it  always  commands  high  prices. 


ROAST  OF  COMMON  BEEF. 

Such  as  is  found  in  the  ordinary  markets  of  the  country.    There  is  generally  a  big  supply  of  this  class  of  beef  and  the  price  Is 

always  low.    People  eat  this  cjasiof  beef  because  they  can  usually  get  no  other,  but  they  would 

not  eat.it  if  they  kucw  and  could  get  the  other. 

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INDEX. 


NOTE.— The  inverted  P,  or  paragraph  mark  (1),  is  used  in  this  work  to  indicate  a  portrait  or  picture.  Wherever  tins 
sigu  (1)  is  used,  in  brackets,  followed  by  a  number,  it  indicates  the  number  of  an  engraving  that  appears  in  this  work.  These 
pictures  or  engravings  are  arranged  consecutively,  with  few  exceptions,  throughout  the  work. 

PORTRAIT  OF  T.  L.  MILLER Frontispiece 


INTRODUCTION. 


Page. 


Wellington  Court,  near  Hereford 3 

New  House,  King's-Pyon,  Herefordshire  (rear  view) 4 

Some  Further  Notes  on  the  Origin  and  Development  of  the  Tompkins  Herefords,  by  W.  H. 

Bustin 5 

f  C.     Alton  Court,  Dylwyn,  Herefordshire 5 

'  I).     King's  Pyon  Church,  near  Hereford 6 

f  E.    Court  House,  Canon-Pyon,  Herefordshire 7 

*  F.     Tablet  of  Benjamin  Tomkins,  !Sr.,  in  Wellington  Church,  Herefordshire 9 

€  G.    Tablet  of  Benjamin  Tomkins,  Jr.,  King's-Pyon  Church,  Herefordshire 11 

TJH.    W.  H,  Bustin,  Hereford,  England 12 

CHAPTER  I. 

FOUNDATION  HEREFORD  HERDS 15 

1.  Scene  in  Herefordshire.    A  fertile  soil  and  well  conditioned  cattle 16 

2.  Typical  Hereford  Fat  Oxen  of  the  old-fashioned  sort 17 

3.  The  New  House,  King's-Pyon,  Herefordshire 18 

4.  Benjamin  Tomkius,  Jr.,  1745-1815 20 

5.  Black  Hall,  King's-Pyon,  Herefordshire 22 

6.  Brook  House,  King's-Pyon,  Herefordshire 23 

8.  Wellington  (4)  160,  calved  1808,  bred  by  B.  Tomkins 24 

9.  Silver  cow,  calved  1806,  bred  by  George  Tomkins 25 

10.  Mr.  T.  C.  Yeld,  of  The  Broome 27 

11.  Thomas  Andrew  Knight,  Esq.,  born  1759. . 28 

12.  Wigmore  Grange,  home  of  William  Galliers,  1713-1779 29 

I2a.  William  Galliers,  Wigmore  Grange 30 

126.  Thomas  Tomkins  Galliers,    1902 31 

13.  Wigmore  Grange,  seat  of  the  Galliers  family  (rear  vi-w) 32 

l'6a.  William  Galliers,  Jr.,  of  King's-Pyon,  1744-1*32 33 

136.  Some  of  the  silver  cups  won  by  the  Messrs.  Galliers , 34 

14.  Mr.  Henry  Haywood,  1819-1902,  whose  family  bred  Herefords  for  centuries 36 

15.  Hereford  ox  at  seven  years.v  Champion  at  Smithfield,  1799;  bred  by  Mr.  Tully 37 

16.  Downton  Castle  in  1775,  seat  of  T.  A.  Knight 38 

CHAPTER    IF. 

FOUNDATION  HEREFORD  HERDS — Continued.    John  Price,  of  Ryall 26 

17.  Mr.  John  Price,  1776-1845 39 

18.  Ryall  Court,  Worcestershire,  home  of  John  Price 40 

19.  Victory  (33),  bred  by  J.  Price,  calved  1839 41 

Young  Trueboy  (32)  630,  bred  by  John  Price,  calved  1838 42 

21.  "  Poole  House,"  Upton-upon-Severn,  home  of  John  Price 43 

22.  Thomas  Bates,  the  celebrated  Shorthorn  breeder 44 

23.  "  Croome  Court,"  Worcestershire,  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Coventry 46 

24.  The  Right  Honorable  Earl  of  Coventry 47 

25.  Woodstock  (24)  164,  calved  1833,  bred  by  J.  Price 48 

26.  Maximus  (1615)  1817,  calved  1858,  bred  by  11 .  H.  H.  the  Prince  Consort 49 

CHAPTER  III. 

FOUNDATION  HEREFORD  HERDS— Continued.    Hewer  Herefords 35 

TJ27.    Characteristic  Herefordshire  farmyard 60 

583 


584 


INDEX 


Page. 

Tf28a.  John  L.  Hewer,  Vern  House,  Marden,  Herefordshire 51 

II 28.     John  Hewer.     Born  1787,  died  1875.    The  greatest  improver  of  Hereford  cattle 52 

l8b.  Darling,  first  bull  ever  bred  by  Mr.  J.  L.  Hewer ' 54 

29.  Hampton  Lodge  (near  Hereford),  occupied  by  John  Hewer,  1835-1846 55 

30.  Palmer's  Court,  Holmer,  occupied  by  John  Hewer,  1848-1850 56 

31.  Vern  House,  Herefordshire,  property  of  John  Hewer,  1855-1875 57 

32.  Paradise  Villa,  Marden,  near  Hereford,  where  John  Hewer  died  in  1875 58 

33.  Holmer  Churchyard,  near  Hereford,  where  John  Hewer  is  buried 59 

34.  Lottery  (410)  185,  calved  1824,  bred  by  J .  Hewer 60 

.    Sovereign  (404)  221,  calved  1820,  bred  by  J.  Hewer 62 

3oa.  Red  Rose  393,  bred  by  Mr.  John  llewer 63 

36.     "  The  Tick  face  " 64 

36a.  Lady  Byron  218  (calved  1833),  bred  by  John  Hewer,  sold  for  £346  10s  ($1,730).    A  "  tick-face  "  65 

CHAPTER    IV. 

I  OUNDATION  HEREFORD  HERDS — Concluded.    Early  Breeders  in  England 45 

1J37.     Cotmore  (376)  150,  calved  1836,  bred  by  T.  Jeffries 6fi 

][37a.  Cotmore,  Lyonshall,  Herefordshire,  home  of  Messrs.  Jeffries  67 

*(\'61b.  The  Sheriffs,  Lyonshall,  Herefordshire,  occupied  by  the  Jeffries  family 68 

f 88.     Hope  (439)  324,  calved  1836,  bred  by  T.  Jeffries 6'J 

\3Sa.  Lady  Grove,  calved  1838,  and  calf,  Foig-a-Ballagh,  bred  by  T.  Jeffries 70 

T[386.  Hope  (439)  324,  calved  1836,  bred  by  T.  Jeffries 71 

1]39.    J.  B.  Monkhouse,  the  blind  veteran  of  The  Stowe 72 

^J40.    The  Court  of  Noke,  Pembridge,  Herefordshire,  seat  of  J.  Turner 75 

1[40a.  The  Court  of  Noke  in  1902,  occupied  by  Mr.  Edward  Farr 76 

f  4L     Ivingtonbury,  seat  of  Mr.  T.  Roberts,  who  bred  Sir  Thomas 77 

1[42.     Edward  Farr,  present  occupant  ( 1902)  of  the  Court  of  Noke ',8 

f  48.     Downton  Castle  79 

|44.    Mr.  A.  J.  R.  B.  Knight,  of  Downton  Castle,  1902 80 

^[45.    Brockswood  (485),  calved  in  1843,  bred  by  J.  Rickets 81 

CHAPTER  V. 

A  NOTED  FEEDER  ON  HEREFORDS  AS  BEEF  ANIMALS 53 

146.    Hereford  High  Town  in  1850,  showing  the  old  market  house b2 

47.    Hereford  October  Fair,  1881 83 

48.     Hereford  October  Fair,  1901 84 

.    The  celebrated  feeder  of  prize  steers,  Richard  Shirley,  and  family,  of  Baucott 85 

CHAPTER   VI. 

"  YOUATT  "  ON  BRITISH  CATTLE. 61 

f  50.    Youatt's  typical  Hereford  cow ' 86 

•  51.     Youatt's  typical  Shorthorn  cow 87 

•  52.     Youatt's  idea  of  a  Hereford  working  ox W8 

'  53.     Youatt's  Hereford  feeding  ox 89 

4  54.     Youatt's  original  Durham  cow 90 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  COUNTY  OF  HEREFORD— HEREFORDSHIRE 73 

fo5.     Lord  Bateman,  1826-1901,  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Herefordshire,  1852-1901,  the  celebrated  breeder 

of  Hereford  cattle 91 

T|56.    Mr.  Win.  Price  on  his  favorite  horse  at  "The  Vern,"  once  occupied  by  John  Hewer 93 

'[57.    "  Say  when."     Mr.  J.  H.  Arkwright  and  son  trout  fishing  at  Hampton  Court 94 

•[58.    Shobdon  Court,  seat  of  Lord  Bateman 95 

•]59.    A  scene  at  "The  Whittern,"  Kington,  property  of  Mr.  R.  Green 96 

Fac-simile  of  Testimonial  to  T.  L.  Miller opp.  96 

[[60.    Scene  on  the  river  Arrow,  Court  House,  farm  of  John  Price 97 

.    Herefordshire  peasantry.    Cheap  labor  for  the  rearing  of  large  crops 98 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  SMITHFIELD  CLUB;  NATIONAL  SHOW 74 

|62.    Hereford  ox,  champion  at  Smithfield,  1816 99 

|63.     Champion  Hereford  ox,  Smithfield,  1837,  at  4  years  and  10  months 100 

164.    Champion  Hereford  ox,  Smi'hfield,  1838 101 

[[65.     Champion  Hereford  ox,  Smithfield,  1849 102 

166.     Champion  Hereford  ox,  Smithfield,  1841 104 

J67,     Champion  Hereford  ox,  Smithfield,  1846 1 

f«8L    Champion  Hereford  ox,  Smithfield,  1846 106 


I  X  D  E  X 


585 


Page. 

69.  First  prize  Hereford  ox  at  Smithfield,  1846 108 

70.  Champion  Hereford  ox,  Smithfield,  1838 109 

71.  Hereford  steer,  2  years  11  months  old,  champion  at  Birmingham  and  Smithfield,  1853 110 

72.  Hereford  ox,  4  years  old,  champion  at  Smithfield,  1863 Ill 

73.  Hereford  ox  at  4  years,  champion  at  Smithfield,  1868 112 

74.  Hereford  ox,  2  years  old,  champion  at  Smithfield,  1882 113 

CHAPTER   IX. 
CONTEMPORARY  REPORTS  OF  SMITHFIELD  CLUB  MATTERS .' 92 

CHAPTER    X. 

TWENTY  YEARS  OF  HEREFORD  BREEDING — 1799  TO  1819 103 

574«.  Hereford  Cathedral 114 

746.  City  of  Hereford,  cathedral  and  Wye  bridge 115 

74c.  Herefordshire  farmyard  scene 116 

CHAPTER   XI. 

EARLY  HEREFORD  HISTORY  IN  AMERICA.    Hereford  Shorthorn  Controversy  from  1834  to  1841 107 

74d.  "  The  Woodleys,"  Wooton,  Oxfordshire,  Eng..  estate  of  the  Sotham  family 117 

74<?.  "  The  Woodleys,"  Oxfordshire,  birthplace  of  Wm.  H.  Sotham  (rear  view.) 118 

i 

CHAPTER  XII. 

MORE  EARLY  AMERICAN  HISTORY 146 

174/.   Hereford  cow,  " Matchless,"  alias  "Spot"  (V.  5,  p.  118),  1074 119 

175.    Mr.  Rust's  grade  Hereford  ox,  weight  3,700  Ibs 120 

76.  Woodbine,  bred  by  Wm.  H.  Sotham 121 

77.  William  Miller  (Uncle  Willie),  Storm  Lake,  Iowa 122 

78.  Cardinal  Wiseman,  1202 123 

79.  Sweetheart  2nd,  602,  and  Vesta  4th,  1232A,  at  18  months  (1867) 125 

80.  Hebe  469,  Bonny  Lass  679,  bred  by  Lord  Bateman,  and  Graceful  545,  bred  by  Lord  Berwick..  125 

81.  Emperor  at  2  years  (1867) 126 

183.  Thos.  Duckham,  M.  P.,  1816-1902,  Baysham  Court,  Ross,  Herefordshire 127 

|82.    Walford  (871)  47,  calved  about  1844 1'28 

184.  Frederick  William  Stone,  Guelph,  Ont.,  Canada 129 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

MR.  WM.  H.  SOTHAM'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  HEREFOF.DS 179 

185.  Erasius  Corning,  Albany,  N.  Y 130 

186.  "  The  Woodleys  "  (Sotham  estate),  Wooton,  Oxfordshire,  Eng.  (view  from  the  fields) 131 

587.    Tomb  of  the  parents  of  Wm.  H.  Sotham,  in  Wooton  churchyard,  Oxfordshire 132 

f88.    Wooton  Church,  Oxfordshire,  England 133 

"    ^89  A  tablet  in  Wooton  Church 134 

190.  Sir  Charles  (3434)  543,  bred  by  F.  W.  Stone 135 

191.  John  R.  Page's  conception  of  Sir  Charles  (3434)  543 138 

192.  The  Bates  Shorthorn  ideal,  Imported  Duke  of  Airdrie  (12730) 137 

193.  A  typical  Hereford  of  1840,  Cotmore,  weight  3,920  Ibs ,  at  9  years  old 1 38 

194.  Thomas  Booth,  the  great  English  Shorthorn  breeder 139 

195.  Marchioness,  bred  by  E.  Corning,  Jr.,  Albany,  N.  Y 140 

196.  Tromp,  bred  by  W.  H.  Sotham 141 

197.  William  H.  Sotham,  in  his  80th  year  (1801-1884) 142 

198.  Luther  Tucker,  Sr.,  America's  first  great  agricultural  editor 143 

199.  Cassius  M.  Clay,  White  Hall,  Lexington,  Ky 144 

100.  R.  A.  Alexander,  Lexington,  Ky 145 

'101.  "  White  Hall,"  near  Lexington,  Ky 147 

102.  Medal  of  the  N.  Y.  S.  A.  8.,  awarded  to  Wm.  H.  Sotham,  1856 148 

103.  John  Merryman,  of  "The  Hayfields,"  Cockeysville,  Md 149 

104.  Herefords,  property  of  T.  F.  B.  Sotham 150 

105.  Medal  of  the  N.  Y.  A.  S.,  awarded  to  Wm.  H.  Sotham,  1859 151 

r!06.    City  of  Hereford  and  the  river  Wye 152 

1107.  Leonora,  "  the  incomparable,"  bred  by  Mrs.  S.  Edwards,  Wintercott,  Leominster,  Hereford.. .  153 

1108.  Winter  de  Cote  (4253)  3204,  champion  of  England  1871  to  1875 154 

1109.  Grateful  (4622)  2572,  champion  of  England  1876  to  1880 155 

10.     North  Herefordshire  hounds 156 

fill.    Yoke  of  half-bred  Hereford  steers,  2  years  old,  out  of  Devon  dams 157 

1 112.    Young  Herefords,  bred  by  T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  Chillicothe,  Mo 158 


586 


INDEX 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

EARLY  CATTLE  IN  KENTUCKY — THE  "  SEVENTEENS  " . . . 220 

f  113.    Longhorn  Bull,  reproduced  from  Youatt's  book  on  cattle 159 

114.    "  Seventeen  Steer,"  sold  at  Cincinnati,  1841 160 

f  115.     Ox  weighing  3,500  Ibs.,  raised  in  Sangamon  county,  111.,  1834;  bred  from  "  Seventeen  blood  ".  161 
]f  116.    "  Seventeen  Steer,"  John  Sherman 162 

CHAPTER  XV. 

REVIVAL  OF  HEREFORD  INTEREST  IN  AMERICA 229 

117.  Win.  Powell,  Channing,  Tex.,  formerly  of  Beecher,  111 163 

118.  "  Queen  of  Athens  "  and  calf,  "  My  Maryland  " 164 

119.  "  Dolly  Varden  "  (V.  9,  p.  279)  5 165 

120.  Herefords  on  the  plains  of  Colorado 166 

121.  Hon.  J.  W.  Prowers,  West  Las  Animas,  Colo 167 

122.  Herefords  bred  by  the  Reynolds  Land  and  Cattle  Co.,  Channing,  Tex 108 

123.  Medal  of  the  Centennial  at  Philadelphia,  1876,  awarded  to  T.  L.  Miller 169 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

AN  INCIDENT  OF  AN  EARLY  CHICAGO  FAT  STOCK  Snow 232 

1(124.     Hereford  and  Shorthorn.     (The  thickness  of  Hereford  and  Shorthorn  roasts  compared) 170 

|126.    John  D  Gillette,  Elkhart,  111 171 

l|  126.    Four-year"-old  and  three-year-old.    (Ages  of  cattle  compared  by  teeth) 172 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
OPPOSITION  ENCOUNTERED  BY  HEREFORD  EXHIBITORS,  1877-8-9 „ 235 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

IMPARTIAL  JUDGES  NEEDED 240 

1(127.    "  Seventeen  "  Shorthorn  Steer,  McMullin 173 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

AMERICAN  HEREFORD  RECORD 243 

f  128.     Mr.  J.  H.  Arkwright,  Hampton  Court,  Herefordshire,  Eng 174 

lj 129.    The  Right  Hon.  Earl  of  Coventry,  Croome  Court,  Worcestershire 175 

1 130.    Mr.  S.  W.  Urwick,  Hereford,  Eng 176 

*  131.    Mr.  J.  H.  Arkwright,  on  his  favorite  hunter,  "  Bagpipes  " 177 

CHAPTER  XX. 

AMERICAN  HEREFORD  CATTLE  BREEDERS'  ASSOCIATION 245 

1|132.    C.  M.  Culbertson,  Newman,  111 178 

133.  T.  E.  Miller,  Beecher,  111 180 

134.  Adams  Earl,  "  Shadeland,"  Lafayette,  Ind 181 

5.    J.  M.  Studebaker,  South  Bend,  Ind 182 

(136.  Geo.  F.  Morgan,  Linwood,  Kan 183 

187.  Thos.  Clark,  Beecher,  111 1F4 

[  138.  Ben  Hershey,  Muscatine,  la 185 

139.  W.  H.  Todd,  Vermillion,  O 186 

140.  G.  S.  Burleigh,  Vassalboro,  Me ; 187 

(141.  W.  S.  Van  Natta,  '•  Hickory  Grove,"  Fowler,  Ind 188 

142.  W.  E.  Britten,  Hereford,  Eng 189 

143.  J.  H.  Burleigh,  Mechanicsville,  la 390 

144.  Walter  M.  Morgan,  Irving,  Kan 191 

'  145.    William  A.  Morgan,  Irving,  Kan 192 

146.  Chas.  B.  Stuart,  Lafayette,  Ind 193 

'  147.  Edwin  Phelps,  Pontiac,  Mich 194 

148.  H.  C.  Burleigh,  Vassalboro,  Me 195 

149.  Tom  C.  Ponting,  Moweaqua,  111 196 

150.  A.  A.  Crane,  Houston  Tex 197 

151.  F.  P.  Crane,  Chicago,  111 198 

152.  Dr.  Orlando  Bush,  Sheldon,  111 199 

'  153.  Thos.  Foster.  Flint,  Mich 200 

1[154.  Wallace  Libbey,  Ottawa,  111 201 

1(155.  A.  H.  Bullis,  Winnebago  City,  Minn 202 

1(156.  John  Gosling,  Kansas  City,  Mo 203 


INDEX  587 

CHAPTER  XXI.  Page 

CATTLE  FRAUDS— COMPARATIVE  TREATMENT  IN  ENGLAND  AND  AMERICA 252 

H167.     Grade  Hereford  steer  Conqueror  at  27  months 204 

•  158.    An  American  show-ring.     Under  the  Minnesota  State  Fair  tent 205 

1J1K9!    At  a  country  fair  in  Missouri 206 

1|160.    Practicing  for  the  show 207 

5161.    A  "  line-up  "  at  Weavergrace,  farm  of  T.  F.  B.  Sotham 2i>8 

^1162.  The  cattle  ring  at  the  Detroit  International  Fair  and  Exposition.    T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  secretary  209 

CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE  "  BREEDERS'  JOURNAL  " 256 

1J164.    A  Missouri  cow  and  her  triplets 211 

f  165.     Grade  steer  calves  in  an  Iowa  feed  lot 212 

H 166.    Texas  2-year-old  steers  in  an  Ohio  pasture 213 

1167.    A  bunch  of  Missouri  yearling  heifers 214 

1)168.     Nebraska  calves  in  the  Kansas  Ciiy  stock  yards 215 

^[169.    Range  calves  bought  by  T.  F.  B.  Sotham  for  Eastern  feeders 216 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE  SHORTHORN  MEN  ENDEAVOR  TO  GET  DOWN  EASY 258 

T 163.    Stock  barn  at  T.  L.  Miller's  "  Highland  Farm,"  Beecher,  111 ; 210 

«  170.     A  row  of  stock  bulls  at  Shadelaud  farm,  Lafayette,  Ind 217 

f  171.    Some  Shadeland  matrons 218 

f  172.    Out  for  an  airing 219 

1|173.    Some  Shadeland  yearlings 221 

•  174.     Young  bulls  at  Shadeland  stock  farm 222 

11175.     Imported  bull  Diplomat  (18328)  81537 223 

1  176.    The  foundation  of  an  Ohio  herd 224 

Hereford  group,  bred  by  T.  L.  Miller  Co.,  Beecher,  111 opp.  224 

CHAPTER  XXIV.    . 

THE  "  BREEDERS'  JOURNAL  "  ON  THE  CHICAGO  FAT  STOCK  SHOW  OF  1880 265 

•  1N9.     The  Exposition  building,  Chicago 225 

•  190.    John  P.  Reynolds,  Chicago 226 

«  191.     II.  D.  Emery,  Chicago 227 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

A  CONSPIRACY  THAT  FAILED .' 271 

c  195.     William  Watson  (Uncle  Willie) 228 

•  196.    A  cartoon  of  1882,  "  Breeders'  Journal " 280 

•  197.    Shorthorn  cow  Conqueror.    A  "  Breeders'  Journal "  cartoon  of  1882 231 

•  198.     Hereford  vs.  Shorthorn,  or  how  the  Shorthorners  came  to  grief.     A  "  Breeders'  Journal  "  car- 

toon of  1885 284 

CHAPTER   XXVI. 

TEN  EVENTFUL  YEARS;  A  CONSTANT  REQUEST  FOR  TESTS — 1871  TO  1881 "282 

11199.    A  typical  bull's  head,  Corrector  48976 237 

1 200.    Thos.  Aston,  Elyria,  0 238 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

QUALITY  IN  BEEF;  SOUND  CONSTITUTION  INDISPENSABLE  TO  IT 293 

H201.    Pure  Hereford  cow  Jenny 239 

1T201a.  Heart  girth  of  Herefords  and  Shorthorns  compared 241 

112016.  Diagram  of  butchers'  cuts 242 

CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

TEETH  AS  INDICATIVE  OF  THE  AGE  OF  CATTLE.    SOME  FAT  STOCK  SHOW  COMPARISONS 299 

1J202.    A  "  Breeders'  Journal  "  cartoon  of  1883 244 

203.  A  "  Breeders'  Journal  "  cartoon  of  1883 246 

204.  Fig.    1.    Calf  s  teeth  at  birth 300 

205.  Fig.    2.    Calf  s  teeth  at  second  week 300 

206.  Fig.    3.    Calf's  teeth  at  third  week 301 

207.  Fig.    4.     Calf's  teeth  at  1  month 301 

208.  Fig.    5.    Calf's  teeth  at  8  months 302 

209.  Fig.    6.    Calf's  teeth  at  11  months • 303 


588 


INDEX 


Page. 

1210.  Fig.    7.    Yearling's  teeth  at  12  months 303 

1  211.  Fig.    8.    Yearling's  teeth  at  15  months 304 

][212.  Fig.    9.     Yearling's  teeth  at  18  months 305 

^1213.  Fig.  10.     Yearling's  teeth  at  22  months 305 

€  314.  Fig.  11.    Teeth  at  24  months 306 

1215.  Fig.  12.    Teeth  at  2  years  and  6  months 307 

«T216.  Fig.  13.    Teeth  at  3  years 307 

1217.  Fig.  14.    Teeth  at  4  years 308 

1218.  Fig.  15.    Teeth  at  5  years 308 

C219.  Fig.  16.    Teeth  of  Shorthorn  "  Canadian  Champion  " 809 

C220.  Fig.  17.     Mouth  of  "  Canadian  Champion  " 809 

1221.  Fig.18.    Teethof" King  of  the  West" 310 

T222.  Fig.  19.     Outside  view  of  the  mouth  of  "  King  of  the  West '' 311 

1223.  Fig.  20.    Teeth  of  Shorthorn  "  Young  Aberdeen  " 311 

•  1224.  Fig.  21.     Outside  view  of  mouth  of  "  Young  Aberdeen  " 3 12 

1225.  Fig.  22.    Teeth  of  Shorthorn  steer  "  Grinnell " 812 

1226.  Fig.  23.     Outside  view  of  mouth  of  "Grinnell" 313 

H227.  Fig.  24.    Teeth  of  Shorthorn  "Tom  Brown" 313 

1J228.  Fig.  25.    Outside  view  of  mouth  of  "  Tom  Brown  " • 314 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

HEREFORD  ITEMS  IN  THE  EARLY  EIGHTIES 315 

I205a.  Typical  female  head,  Grace  58553 247 

1  206a.  F.  U.  Coburn,  Topeka,  Kan 248 

1  207a.  Judge  T.  C.  Jones,  Delaware,  Ont 249 

1  208a.  Wm.  Warfield,  Lexington,  Ky. . '. 250 

1  209a.  Thomas  Smith,  Crete,  111 251 

'  j  210a.  J.  B.  Green,  Marlow,  Herefordshire 253 

1  211a.  G.  H.  Green,  of  the  firm  of  J.  B.  &  G.  H.  Green,  Marlow,  Herefordshire 254 

1  212a.  John  Price,  of  Court  House,  Herefordshire 255 

'  [f213«.  T.  Lewis,  of  "  The  Woodhouse,"  Herefordshire 257 

'  [  2136.  J.  Williams,  Llansannor  Court,  Glamorganshire,  Wales 259 

|214a.  Philip  Turner,  of  "  The  Leen,"  Herefordshire 260 

'  215«.  John  Morris,  of  Lulham,  Herefordshire 261 

'  216a.  William  Tudge,  Adforton,  Herefordshire 262 

1  217«.  T.  J.  Carwardine,  late  of  Stocktonbury,  Herefordshire 263 

1218//,  Lord  Wilton  (4740)  4057,  bred  by  William  Tudge ,264 

1219a.  "  The  Rodd,"  Presteigne,  Radnorshire 266 

1219&.  Aaron  Rogers,  "  The  Rodd,"  Radnorshire 267 

1220a.  Anxiety  (5188)  2338,  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine 268 

1 221a.  A.  P.  Turner,  of  "  The  Leen,"  Herefordshire 270 

1222a.  B.  Rogers,  "  The  Grove,"  Herefordshire 272 

CHAPTER   XXX. 

HEREFORD  ITEMS  IN  THE  EARLY  EIGHTIES — Concluded 324 

f  2l'6a.  Mrs.  Sarah  Edwards,  of  Wintercott,  Herefordshire 273 

1224a.  T.  Edwards,  Wintercott,  Herefordshire 274 

1225a.  De  Cote  (3060)  2243,  bred  by  T.  Edwards 275 

1226a.  Helianthus  (48 11)  1549,  bred  by  the  Earl  of  Southesk,  Scotland 276 

C227a.  Geo.  Leigh,  Aurora,  111 277 

r228a.  C.  W.  Cook,  Odebolt,  Iowa 278 

^"229.    Cane  is  presented  to  the  maker  of  protested  entries 280 

1229a.  C.  S.  Cook,  of  the  firm  of  C.  W.  Cook  &  Sons,  Odebolt,  Iowa 283 

1230.    A.  E.  Cook,  of  the  firm  of  C.  W.  Cook  &  Sons,  Odebolt.  Iowa 285 

1(231.    John  Price  (Court  House,  Pembridge,  Eng.)    The  Elkington  cup  and  other  valuable  prizes 

won  by  this  veteran  breeder 287 

1232.     Steven  Robinson,  Lynhales,  Herefordshire 290 

1[233.    Sir  James  Rankin,  M.  P.,  Bryngwin,  Herefordshire 294 

1J 234,    Loving  cup,  presented  to  Geo.  F.  Morgan 296 

1f235.     Good  Boy  (7668)  76240,  bred  by  the  Earl  of  Coventry 2«8 

1236.    Rare  Sovereign  (10499)  81118,  bred  by  Earl  of  Coventry 316 

CHAPTER   XXXI. 

ROOTS  AS  CATTLE  FOOD 334 

1(237.     Missouri  farm  scene.    "  Noontime  " '. 

1238.  Stock  bulls  on  a  Kansas  farm.    Property  of  the  late  C.  S.  Cross,  Emporia,  Kan 318 

1239.  Barns  and  farming  lands.    Weavergrace  farm  of  T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  Chillicothe,  Mo 319 


INDEX  589 

CHAPTER  XXXII.  Page 

CHALLENGE  TO  TEST  ALL  BEEP  BREEDS  ON  A  BROAD  SCALE 335 

1240.  John  V.  Farwell,  Chicago 320 

1241.  Scene  on  the   Farwell  ranch,  Texas.    Cows  of  the  T.  L.  Miller  herd  in  early  spring,  after 

a  hard  winter 821 

CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

CHAMPIONS  CONTRASTED— AMERICAN  vs.  ENGLISH;  ANCIENT  vs.  MODERN 340 

1242.  Champion  ox  at  Smithfield,  1884,  bred  by  Chas  Doe,  Shropshire 322 

1243.  Champion  steer,  Roan  Boy,  bred  by  C.  M.  Culbertson 323 

1244.  Benton's  Champion,  bred  by  Fowler  &  Van  Natta 325 

1245.  Grade  Hereford  calves,  half,  three-quarters,  seven-eighths  and  fifteen-sixteenths  blood,  on 

straight  Texas  foundation 326 

CHAPTER  XXXI V. 

HEREFORD  MOVEMENTS  BEGIN  TO  COMMAND  THE  OPPOSITION'S  RESPECT 347 

f246.     Hereford  and  Shorthorn.     Competing  steers  and  comparative  types.   Smithfield  winners,  1819  327 

•  247.    John  Scharbauer,  Midland,  Texas,  and  his  favorite  bull,  valued  at  $5,000,  Sir  James  65916,  by 

Corrector 328 

1248.     Herefords  in  A rizona 329 

CHAPTER   XXXV. 

HEREFORD  CATTLE  IN  ENGLAND  IN  1884,  AS  REPORTED  BY  OUR  CONSULS 358 

'  241).     Ex-Governor  S.  B.  Packard,  Marshalltown,  Iowa * 3'iO 

•  250.    Romeo  (6646)  6420,  at  18  months,  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine 331 

•i'^51.    Mr.  John  Price's  Elkington  Chal.enge  cup  winner,  at  3  years 833 

•  252.    Golden  Treasure  (V.  15,  p.  126),  bred  by  Earl  of  Coventry 333 

•  253.    Company  gathered  at  Chadnor  Court  sale,  1883 386 

1254.    Scene  at  Chadnor  Court  sale,  Dilwyn,  Herefordshire,  1883 337 

1  255.     Company  attending  "  The  Leen  "  sale,  1883 338 

1J256.    The  Grove  3d  (5051)  2490,  bred  by  B.  Rogers 339 

1256«.  Sale  ring  at  Stocktonbury,  Leominster,  Herefordshire,  Eng.,  1884 841 

•2566.  An  English  sale  ring,  August  28,  1884.    "Lord  Wilton"  (4740)  4057,  at  9  years  old,  selling 

for  3,800  guineas  ($20,000) 342 

1256c.  Company  attending  Stocktonbury  sale,  August,  1894.  Lord  Wilton  (4740)  4057  and  two  of 

his  sons 343 

T256:?.  Downton  Castle,  Herefordshire 344 

€  2r>(>e.  Hampton  Court,  Leominster,  Herefordshire,  the  seat  of  J.  H  Arkwright 845 

•  256/.   Court  House,  Pembridge,  Herefordshire,  residence  of  J.  Price.    Mr.  Harry  Yeld  and  Mr. 

John  Price  in  the  foreground 848 

• 

CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

HEREFORDS  AS  DAIRY  CATTLE 377 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

HEREFORDS  IN  AUSTRALIA,  NEW  ZEALAND,  SOUTH  AMERICA,  WEST  INDIES  AND  JAMAICA 383 

i|257.     Lord  Wilton  (4740)  4057  and  two  of  his  daughters 349 

Is 258.    Samuel  Goode,  of  Ivingtonbury,  Herefordshire,  for  many  years  in  Australia 350 

11259.    Dale  Tredegar  (5856)  14682,  at  10  months,  bred  by  H.  J.  Bailey 351 

1260.  Royal  Head  (4490)  15765.  at  2  years  8  months,  bred  by  J.  Williams,  Herefordshire 352 

1355.    Success  (5031)  2,  imported  in  1873  by  T.  L.  Miller opp.  352 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

HEREFORDS  ON  THE  BLOCK 414 

1261.  Jno.  G.  Imboden,  Decatur,  111.,  celebrated  expert  judge 353 

1262.  Philip  D.  Armour,  Chicago 354 

1263.  Jas.  A.  Funkhouser,  Plattsburg,  Mo 355 

1264.  Pure-bred  steer  Fred  (by  Fortune  2080),  bred  by  J.  S.  Hawes,  Colony,  Kan 356 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

FAIR  AND  FAT  STOCK  SHOW  REPORTS 419 

1265.  Princess  B.  1777,  bred  by  G.  S.  Burleigh,  Vassalboro,  Me 357 

History  of  the  Herefords , 359 

1266.  Kirkland  B.  Armour,  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  president  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Asso- 

ciation, 1897-1898 3'9 

1267.  Hero  (5964)  4352,  bred  by  J.  Price,  Pembridge ,  Eng b6J 


590  INDEX 

Page. 

1268.    Anxiety  3d  (alias  Sir  Garnet)  (6181)  4466,  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine 361 

]j269.    Royal  16th  (6655)  6459,  bred  by  J.  B.  &  G.  H.  Green 362 

Herefordshire  and  Hereford  Cattle 362 

270.  Prince  Edward  (6616)  7001,  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine 363 

271.  Downton  Rose  (V.  10,  p.  172)  4486,  bred  by  T.  Fenn,  Downton  Castle,  Eng 364 

272.  Peeress  (V.  12,  p.  152)  10902.  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine 365 

273.  Venus  (V.  12,  p.  152)  10133,  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine 366 

274.  Victoria  1053,  at  9  years,  bred  by  T.  L.  Miller 367 

$75.    Sir  Garnet  (618u)  2489,  bred  by  B.  Rogers 368 

276.  Tregrehan  (6232)  6203,  bred  by  Maj.  Carlyon 339 

277.  Cherry  24th  2410,  bred  by  J.  B.  &  G.  H.  Green,  Herefordshire 370 

278.  Edward  Price,  father  of  John  Price,  Court  House,  Pembridge , 371 

279.  Anxiety  (5188)  2238,  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine,  Herefordshire 372 

'  280.    Earl  of  Shadeland  22d  27147,  bred  by  Adams  Earl :J73 

"281.    Rudolph  (6660)  13478,  bred  by  P.  Turner,  Herefordshire    374 

282.  Princess  (V.  13,  p.  152),  bred  by  T.  Marston,  Herefordshire 375 

283.  The  Equinox  2758,  bred  by  J.  Merryman,  Maryland 376 

284.  Queen  of  the  Lillies,  bred  by  T.  E.  Miller,  Beecher,  111 378 

285.  Silvia  (V.  17,  p.  288)  8649,  bred  by  P.  Turner,  Herefordshire 379 

286.  Horace  (3877)  2492,  at  15  years,  bred  by  J.  Davies 380 

2»7.  Dictator  1989,  bred  by  T.  L.  Miller,  Beecher,  111 381 

288.  Wabash,  pure-bred  steer,  champion  2-year-old  at  Chicago,  1882,  weight  1940  Ibs 382 

289.  Archibald  (6290)  11129,  bred  by  A.  Rogers,  Herefordshire,  weight  3,000  Ibs 384 

Hereford  Cattle  in  Australia 385 

290.  Fisherman  (5913)  76239,  bred  by  T.  Rogers,  Herefordshire 385 

291.  Tarquin  (12717),  bred  by  P.  Turner,  Herefordshire 386 

292.  Elton  1st  (9875)  11245,  bred  by  Earl  &  Stuart 388 

293.  A.  C.  Reed,  Evanston,  111 389 

294.  E.  E.  Esson,  Peotone,  111 390 

295.  J.  H.  McEldowney,  Chicago  Heights,  111 391 

296.  J.  Gordon  Gibb,  Lawrence,  Kan 392 

297.  Beau  Real  11055,  bred  by  Gudgell  &  Simpson,  Independence,  Mo 393 

297a.  E.  8.  Shockey,  Kansas  City,  Mo 492 

298.  Anxiety  4th  9904  (6283),  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine;  sire  of  Beau  Real 394 

299.  Prize  Winning  Herd  of  1885.    Property  of  the  Iowa  Hereford  Cattle  Co.     Modesty  2d,  24284. 

Melody  16th,  18549.    Stately  2d,  18522.    Forelock  179'.»9.     Washington  (8152)  22615 395 

300.  Hesiod  (6481)  11675, bred  by  P.  Turner,  Herefordshire;  founder  of  the  Hesiod  line 396 

SOL    R.  G.  Hart,  La  Peer,  Mich 397 

302.  Clem  Studebaker,  South  Bend,  Ind.    Firm  of  F.  H.  J  ohnson  &  Co 398 

303.  J.  8.  Hawes,  Reading,  Mass 399 

SOi.    Sir  Evelyn  (7263)  9650,  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine 400 

305.  Lovely  2d  (V.  15,  p.  299),  21977,  bred  by  R.  W.  Hall,  Herefordshire 401 

306.  Cassio  (6849)  13352,  bred  by  P.  Turner,  Herefordshire 402 

307.  H.  R.  Hall,  Orleton,  Herefordshire f 403 

308.  H.  W.  Taylor;  Showle  Court,  Herefordshire 404 

309.  T.  8.  Minton,  Shropshire,  Eng 405 

310.  A.  E.  Hughes,  Wintercott,  Herefordshire 406 

811.  "  The  Leen,"  Pembridge,  Herefordshire,  home  of  the  Turners 407 

312.  "Lynhales,"  Herefordshire,  home  of  S.  Robinson 408 

313.  Maidstone  (8»75)  79190,  bred  by  H.  W.  Taylor 409 

314.  Hotspur  (7726)  21721,  bred  by  T.  J.  Carwardine,  Herefordshire 410 

315.  Imported  Lord  Wilton  5739,  at  3  years,  bred  by  C.  M.  Culbertson 411 

316.  Representative  Sussex  Cow 415 

317.  Representative  Devon  Cow 413 

318.  Typical  Shorthorn  Bull 415 

319.  Shorthorn  Steer,  Schooler,  winner  in  class  at  Chicago  and  Kansas  City,  1883-4-5 416 

320.  Shorthorn  Steer,  Cleveland,  at  497  days,  weight  1,290  Ibs 417 

321.  Grace,  pure-bred  Cow,  weight  1,875  Ibs 418 

322.  I.  M.  Forbes,  Henry,  111 420 

323.  C.  Forbes,  Henry,  111 421 

5324.  Royal  Grove  (9137)  21500,  bred  by  P.  Turner,  Herefordshire 422 

325.  "Sir  Bartle  Frere"  (6682)  6419,  and  five  of  his  sons 423 

826.  Grade  steer  "Regulus,"  at  3  years,  weight  2,345  Ibs 42J 

Tabular  Statement— Number  of  prizes  and  amount  of  money  won  by  each  breed,  etc 425 

327.  J.  J.  Hill,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  celebrated  railway  magnate  and  lover  of  fine  stock 426 

328.  Grade  Hereford  steer  "Dysart,"  at  3  years,  weight  1,890  Ibs 427 

329.  Hotspur  (7028)  9355,  bred  by  J.  Price,  Herefordshire 4  >8 

330.  A  typical  Jersey 429 

331  A  West  Highland  bull 430 

f332.  Group  of  Red  Poll  cattle 431 

1  <32a.  An  Aberdeen  Angus  celebrity,  Black  Prince,  bred  in  Scotland 432 

1333.  Violet,  Viola  4020,  Peeress,  Lassie  23204,  Fowler  12899,  Miss  Fowler,  bred  and  owned  by 

Fowler  &  Van  Natta,  Fowler,  Ind : 433 


INDEX 


591 


Page. 

11334.  Sir  Bartle  Frere  (6682)  6419,  Earl  of  Shadeland  12th,  Elton  1st  (9875)  11245,  Garfleld  (6975) 

7015,  TheGrove  yd  (5051)  2490,  Shadeland  stock  bulls 434 

11335.  Washington  (8152)  22615,  bred  by  A.  E.  Hughes,  Herefordshire 4-J5 

*ji336.    Pure-bred  steer,  Rudolph,  Jr.,  bred,  fed  and  exhibited  by  Geo.  F.  Morgan 436 

•  337.    Samuel  Weaver,  Decatur,  III.,  America's  greatest  cattle  feeder 437 

1  338.    View  on  Samuel  Weaver's  Farm,  Decatur,  111 438 

•  339     Burleigh's  Pride,  cross-bred  from  Angus  sire  and  Hereford  dam  by  H.  C.  Burleigh,  Vassal- 

boro,  Me 439 

1~340.  Plush,  grand  sweepstakes  carcass,  Chicago  Fat  btock  Show,  1886,  fed  by  John  Gosling 440 

'342.  Henry  F.  Russell,  Westonb;;ry,  Herefordshire 441 

c 342a.  Westonbury,  Peoibridge,  home  of  Mr.  H.  F.  Russell 442 

*:343.  Pure-bred  steer,  bred  by  F.  Platt,  Barnby  Manor,  Newark-on-Trent 413 

'[344.  F.  Platt,  Barnby  Manor,  Nottinghamshire 444 

4!345.  Rees-Keene,  Pencraig,  Careleon,  Monmouthshire 445 

Dressed? Carcasses  at  American  Fat  Stock  Show,  1885 445 

11346.  Kathleen,  bred  by  A.  P.  Turner 447 

The.  Slaughter  Test  at  Kansas  City  Fat  Stock  Show,  18S3  447 

^347.  C.  N.  Cosgrove,  Le  Sueur,  Minn 448 

f 848.  Geo  W.  Henry,  Goodenow,  111 449 

^349.  Fortune  (5922)  2080,  bred  by  J.  S.  Hawes,  Colony,  Kan 450 

\  350.  Stretton  Court,  Herefordshire,  home  of  the  Yeomans  family 451 

^[351.  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Henry's  great  stock  bull,  Prince  Edward,  and  four  of  his  get 452 

^  352.  William  A.  Tade,  Bonaparte,  Iowa 453 

1J353.  F.  A.  Nave,  Attica,  Ind 4E4 

Weights  of  different  parts  of  dressed  carcasses  at  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show,  1886 456 

^354.  Clem  Graves,  Bunker  Hill,  Ind .  457 

•J355.  Success  (5031)  2,  bred  by  J.  Morris,  Herefordshire 458 

1J356.  Prairie  Flower  1 159,  bred  by  T.  L.  Miller 459 

f  857,  Red  Cap  4th  3507,  a  favorite  cow  of  T.  L.  Miller 460 

T.  L.  Miller's  Hereford  Winnings 460 

CHAPTER  XL. 

LETTERS  FROM  CORRESPONDENTS  DURING  THE  "  BATTLE  OF  THE  BREEDS." 465 

1358.    James  C.  Willson,  Flint,  Mich , 461 

•  :J59.     Nannette  (V.  11,  p.  2J6)  451 1,  bred  by  T.  Middleton 462 

^360.    D.  P.  Williams,  Guthrie  Center,  Iowa 464 

Mr.  Miller's  posii ion 465 

r  361.    W.  S.  Ikard,  Henrietta,  Tex 466 

CHAPTER   XLI. 
1  HE  HEREFORD  VERSUS  SHORTHORN — MR.  MILLER  RE-STATES  His  POSITION 493 

CHAPTER  XLII. 

MONGREL  PEDIGREES  MAKE  MONGREL  BREEDS;  CONCLUSIVELY  DEMONSTRATED  ON  THE  RANGE 514 

^362.     Geo.  W.  Rust,  eminent  Shorthorn  authority 467 

^1363.     Hereford  bulls  on  the  Texas  range,  property  of  Mrs.  C.  Adair 468 

•  364.    Shorthorn  bulls  on  the  Texas  range,  property  of  the  Farwell  syndicate 469 

•  365.     Herefords  on  the  range  in  Texas 470 

V366     Majaris  Canyon,  near  the  Canadian  River,  Panhandle  of  Texas .' 471 

1J367.   .Grade  yearling  heifers  in  the  Adair  herd,  J.  A.  Brand,  Panhandle  of  Texas 472 

^368.    A  model  surface  tank  in  a  Texas  pasture 473 

1369.    W.  E.  Campbell,  of  Winchester,  Okla v 474 

•  370.    Sample  of  a  model  range  herd 475 

371.    Sample  of  so-called  Herefords  too  often  found  on  the  range  and  elsewhere 476 

T372.  A  model  ranch  headquarters.    Spring  Lake  ranch  of  W.  E.  Halsell,  Bovina,  Tex 477 

3^3.  A  "round-up"  on  the  range 478 

374.  Familiar  scene  on  the  range 479 

375.  "Drifting,"  a  scene  on  the  range  of  Col.  C.  C.  Slaughter,  North  Texas  and  New  Mexico  line..  480 
^341.  Corrector  48976,  greatest  of  modern  Hereford  sires.     Bred  and  owned  by  T.  F.  B.  Sotham, 

Chillicothe,  Mo opp.  4SO 

1[376.    A  sample  of  Col.  C.  Slaughter's  (Dallas,  Tex.)  Lazy  "  S  "  brand,  North  Texas 481 

CHAPTER    XLIII. 

CONCLUSION— THE  PRESENT  AND  FUTURE.    Open  Battle  of  Breeds  Beneficial  to  All.    Beware  of  Subtle 

Manipulation '. 532 

^377.    T.  F  B.  Sotham,  Chillicothe,  Mo ". 515 

•378.    C.  B.  t-'mith,  Hereford  Park,  Fayette,  Mo 517 


592 


INDEX 


APPENDIX.  page< 

THE  LATE  MR.  MILLER,  OF  ILLINOIS,  U.  S.  A.    How  HE  BENEFITED  HEREFORD  BREEDERS 541 

[379.     Murray  Boocock,  "  Castalia,"  Keswick,  Va 5iy 

r|384.     Typical  mature  bull,  '  Spring  Jack  "  (14191)  103609 540 

385.  A  model  bull,  Red  Cross  (18040)  80076 542 

380.  A  farm  sale,  movable  amphitheater,  Weavergrace  farm  of  T.  F.  B.  Sotham 543 

386.  An  ideal  2-year-old,  Prince  Bulbo  (17414) 544 

381.  At  T.  F.  B.  Sotham's  sale,  1896,  Weavergrace  Farm 545 

387.  A  splendid  sort,  Protector  (19550) 546 

382.  The  veteran  feeder,  John  Letham,  Goodenow,  111.,  and  his  two  champions 547 

388.  A  proper  2-year-old,  Majestic  (20831) 548 

383.  Albion  (15027)  76960,  the  great  English  sire  and  prize  winner 549 

Tf  Jb9.    A  good  yearling 550 

Fac-simile  of  letter  from  T.  L.  Miller  to  T.  F.  B.  Sotham 552 

^{390.  A  big  one  with  smoothness  and  quality,  Happy  Hampton  (16097)  90058 556 

Copy  of  foregoing  fac-simile  letter 557 

The  illustrations  of  the  appendix 557 

^[391.  Uniformity  of  desirable  type  and  character  marks  the  work  of  a  great  breeder 558 

Change  in  administration  of  the  American  Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Association 559 

392.  A  grand  old  breeding  matron,  worth  her  weight  in  gold,  Pearl  5th  (V.  15,  p.  8)  80073 560 

393.  A  prime  aged  cow,  Ranee  (V.  25,  p.  242) 561 

394.  In  her  prime.    Truthful  (V.  28,  p.  152),  at  eight  years 662 

395.  A  splendid  2-year-old  form.    Gwendoline  (V.  24,  p.  77) 563 

396.  A  model  yearling.    Sister  Perilla  (V.  25,  p.  230) 564 

397.  A  trainload  of  grade  Hereford  Steer  Calves,  selected  by  T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  on  Texas  ranch 

awaiting  shipment  to  feeders  in  the  Middle  and  Eastern  states 565 

"[[398.    Carload  of  Texas  bred  grade  Hereford  steers,  selected  by  T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  fed  by  D.  W. 

Black,  of  Lyndon,  Ohio 566 

TJ399.    Grade  Hereford  beef — carcasses  of  the  grand  champion  carload 567 

TJ400.    Butcher's  diagram.    A  side  of  good  grade  Hereford  beef,  showing  method  of  cutting  up  high- 
class  carcasses 568 

401.  Butcher's  terms — -"the  round;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer 569 

402.  Butcher's  terms — "the  round;"  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock 569 

403.  Butcher's  terms — "the  rump;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer 570 

404.  Butcher's  terms-*-" the  rump;"  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock 570 

405.  Butcher's  terms — "the  whole  loin;"  showing  sirloin  or  broad  loin  end,  from  a  good  grade  Here- 

ford steer 571 

406.  Butcher's  terms — "the  loin;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer 573 

407.  Butcher's  terms — "the  loin;"  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock 572 

408.  Butcher's  terms — "the  porterhouse;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer 573 

409.  Butcher's  terms— "the  porterhouse;"  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock 573 

410.  Butcher's  terms — "the  porterhouse  end;''  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer 574 

411.  Butcher's  terms— "the  porterhouse  end;"  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock. . .  574 

412.  Butcher's  terms — "the  ribs;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer 575 

413.  Butcher's  terms — "  the  ribs;"  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock 575 

414.  Butcher's  terms— "the  chuck,  or  shoulder  roast;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer 576 

415.  Butcher's  terms — "the  chuck,  or  shoulder  roast;"  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's 

stock 576 

Butcher's  terms — "the  brisket;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer 577 

Butcher's  terms — "the  brisket;"  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock , .  577 

Butcher's  terms — "the  shank;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer > .  578 

Butcher's  terms — "the  shank;"  from  a  steer  classed  as  common  butcher's  stock 578 

Butcher's  terms — "the  kidney  fat;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer .  579 

Butcher's  terms — "the  shoulder  clod;"  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer • 579 

Choice  Hereford  roast,  a  model  of  that  class 580 

Roast  of  common  beef,  such  as  is  found  in  the  ordinary  markets  of  the  country 580 


416. 
417. 
418. 
419. 
420. 
421. 
422. 
423. 
424c. 


A  model  carcass  of  prime  beef  from  a  good  grade  Hereford  steer 581 


P.  F.  PETT1BONE  &  CO.     PRINTERS     CHICAGO. 


UNIVERSITY  OF   CAM  I-  OKVTA   ' 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWE1 


Renewedooksa     subject  to 


iate  recall. 


40    GIANNINI    HALL 
93 


MAL2 

SUBJECTTOftBCAl 


LD  21-50m-4,'63 
(D6471slO)476 


General  Library     . 
University  of  California 
Berkeley 


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